A Champagne and sparkling wine sampler, The Sip Society helps its members taste bubbly from around the world. The selection is upscale and for the less-experienced wine lover, most of these wines will be all new.
This unique subscription packs fun into every box and I’m a firm believer everyone needs a little more bubbly in their lives.
Two of the five wines I received were not in prime condition, which slightly detracted from the overall experience. They were still quite drinkable, but when the color has faded, so has some of the flavor.
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The Sip Society is the delightful name of the wine club at The Sip. The Sip is an online wine store featuring only sparkling wine (a mix of Champagne and bubbly from other regions). The women who founded The Sip — Erica Davis and Catherine Carter — want to make the good stuff more accessible. The Sip definitely has a woman-centric vibe, but that shouldn’t stop anyone from joining and just having fun with sparkling wine.
The Sip was recently featured on The Today Show (March 22, 2022). Naturally I watched the segment and among other things, I learned that they have more than 15,000 customers!
It’s expensive to discover new Champagne when all you buy are full-size bottles, so The Sip Society sends out a variety of small bottles every other month — mostly 187mL “splits” which serve roughly one glass of wine, sometimes you’ll get a “demi” which is 375mL. Shipments either have three splits or one demi and one split (adding up to 3/4 of a bottle of wine).
The “no commitment” membership is $59.95 every other month and includes shipping. Shipping months are January, March, May, July, September and November. These memberships can’t be canceled until after the second billing cycle, so despite the messaging, you’re committing to two boxes. There’s also an annual subscription, which includes some perks for the commitment (outlined below).
Unlike some other wine clubs, The Sip Society isn’t only about your regular shipments, and they reward you for committing to a year of fun.
“No Commitment”
Annual Subscription
If you’re not already knowledgeable about Champagne and Sparkling wine, here are a few helpful ideas to keep in mind. If you want to do a deeper dive, check out my Useful Guide to Champagne.
So far I have reviewed two shipments of sparkling wines. I was sent their “media box,” which included two splits of sparkling wine and their signature Sip Shooter. I also received their January Rosé box which included three splits and a fun disco ball party cup (note, I do not advise drinking wine out of plastic containers; it messes with the taste). I am actively reviewing their service and most recently received a shipment in February of 2022. This review incorporates my Sip Society experiences and my experience with more than 100 other wine clubs.
Any wine subscription service is about more than just the wine and this review covers all aspects of the service. The key things I look for in a wine club are: How was the wine sourced? Is the wine selection personalized or curated? How often does it ship? How well does the company communicate about shipping and billing? Do they offer a satisfaction guarantee? Are the shipment sizes and wine selection flexible?
I also examine what kind of wine education they offer with their bottles and whether or not a service is set up for good gifting. These aspects are not core to a wine club being worthwhile, but they are important for many would-be members.
My The Sip Society Wine Ratings
Quality of Wine | |
Price of Wine | |
Wine Curation |
There are two parts to this wine review. The first is about the kinds of sparkling wine you’ll receive through The Sip and the second is about my experiences with the actual wines I received.
There are, broadly, four kinds of sparkling wine in the world: mass-produced Champagne like Veuve Clicquot Yellow Label and Moet & Chandon Imperial, premium Champagne from those same types of producers, grower Champagne handcrafted in small quantities, and everything else.
The Sip Society membership is huge, which by definition, means you will not be receiving premium Champagne from big producers or grower Champagne because they are not produced in sufficient quantities to support a large membership. Often these wines are also not produced in small bottles, which is another barrier to The Sip selecting Champagne from those categories.
That means that most of what you’ll get from The Sip is high-volume Champagne and other sparkling wines that are widely available elsewhere (even your local grocery or big box store). On the flip side, these ladies have good taste and you won’t find J. Roget, Cook’s, or Barefoot in the line-up.
As noted earlier, I received two shipments from The Sip, totalling five different wines. The “media box” had one rosé and one white, while my regular Society shipment contained three rosés (it was their “rosé shipment”).
Veuve du Vernay, Crémant de Bourgogne
Blend: Syrah, Pinot Noir, Cinsault; Charmat method
Retail price: $35 (750 mL); The Sip Society price: $30 (750 mL)
Source: The Rosé Box
My favorite selection by far happened to be the first one I opened. The Veuve du Vernay is a sparkling wine from Burgundy, France made with a blend of Syrah, Pinot Noir, and Cinsault grapes. It was first made by the patent-holder for what is now known as the Charmat Method — a simplified process for producing sparkling wine.
The wine was fruity and dry and an absolute delight to drink, and only 11% alcohol. It was nicely balanced (no one aspect of the wine stood out from the others) and when I compare it to Rosé Champagne, I’d choose this any day.
This wine is what sold me on the value of The Sip Society, even for those of us who know a bit about sparkling wine — there’s always something new to try and we usually need a trusted advisor to tell us what that is.
Bottega Gold, Prosecco di Valdobbiadene DOC
Blend: 100% Glera; (the production method was not disclosed by the producer, likely Charmat)
Retail price: $40 (750 mL); The Sip Society price: $35.95 (750 mL)
Source: The Media Box
My next favorite came in the most unique packaging, though that’s not why I liked it. (Italians are great at sleek design, aren’t they?) This Prosecco, Bottega Gold from Valdobbiadene in Treviso (part of Veneto), was part of the “media box” I received. It is made from 100% Glera grapes (native to Italy and typically used for Prosecco) and has a flavor profile more like Champagne — apple, pear, and spice. Unlike most Prosecco which most Americans are familiar with that is sweeter, this one was dry (brut).
This lesser-known brand is at the forefront of what’s changing about Prosecco. Tired of being thought of as “cheap Champagne” the Prosecco makers of Italy banded together and have upped their game, even earning prestigious DOCG (Controlled and Guaranteed Destination of Origin) designations to indicate great quality is available in those regions. The Bottega Gold shows off what Prosecco can be, changing expectations one journalist at a time.
Luc Belaire Rare Rosé
Blend: Syrah, Grenache, and Cinsault; Charmat Method
The grapes were grown in Provence, but the wine was bottled in Burgundy where Luc Belaire is located.
Source: The Rosé Box
This was my least favorite of the bunch. It wasn’t until I was processing photos for my review that I realized why. The color, a light-medium salmon color, is not the expected color for this wine, which is a deep magenta-like pink.
I suspect this bottle was older and past its prime (most wine in the world is produced to be consumed within a year or two, despite a reputation for ageability). As a wine ages, its color changes, which is one of the main reasons wine professionals evaluate the color of a wine before tasting it. The color can tip you off to aromas and flavors to expect, thereby making it easier to identify quality issues.
In particular, NV (non-vintage) sparkling wine generally should be consumed within one year because it is produced with wines from various vintages, some of which are already aged.
Also, wine ages faster in the tiny bottles as there is a greater ratio of oxygen to wine, giving these little lovelies an even shorter shelf life.
Nicolas Feuillatte Réserve Exclusive Rosé
Blend: Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Pinot Meunier; Traditional Method
Retail price: $55 (750 mL); The Sip Society price: $50 (750 mL)
Source: The Rosé Box
I already knew the Nicolas Feuillatte was excellent — it’s my go-to for lunch in a café or dinner in restaurants when I’m out of town (I tend to bring my own wine to restaurants in California where it’s allowed, if not always encouraged). I received it as part of the Rosé Box.
This true Champagne is reliably fruity, balanced, and just a touch yeasty. Prolonged skin contact between the free-run juice and the Pinot Noir grapes makes it a Rosé. The Pinot creates red fruit characteristics like raspberry and strawberry alongside the more floral characteristics from the Chardonnay.
Chandon Brut Rosé
Blend: Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Pinot Meunier; Traditional Method
Retail price: $30 (750 mL); The Sip Society price: $25.95 (750 mL)
Source: The Media Box
Chandon is the American branch of the infamous Moet & Chandon house in Champagne. They’ve changed the packaging since this bottle was produced, so I suspect it was last year’s release. Regardless, unlike the Luc Belaire, it held up despite a limited expected aging window.
While this isn’t my favorite sparkling brut rosé, I would never turn it down. Absent the Nicolas Feuillatte, I would choose this one off most wine lists. Chandon is a serious wine that offers a substantial discount from true Champagne, especially Rosé Champagne.
My The Sip Society
Benefits Ratings
Satisfaction Guarantee | |
Customer Service | |
Wine Education | |
Convenience |
Much of the messaging from The Sip references how, as Black women, Erica and Catherine were always told to order pink or sweet wines instead of dry wines. It is true that many wine drinkers start out with sweeter wines (pink wines are often fruity, which is not the same as sweet, but more approachable in general). Sweet wines aren’t for everyone, but if you’re struggling to find other kinds of wine to enjoy, sparkling is a great place to start.
If you can afford little luxuries, this qualifies. I very much enjoyed having a few different glasses of bubbles hanging out in the fridge for those nights when my spouse was out and I wasn’t going to open a full size bottle. That’s another market who is perfect for The Sip Society — light drinkers or those who want to drink less in general. The subscription feels indulgent while still embracing moderation.
If you’re a deal hunter, The Sip may not be for you. The full price on full-size bottles, while below retail, does not represent a great bargain. I spot-checked the Moet & Chandon Nectar Imperial Rosé Champagne and found it only a buck cheaper at Total Wine but $5 cheaper at ReserveBar (not known for great prices), and I quickly found it at Plum Market for $20 less than that. The Sip is offering a tasting service, not a discount wine buying service — the economics are not the same (they provide more than just a bottle of wine on a shelf).
If you want access to rare wines, this might not be a wine club membership for you. There’s a lot of great sparkling wine made in large volumes, but it can’t be called rare or hard to find.
If ever there was a wine subscription that makes a great gift, this is it. You can gift a single box, or you can gift a 3-, 6-, or 12-month subscription (remember, it gets delivered every other month, so a 12-month subscription lasts for 2 whole years).
It’s important to note the gift is announced via email, the first shipment doesn’t just arrive at their door. Your recipient redeems their gift online, and then their subscription will begin. This streamlines the fulfillment side of The Sip to help keep managing different kinds of subscriptions more, well, manageable.
A couple of important caveats: your gift recipient will need to provide a credit card in order to redeem their gift; gift memberships are auto-renewed (to your recipient’s credit card), but they’ll get an email before the charge is made.
Love the idea but just want to send the gift once? They’ve got you covered with a great selection of one-time gift boxes ranging from $50.95 to $120.95.
The Sip Society Sparkling Wine Club