Virgin Wines is one of the UK’s biggest online wine merchants, based in Norwich and part of the Virgin brand family. Most of its 600 plus wines are exclusive, made with independent winemakers and shaped by customer ratings, and it sells them through two clubs: WineBank, a monthly savings account that adds a 20% bonus to everything you put in, and the Discovery Wine Club, a case of new wines every three months at a guaranteed discount. Both are flexible, with no contract, and both open with a 12 bottle case at £5.49 a bottle. The question is which one suits the way you drink.
Virgin Wines prices
| Plan | How it works | Price |
|---|---|---|
| WineBank | Pay in every month, Virgin Wines adds 20% (£5 for every £25), spend it on any wines | £15 to £100 a month (£30 suggested), free delivery on wine |
| WineBank welcome case | 12 bottles to start your membership, plus £15 credited to your WineBank | £65.88 (£5.49 a bottle), free delivery |
| Discovery Wine Club introductory case | 12 wines chosen by the buying team | £65.88 (£5.49 a bottle) plus £7.99 delivery |
| Discovery Wine Club regular case | 12 new wines every three months and at Christmas, at least 15% off | £137.88 (£11.49 a bottle) plus £7.99 delivery |
Standard delivery is £7.99 per address for wine, within one to three working days if you order before 4pm, and express or named day delivery costs £2 more. Virgin Wines delivers across the UK except the Channel Islands, to over 18s only. Prices are those shown on the Virgin Wines website and can change with promotions.
How Virgin Wines works
WineBank is the more original of the two. You choose a monthly deposit between £15 and £100, Virgin Wines tops it up by 20%, and the balance builds until you want to spend it, on any wine in the range, whenever you like. Members get free delivery on every wine order and a personal wine adviser. You can change or pause your deposits at any time, and the brand says the money is ring fenced and can be withdrawn.
The Discovery Wine Club is a classic wine subscription. Every three months, plus once at Christmas, the buying team sends a case of 12 of its best new wines with tasting notes. You get a preview by email before it ships, so you can swap bottles, change the delivery date or skip the case altogether. There is no contract and you cancel by contacting customer services.
What makes Virgin Wines different
- A savings account for wine. No other big UK wine club works like WineBank. A 20% bonus on your deposits is a real discount, and you stay in control of what you buy.
- Exclusive wines. Over 90% of the range is exclusive to Virgin Wines, which makes like for like price comparisons with supermarkets almost impossible, for better and for worse.
- Customer ratings drive the range. The brand says it has collected more than 200,000 five star ratings and sold over 80 million bottles, with an average rating of 4.2 out of 5, and uses that feedback to choose what it stocks.
- Money back guarantee. If you do not like a bottle, Virgin Wines promises a full refund.
Is Virgin Wines worth it?
WineBank is the reason to choose Virgin Wines. If you already spend £30 or so a month on wine, getting £36 to spend, free delivery and no obligation to buy anything is one of the best deals among UK wine clubs. The Discovery Wine Club is less compelling: after the very cheap first case, £11.49 a bottle plus delivery is a fair price for wines you have not chosen, but no bargain, and because most bottles are exclusive you cannot easily check what they would cost elsewhere. Our verdict: join WineBank if you like picking your own wines and want to spread the cost; pick Discovery only if you enjoy surprises and want someone else to choose. One small inconsistency to note: the WineBank page quotes 600 plus wines while the Discovery page says 700 plus.
Pros
- WineBank adds 20% to every deposit, a genuine saving
- Free delivery on all wine orders for WineBank members
- No contract on either club, pause, skip or cancel
- Very cheap 12 bottle welcome cases at £5.49 a bottle
- Money back guarantee on any bottle you dislike
Cons
- Regular Discovery cases cost £137.88 plus £7.99 delivery
- Mostly exclusive wines, so prices are hard to compare
- Delivery is £7.99 per order outside WineBank
- Discovery cases are chosen for you unless you swap bottles
Best alternatives to Virgin Wines
- Naked Wines: the closest rival, also built on a monthly top up that funds independent winemakers in exchange for member prices.
- Laithwaites: a long established wine merchant with a large range of mixed case plans.
- Sunday Times Wine Club: run by the same group as Laithwaites, with regular cases and member events.
- Wine52: a more modern, design led wine subscription for people who want curated bottles and stories.
- Wine of England: for anyone who wants to explore English wine.
For more options, browse all our wine subscription boxes.
Virgin Wines FAQ
How much does Virgin Wines cost?
WineBank costs whatever you choose to deposit, from £15 to £100 a month, with a 20% bonus on top. The Discovery Wine Club starts with 12 wines for £65.88 plus £7.99 delivery, then £137.88 plus £7.99 for each case of 12, sent every three months and at Christmas.
How do I cancel Virgin Wines?
Neither club has a contract. You can pause or change WineBank deposits in your account, and to cancel a club you get in touch with customer services on 0343 224 1001 or by live chat.
Is there a Virgin Wines discount code?
The best offers are the welcome cases at £5.49 a bottle, available to new WineBank and Discovery Wine Club members on the Virgin Wines website. WineBank’s 20% bonus is effectively a permanent discount on everything you buy.
Is Virgin Wines worth it?
For WineBank, yes: a 20% top up and free delivery make it one of the best value ways to buy wine online in the UK. The Discovery Wine Club is worth it mainly for the introductory case, after which the price is fair rather than cheap.
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