Firstleaf vs Gold Medal Wine Club
Firstleaf
Gold Medal Wine ClubWe may earn a commission from links on this page, at no extra cost to you. It never changes our picks. How we make money.
Quick verdict
Firstleaf edges it overall, winning 3 of 4 rating categories. Firstleaf is cheaper to start ($39.95 vs $49).
Choose Firstleaf if…
You’re beginners who want someone to learn their taste for them. A personalized wine club that learns from your bottle ratings. The $39.95 six-bottle intro box is one of the best deals in wine clubs; regular boxes are fair value at about $15 a bottle.
See current offerChoose Gold Medal Wine Club if…
You’re gift-givers and fans of award-winning California wines. A tiered club of competition-winning wines from small California producers, from the entry Gold Series (two bottles) up to limited-membership collector tiers.
See current offerSide by side
| Firstleaf | Gold Medal Wine Club | |
|---|---|---|
| Our rating | 4.3/5 | 3.6/5 |
| Value | 4.5/5 | 3.6/5 |
| Wine quality | 3.8/5 | 4.1/5 |
| Choice & personalization | 4.4/5 | 3.2/5 |
| Flexibility | 4.4/5 | 3.6/5 |
| Starting price | $39.95 | $49 |
| Approx. per bottle | $14.99 | $24.50 |
| Bottles per shipment | 6 or 12 | 2 to 12 depending on series |
| How often | Every 1, 2 or 3 months | Monthly, every 2 months or quarterly |
| Shipping | $9.95 on 6 bottles; free on 12 | Extra; varies by state |
| Intro offer | - | - |
| Guarantee | Replacement credit for bottles you don’t like | Satisfaction guarantee |
| Skip / cancel | Skip, delay or cancel online | Change or cancel by phone |
| What you can choose | Red, white or mixed; the algorithm picks bottles, you can swap | Several series from everyday to collector (93+ point) wines |
| Ships to | Most US states (not all: checked at sign-up) | Most US states |
| Best for | Beginners who want someone to learn their taste for them | Gift-givers and fans of award-winning California wines |
Firstleaf: pros & cons
- The intro box works out to under $7 a bottle
- Rate each bottle and the next box adjusts to your taste
- Reds-only, whites-only or mixed, every 1-3 months
- Easy to skip or cancel in your account
- Most bottles are Firstleaf’s own labels, so you can’t look up outside reviews
- Regular price is roughly double the intro price
- Six-bottle boxes add a shipping fee
Gold Medal Wine Club: pros & cons
- Award-winning small-production wines
- Good range of tiers for gifting
- Detailed tasting notes and winery profiles
- Shipping is extra
- Top tiers get expensive fast
- Not much personalization