All of us get the email from our airline frequent flyer programs offering miles for buying a product from a partner company. Well I received one with an offer to join one of the wine clubs offered by Vinesse. They offer 6 different clubs, each with a different focus. When I read the offer and saw all those frequent flyer miles I began to think of how hard Stacy and I have worked all these years and boy could we use a treat. We are adults now and instead of ice cream as a treat we want wine! I did not step lightly into the wine club world, I dove headfirst and joined Vinesse’s most exclusive club, the Elevant Society. As the website describes it, this club offers:
The club featuring the most exclusive, highest quality wines, and you receive your choice of two or four bottles of pure bliss delivered to your door. The Elevant Society is a connoisseur’s service that provides super-premium wines from around the world, but with a slight leaning toward America’s best, and toward the reds rather than the whites. These wines may be cellared, but they are mature upon arrival, ready for immediate enjoyment. Such quality wines, of course, carry a higher price, and membership in the Elevant Society is not for everyone.
Stacy and I love big bold reds, and this is exactly what Elevant offered. We did exercise some restraint and only ordered the two bottle per month package. This package cost us $84.93 per month including shipping and we were glad to do it to get some “exclusive” red wines.
I waited expectantly for the first shipment to arrive. I couldn’t wait to see what the wine experts at Vinesse had selected for us. Finally, the bottles arrive and I open the box expectantly. I take a look at the two bottles and for some unknown reason think the wines don’t have an “exclusive” look about them. The two bottles were; 2003 X Winery Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon, 2005 Luna Benegas Mendoza, Argentina Cabernet Sauvignon. After a little googling I realize that I can buy these wines from online merchants for $15 and $10 respectively. Today, one year after this experience, the wines are still available for $22 and $10 respectively.
This discovery angered me right away. I had paid $84.93 for $25 worth of wine. This is a horrible deal in anyone’s book. I know I need to pay shipping in the club but $60 of shipping and handling is outrageous. I called and emailed Vinesse immediately and expressed my disappointment. I will say that Vinesse was very polite, responsive, and cooperative in our discussions. They did not have a satisfactory reason for why they send “average” quality wines for an “exclusive” quality wine club. They would not refund my money but offered to send replacement wines. I asked them to only send one bottle and that would be the end of our short lived relationship. They sent a bottle of 2002 Amicitia Sonoma County Cabernet Sauvignon which sells for $28 today.
After this experience, I realized I would be better off randomly buying two bottles a month for $85 at a local wine retailer. I would recommend you be skeptical of wine clubs in general but Vinesse wine club in particular.
#1 by Aaron on July 2, 2008 - 4:40 pm
Allyen,
Sorry to read about your disappointing wine club experience!
If you’re ever willing to try another one (and are into Argentine wines) you may want to check out The Vines of Mendoza. It’s a chance to try wines that aren’t available elsewhere in the US (with very few exceptions) – and we give a pretty good value, too!
I’d love to try to turn you around…
Our quarterly wine club straight from the source in Mendoza, Argentina; 4 times a year we send wine from here to California and ship it right to our consumers from there. We have two club options: the “Acequia Wine Club” which is $145 for 6 bottles, including shipping, and the “Acequia Reserva Wine Club” which is $245 for 6 bottles with shipping.
As shipping prices are based on weight, it’s never cheap to send wine across the country. But our wine club is worked so that for 6 bottles and shipping together, it’s about as good a deal as you’re going to get on wine of this quality.
If you’re interested check out http://www.vinesofmendoza.com and go to “Acequia Wine Clubs” on the top menu, or let me know!
Cheers,
Aaron
#2 by allyenw on July 15, 2008 - 12:43 pm
Aaron, thanks for showing me the vines of Mendoza site! The club looks very good and the wine estates concept is very interesting. I just may give your Acequia club a try. allyen(at)eloquor.com
#3 by Richard on July 30, 2008 - 12:04 pm
Allyen, if you like big and bold give Harmony Vineyards a try, they are a tina vineyard right outside of cambria. I have been on the quest for the spicest Zin I could find. They had a 2004 (sold out) that was incredible. I think they ferment it in pepper. Went great with Tri-tip.
and yes you are getting a 25 dollar bottle of wine that you can’t buy in stores.
#4 by Alice on July 30, 2008 - 12:54 pm
Allyen,
Just read the comments from Richard concerning Harmony Cellars. We have been a member of their wine club for at least 10 years and really enjoy their wines..both reds and whites. Their Chardonnay is my favorite and has been ever since we first visited the winery many years ago. Greg loves their Cabs and Zins. They also make a nice Sarah and Pinot. We also belong to Wildhorse and Adelaida wine clubs. These two wineries are also in the Paso Robles wine producing area. You can find Wildhorse wines occasionally in stores, but the wine club price is always cheaper even if you add in the cost of shipping. Eberle and Norman Wineries also produce very nice reds. Also in the Paso Robles area. We used to belong to Eberle’s wine club too but their shipping charges went way up after we moved to WA. Both Eberle and Norman are known for their big bold reds. As you can see we are big fans of the Paso Robles wine producing area and think Napa is way over rated.
#5 by Myrtle on November 27, 2009 - 1:54 am
Allyen, I wish I had seen your comments before I joined Vinesse Wine Club – which I thought sounded like a fun idea. I received my first shipment and we tried them for Thanksgiving. Fortunately, we had other wines on hand. We opened two of the Vinesse Club wines (red and wine) and everyone, EVERYONE, made horrible faces when drinking the white, and complained of a nasty aftertaste with the red. No one had more than two sips (some not even that much) before the nearly entire bottles were poured down the drain.
The white was 2008 Aurelia California Chardonnay which tasted like vinegar.
The red was 2007 Silver Pony California Syrah which had a bad aroma and a lingering, nasty aftertaste.
Absolutely the worst wine I’ve had since I found an bottle of Beaujolais Nouveau that had wormed it’s way to the back of my wine cabinet and was three years old.
I know Vinesse says they “guarantee” their wines but somehow, I think remaining in their club will only cause lots of frustration each time a new shipment arrives.
Thanks for posting your experience for others to read.
Myrtle
#6 by allyenw on January 11, 2010 - 11:58 am
Thank you for your comments on my blog. I am sorry to hear about your experience that was so similar to mine. I can’t understand how this company keeps any clients. I have not tried a wine club since Vinesse but hope to have a good experience when I try again.
#7 by Barbarab on January 25, 2010 - 2:21 pm
We too had a bad experience with Vinesse. The first two, a Cabernet and a Pinot Noir had such a horrible taste we threw them out. I called to complain and asked to return the remainder of the case but they said they wanted a chance to make it good and would send a replacement. Next thing we knew, we were sent three replacement bottles, (have only tasted one which is not good), along with a case of six that I found out had been charged to our account. When I called to say I did not want this case and ask for a RMA, I was told there is no way to return wine for credit. Also, I would get an automatic shipment every month whether or not I authorized it.
I guess we’ll just give the wine away to our “worst enemies” and admit we have been scammed. I tried to find the winery from the label of the terrible cab, and there was no such vintner.
#8 by allyenw on January 26, 2010 - 9:51 am
I am sorry (but not surprised) to hear of your experience. I also had them reply that you cannot return wine and I accepted that. However, you should not have to accept the monthly shipments. I was able to discontinue my membership and you should accept nothing less. Do not let them take your money! Best of luck to you and let me know if/when you find a good wine club.
#9 by Michele on February 19, 2010 - 3:04 pm
This company is a rip off. I joined as an Amtrak promotion to get points and Vinesse started sending me a box of wine every month that I did not ask for and sent an extra box (and charged for it) immediately after I called and told them I didn’t want the shipments to be so frequent. They then charged a membership fee which could be used as a credit towards the account and I called to use my credit and listed 7 different types of wines and the salesperson couldn’t find ANY of them on their system despite the fact that on their own website they were listed as AVAILABLE. I was heavily encouraged to accept a great GRAB BAG shipment of wine which is what they ship you every month anyway. These wines all taste the same and have different bizarre labels. I cancelled my membership. This club is not worth joining- better to go to your local wine store and at least get something that tastes decent for the same price.
#10 by George on April 9, 2010 - 3:14 pm
I am so done with Vinesse, I think they need to be reported to the BBB! Rip off company! Ashamed of myself for not doing my homework and reading these reviews first!!
#11 by allyenw on April 9, 2010 - 3:21 pm
Welcome to the club (not the wine club, the club of dissatisfied customers), I can not think on one redeeming quality to Vinesse.
#12 by customerservice on May 10, 2010 - 1:18 pm
I am an employee here at Vinesse and I wanted to provide some information about our wines and satisfaction guarantee policy. We apologize for any confusion and dissatisfaction on the wines offered and we do know that tastes in wine are subjective, and we stand by our 100% satisfaction guarantee policy. Our guarantee states that if for any reason you don’t like a wine that you receive; we will replace or refund your purchase and we apologize that the replacement wines were not to your liking. Please accept our sincere apologies for your disappointment and inconvenience.
#13 by Susan on May 18, 2010 - 5:13 pm
I almost signed up for Vinesse today until I looked into it a bit more, using Google to look up some of the names and finding nothing. I spoke with a customer service rep who could not convince me that these were not all from the same winery with different labels. I can only assume that this is the case. I checked ripoffreport.com and found several entries on them.
#14 by allyenw on May 19, 2010 - 2:34 pm
I am so glad that Susan avoided the mistake that a lot of us have made by trying the Vinesse wine club scam. I checked the Vinesse report on ripoffreport.com and was not surprised by the 10 reports very similar to our experiences here. Check out the reports here, http://www.ripoffreport.com/Search/vinesse.aspx
The ripoffreport site actually has responses from employees that are very similar to the one on my blog. The employee does not actually attempt to defend the quality of the wine, they just hold up the money back guarantee as some great benefit. If I was an actual viable business that wanted to please customers with a great product, I would do more than just keep referring to my “money back guarantee” as the key selling point.
Please let your friends and acquaintances know about the scam that is Vinesse. We have already benefitted many consumers but must keep up the message.
#15 by Jet on May 20, 2010 - 1:19 pm
I just cancelled my membership with Vinesse because I will not support any industry in California that does not subscribe to the Constitution. California’s boycott of the State of Arizona for defending their borders is unconscionable and I will now boycott California.
#16 by allyenw on May 20, 2010 - 2:28 pm
Right on Jet!
#17 by eric on June 5, 2010 - 2:12 pm
Can the Vinesse Customer Service respond to the fact that the vineyards on the labels don’t exist?
I’m convinced that Vinesse just buys wines by the tractor trailer full (like a huge tanker full) and plasters various fake labels on the bottles.
Any response guys, other that “our crap is guaranteed”?
#18 by eric on June 10, 2010 - 1:23 pm
Didn’t think so! Any current Vinesse member, try googling any of the brands/vineyards on the bottle. The only results you’ll get are Vinesse’s website. Very fishy/fraudy.
#19 by Mike on July 20, 2010 - 9:23 am
I too have been a victim of the Vinesse scheme. Cheap and very ordinary grocery store wines, significantly higher prices than advertised, shorter unpublished intervals of automatic shipping and NO COMMUNICATION. They would not even respond to emails – even though their website said I could send a notice of cancellation that way. I finally got out after coughing up about $60 of shipping and handling after refusing the last two shipments – which were sent monthly and received at least two weeks after my credit card was charged. They were supposed to be no more frequent than 45 days. What a rip-off!!! BEWARE of this outfit!
#20 by Mo on July 21, 2010 - 12:49 am
I too was just ripped off by this company (Vinesse Wines) They charged me $69.90 on July 8th, I wasn’t expecting the charge but decided to wait for the shipment and cancel the membership right after, but on July 14th they charged me $30 for an unknown membership fee, I tried to dispute it but they told me they’d apply this “bogus” voucher I’d received to next month’s shipment, but on July 20th they charged me $110.95 for next month’s (same six cheap bottles of wine as before) shipment, even though I was told I’d get it every 45 days, and I haven’t even gotten my shipment for July yet! The phone rep was very rude and told me to refuse the UPS shipment if I want a full refund! I don’t know what to do if they even arrive: keep to avoid further rip off, or return and possibly lose the money and wine…..
#21 by Robert Jaworski on July 30, 2010 - 9:23 am
I agree. I have been ripped off by this company also. They increased the price of the club- under shipping and handling by 15% and never notified me about it. The wines are very mediocre and at least double the price they should be.
#22 by walter goldman on December 17, 2010 - 12:20 pm
Good advice – go to total wines or trader joes.This is a rip off.The wine was not good and very over priced.Vineese guarantee is not worth the paper that it is written on.
#23 by Mal Shridhar on January 22, 2011 - 1:08 pm
I too was stupid enough to fall for this sales pitch fromLATimes.com. My first shipment was promotional and the wines were decent. I did not read the fine print to realize that I was to receive a shipment of six bottles each month at $110+. If you go to the website, there is no e-mail address to complain. You have to make a telephone call and I gave up after waiting for 10 minutes or more. I contacted my credit card company and they helped me to cancel my membership. I will admit that the lady at Vinesse was polite and helped close the account.
I will not call my experience a rip-off; it was a case of buyer beware. Try buying a hearing aid from an authorized seller and you will know what a rip-off is.
#24 by Ron on January 30, 2011 - 6:12 am
Take a look at any of Vinesse’s websites and you’ll see there’s no way to contact them by email … yet they are happy to take your money that way. Every bottle of wine I received had no address to the boutique vinyard (their terminology) but was bottled in Sanata Rosa, CA. (12 all in the same town … wow, what a coincidence) The only website in the entire wine world that sells their lables that they ship is them …. hmmmmm. Every bottle received is embossed with the same grape lable on the top .. again very funny for 12 different vinyards … I can’t find a similar match in a detailed search of all my other wines.
Check BBB and others online. Not a single positive statement. Thank goodness the card company can step in and shut this stuff off.
I sent a note to Delta to investigate their scams before they partner with firms like this.
#25 by Whitney on July 21, 2011 - 11:15 am
Just called to cancel my Vinesse membership – i had never tried to cancel it before. They tell me that, they’re sorry, but a shipment left right before I cancelled. And i can refuse the shipment and still be charged 23 dollars for shipping. This company is a scam. The rep told me on the phone that the reason that you can’t find any of the vinyards online is because they are so small. I guess I sounded like a total idiot.
#26 by frank on August 20, 2011 - 11:50 pm
This company is rediculous. I was supposed to be on a 12 bottle shipment twice a yr. Next one being in october. Kinda funny they just charged my card and called me sayin thier having a problem with my shipment. Ummmm its august. Are they kidding me? Im a member at some great great wine clubs. If you like big red wines look into wiens vineyard in temecuela california. Im a member of the wine maker select club, its great. Phenomonial actually. Tolosa on the central coast of cali has the best pinot noir ive ever had. Try the 1772 or beyond. Both are great pinot noirs.
#27 by Dan on December 28, 2011 - 6:13 pm
So add me to the list of people who joined the Vinesse club as a trial, planning on doing exactly 3 months for the promised miles, knowing the first month cost was introductory (and hard to find the monthly cost with shipping anywhere) and going in eyes wide open knowing I may or may not get value. I’ve received 2 6-bottle shipments so far, all of which I’ve enjoyed about as much as most random wines I buy. The first 6 was the promised $42 and the second is $112 with shipping. Assuming #3 is the same as #2, that will be a total of $266 for 18 bottles of wine.
Now, the benefit: 6500 FF miles (worth about $65, comparing fares) plus a wine opening set worth about $25. So at the end of the day my net cost is $176 for 18 bottles of wine, or about $10 per bottle.
Given the quality of most $10 bottles I usually buy, I think I’m getting a fair deal. This is mass-produced wine for these clubs and I am not at all surprised at its quality (or lack thereof). You get what you pay for.
Given the sheer volume of customers they must have, seeing a handful of complaints on a complaint-driven website is not surprising to me.
Now, what brings me here? I got offered to join (or switch memebership, it’s not totally clear) the Elevant society, and in doing my due diligence stumbled on this website. I clearly don’t want to pay $30-$35 per bottle for wines worth $10-$15 as Allyen did. Wondering if his was a one-time problem, I’m doing some research.
Just to check, I’ve located the current 2 wines being offered for the Elevant “super-premium” folks:
2008 D Cubed Howell Mountain Zinfandel
Sale Price: $33.00
2007 vintage of same wine available from the winery itself at $37: https://www.dcubedcellars.com/store/index.cfm?fuseaction=view&category_id=1
Prices in line with other internet offers:
http://www.vinopedia.com/index.jsp?keepdata=true&order=vintage
2008 R. Merlo Estate Hyampom Ranch Trinity County Pinot Noir
Sale Price: $35.00
2006 vintage from the winery is $25: http://www.rmerlo.com/store/
Various prices for 2005/2006 vintages from reputable sources about $20-$25.
In sum: $85 per month for wine you can obtain elsewhere for under $60.
Pros:
* These appear to come from real vineyards, as opposed to the mass-produced wines from the regular club.
* One of the two is fairly priced.
Cons:
* you don’t get to pick wines, so you end up with mediocre wines that you wouldn’t buy for that price anyway
* one of the two is overpriced
My conclusions:
* my 3-month trial of the regular club will probably end up being worth it, considering the 18 bottles I will consume at a net cost of $10 per.
* the elevant club is not worth it for the lack of flexibility, small markup, and “premium” wines advertised as “super-premium”.
* I will probably cancel my membership after my 3rd month shipment arrives (and I get all those FF miles promised) and go back to buying wines from my local small business wine store where I can taste before I buy!