US start-up offers mail-order wine ‘by the glass’

A US start-up company called Vinebox has launched a “personal sommelier” membership service which provides home delivery of fine wines ‘by the glass’.

Vinebox aims to introduce its members to the world of fine wine through a monthly home delivery service of 10cl samples (Photo: Vinebox)

Describing itself as an “exclusive wine-by-the-glass experience for discovering fine wines from around the world”, Vinebox provides its members with three 10cl capsules per month containing wines selected by “a team of sommeliers and industry experts”.

The wines will come exclusively from Europe “for the first few months”, the Vinebox website states, adding that all wines will be in the $20-$50 (£14-£34) retail price range.

Members can expect wines from Château Maison Blanche in Saint-Emilion and Domaine du Chardonnay of Chablis in their first orders, co-founder Matt Dukes told CNBC.

Founded by Dukes and Rachel Vodofsky, both former corporate lawyers, Vinebox costs $35 (£24) per month or $30 (£21) per month if people sign up for a year. Members also have access to an online Vinebox account where they can view reviews, ratings and member-only specials.

The San-Fransisco-based company is accepting pre-orders from customers throughout the US. Its first boxes are scheduled to be shipped this month.

A statement on the Vinebox website says: “We’ve grown tired of over-priced, over-hyped wines that offend your wallet and lesser-quality, mass-produced wines that ignore your palate.

“There is a whole world of wonderfully passionate people creating spectacular wines, but they aren’t distributed in your local big box store. That’s why we created Vinebox.”

VInebox adds to what is arguably an emerging trend for mail order wine consumption. In December, the drinks business reported how Amazon had begun providing a one-hour delivery service in New York. In the same month db reported on a similar service launching in Hong Kong.