Whether you are a pinot person or more of the prosecco persuasion, there’s a wine subscription service to cater for your needs. In fact, for many of them, that’s precisely their selling point. As the battle for vino supremacy heats up, more delivery wine options are springing up, some with digital sommeliers to sweeten the deal.
While purchasing online and having them shipped to your door might not live up to the lived experience of hitting the cellar doors in the Barossa Valley or Hunter, convenience is a modern advantage. If you want to know what’s good in terms of wine, we’ve gone through the very lot of them and jotted down our thoughts. Here’s a list of the best wine subscriptions in Australia.
Best Wine Subscriptions in Australia at a Glance
Our list of the best wine subscriptions in Australia goes like this:
- The best overall: Dan Picked
- If you want value for money: Vinomofo
- If you’re after a top-shelf subscription: Halliday Wine Club
Now we’ve had a look at our favourites, let’s check out the complete list.
RELATED: Why not pair your wine subscription with one of the best whisky subscriptions?
1. Halliday Wine Club
Not only is the Halliday Wine Club the best option for those who prefer top-shelf bottles, but it’s great for couples with only two bottles of Halliday-rated wines arriving at your door each month. They apply a quality over quantity theory with three membership levels available and prices ranging from $89/month for the basic ‘Explorer Membership’ going all the way up to $300-400/month for the ‘Collector Membership’ that offers access to loyalty rewards (limited spaces available).
We received a package of the basic ‘Explorer Membership’ and the two bottles had a combined value of over $100, not a bad deal at all. Oh, and they were both delicious being Halliday-rated drops.
Price: from AU$89/month for a 2-pack of Halliday-rated wines
Delivery: Free-shipping Australia-wide
Frequency: Monthly
2. Dan Picked
Aside from the god-tier pun in the name, Dan Picked is actually a seriously impressive service. Helmed by the team at Dan Murphy’s the wine delivery option allows you to pick and choose the very best from the monster catalogue, selecting your favourites along the way.
After testing it out ourselves, we found that the selection is far greater than any other wine subscription service on the market, however, it’s mainly comprised of your stock-standard labels. The price is definitely a major selling point and you can sneak away with a few handy drops for a fraction of some of the more boutique brands on this list. We recommend this option for first-timers and new wine drinkers.
Price: from AU$99 for a 6-pack of wine
Delivery: Free-shipping Australia-wide
Frequency: every 2 months
3. Vinomofo
Vinomofo prides itself on its affordability and not taking wine too seriously, which is pretty refreshing if you ask us. After testing out the program, we found that the mystery box concept is actually a winner. When you sign up, you don’t actually know what bottles of wine will turn up on your doorstep! While that may sound risky, you definitely found ourselves testing out varieties that we otherwise would have ignored.
In fact, after a few months, you certainly find yourself looking forward to whatever lucky door prize is awaiting you at home. There are two main choices; the Mofo Club or the Black Market Club. We suggest choosing the Black Market club if you like taking a stab in the dark!
Price: from AU$139/month for a 12-pack of wines
Delivery: Free shipping Australia-wide
Frequency: Every 1, 2 or 3 months
4. Wine Selectors
Affordable wine sent to your door with trusted expertise, Wine Selectors has you sorted. We rated this option highly as it’s one of the best cheap wine subscriptions on the market, with membership starting from $112 per month for six mixed wines. You’d be surprised by the wine connoisseur you’ll become as the membership includes extensive tasting notes and invites to events. It offers a pre-selected wine club or a customised one, and with a 100 per cent satisfaction guarantee and flexible membership, this is a great option for beginners.
Price: from AU$112/month for a 6-pack of wine
Delivery: Free shipping over $320, Australia-wide
Frequency: On-demand
5. Good Pair Days
One of the more classy drinkers, Good Pair Days is a subscription service with a strong focus on tailoring to the buyer’s individual tastes. To do this, it includes a palate quiz to make sure you get the best wines for your taste buds! We were surprised to find that recommendations were almost always spot on, however, there are always going to be a few hit-and-miss situations. Nevertheless, you’ll love the personal recommendations and food pairings to get you started on your wine-connoisseur journey. There are plenty of package options and no lock-ins.
Price: from AU$80 for a three-pack of wine
Delivery: $9 (free for 4 wines or more) Australia-wide
Frequency: Monthly
6. Alpha Box
Celebrating the diverse flavours of South Australian wine, Alpha Box is a wine club based in McLaren Vale that supports local South Australian winemakers. Each letter in the wine collection embodies an individual winemaking project.
Price: from AU$75 for a 3-pack of wine
Delivery: Free-shipping Australia-wide
Frequency: 2, 3, or 6 months
7. Italian Wine Society
We had the pleasure of trying out the Italian Wine Society recently and can confirm their selection of premium Italian wine is arguably the best in the country. Subscriptions start from $169 for a 6-pack of wine and range up to $550/ month for their top selection wine clubs which bring a custom, privately consulted, selection of six exquisite Italian wine bottles delivered to your door.
Principal Sommelier at Italian Wine Society, Daniel Marcella, has a long list of qualifications, including certification by Vinitaly International Academy as an Italian Wine Ambassador and Educator.
Price: from AU$169 for a 6-pack of wine
Delivery: Free-shipping Australia-wide
Frequency: Monthly/ Bi-Monthly, no lock-in contract.
Subscribe at Italian Wine Society
8. East End Cellars
Known for its abundance of wine labels, East End Cellars is one of our country’s best wine stores and they’ve recently launched one of our favourite wine clubs. Delivered Quarterly, this subscription provides value and quality in equal measure with 12 carefully selected wines tried and tested by the team at East End Cellars. The value of each box is over $360 but you can get it for $275.
Price: from AU$275
Delivery: Free-shipping Australia-wide
Frequency: Quarterly
9. Different Drop
Different Drop is all about ease and convenience, with a heavy focus on rare and artisan wines. This is one of the best wine clubs in Australia if you’re looking for value for money, but you won’t find any deadstock or poor-quality wines in these boxes. Price-wise, for $175 (on-demand) it’s very fair and similarly priced to other options on the market. As a bonus, you can skip or cancel at any time so no need to stress.
Price: AU$175 for a 6-pack of wines
Delivery: Free-shipping Australia-wide
Frequency: Monthly
10. The Borough Box
One of the newer options on our list, The Borough Box is the trendiest wine subscription in town for all the Sydney-siders and Melbournians they deliver to. This service has a passion for natural wines as well as sustainable, biodynamic wines that are sourced from all over the world. A monthly subscription box will set you back $180.
Price: AU$180/month for a 6-pack of wine
Delivery: Free-delivery Australia-wide
Frequency: Monthly
11. P&V Merchants
Celebrate Fridays the right way with a delivery of six bottles from P&V, handpicked and stress-free. Seeking out the best natural and organic wines, this Australian wine subscription will have you hangover-free with its abundance of natural wine options! Located in Sydney’s trendy Inner-west, they deliver all over Australia for just $160 a month.
Price: AU$160/month for a 6-pack of wine
Delivery: $15 shipping Australia-wide, local Newtown-store pick-up
Frequency: Monthly/ Bi-Monthly
12. Naked Wines
If there’s one thing you know about Naked Wines, they know how to advertise. You’ve probably seen their “$100 worth of free wine” vouchers everywhere, but this is a little different to your run-of-the-mill wine subscription. Instead of sending you the bottles, they ask you to add $40 to your Naked Wines account every month and select from the wines on offer. Sometimes more choice doesn’t equal a better result, but if you want to roll the dice for $40 it’s worth a try.
The website is a little clunky and doesn’t have the best user experience as it always wants to force you in the wrong direction without giving clear information, however, you can’t knock the wine selection they have on hand. Just make sure you clarify if you want a one-off payment, otherwise, you can expect $40 to come out of your bank each month.
Price: AU$40/month, select your own wine
Delivery: Australia-wide
Frequency: Monthly
13. Wine Direct
An Australian family-owned business, Wine Direct is one of the best wine clubs for supporting our local Aussie drops and businesses. This wine club has been around for the long haul, which means that they know what they’re doing when it comes to selecting and delivering the best wines with precision. They always have new specials and so many options to choose from- you’ll never be left dry.
Price: from AU$99 for a 12-pack of wine
Delivery: Australia-wide
Frequency: On-demand
14. The Local Drop
With a real Melbourne-centric focus, The Local Drop is a wine club that takes a firmly grassroots approach. We came across a bunch of labels we had never heard of before, which was great to test out some of Australia’s unknown gems. You will receive a personal sommelier who will pick six wines every month, curated specially to suit your palate. The Melbourne-based service prioritises Australian wine and dabbles with top international brands too. Expect a combination of red, white and mixed varieties for $200/month.
Price: AU$200/month for a 6-pack of wines
Delivery: Australia-wide
Frequency: Monthly/ Bi-Monthly
15. Cloudwine
Cloudwine is one of Australia’s leading independent wine stores, perfect for those who prefer boutique wines and small Australian wineries. This is also reflected in their style, with each wine being hand-picked for you in their South Melbourne store based on your budget, taste and your chosen schedule. If you subscribe with Cloudwine, expect to pay a little more, but it’s worth it to get your hands on some of Australia’s best.
Price: AU$
Delivery: Free-delivery Australia-wide
Frequency: 6-weeks or every 1-5 months
Wine Subscription Guide
When it comes to unearthing the best wine subscription service, there is much to consider. Some brands will specialise in certain varieties, while others will hone in on budget. Here is what you need to keep front of mind before you sign up for a new wine club service.
- Price – Perhaps the most obvious consideration of all, price is an important element of the purchasing process, particularly with wine. An industry of great contrast, prices can vary significantly in this space, depending on the type of wine you are chasing, the vintage and the brands involved. It’s important that if your goal is to test out a fair few wines and see what you like, we would definitely recommend opting for a more diverse and approachable price point.
- Varieties – While most wine subscription services will offer a wide range of different wines, there will be specialties from each. This largely comes via the relationships the services have built up with winemakers and distributors, meaning you may be able to get your hands on exclusive drops straight from the vineyard. If you are a fan of Australian chardonnay, for example, we recommend looking for. subscription service that has connections to the Tasmania midlands, as this is where you’ll find the best the country has to offer. In our opinion, you can’t go wrong with Qantas or Dan Murphy’s, however, more boutique options like Good Pair Days also have built connections with labels such as Moore’s Hill.
- Frequency – While you might consider yourself a bit of a boozehound, it pays to know what you’re in for. Some wine subscriptions are more tailored to the casual drinker, whereas others tend to arrive more frequently. Before you lock yourself in, make sure you can actually get through the amount of wine you are purchasing. The last thing you want to do is wind up with a cupboard full of fantastic drops that are slowly going off.
General FAQs
There are a few wine subscriptions that specialise in natural wines, but Borough box takes the cake as the best natural wine subscription in Australia.
Most wine subscriptions offer monthly wines. Our favourites are Naked Wines and The Local Drop.
The cost of wine subscriptions differ based on frequency and package deals, but for the most affordable wine subscription offers check out Vinomofo.
