By The_corkreporter
In an industry where tradition often holds sway, the emergence of new players in the UK wine retail space challenges conventional norms. One such newcomer is Winedrops, a London-based wine delivery service promising curated selections from small-scale producers, delivered monthly with a focus on personalisation and accessibility.
Since its inception, Winedrops has positioned itself as a disruptor—a modern alternative to the supermarket aisle and the intimidating language of traditional wine merchants. With clean branding, millennial-friendly messaging, and a subscription-based model, it aims to simplify wine discovery for a new generation of drinkers.
But does Winedrops live up to its promises? Is it truly reshaping the way people experience wine, or simply offering a rebranded form of convenience?
For me there are several “problems”. See the screenshot of this.
If it is true that there are prices around that £123.00 for this wine, but I doubt that this is this wine. I couldn’t see any producer on this bottles. and it is very similar to Chateau Beaucastel Hommage a Jaques Perrin, which I can buy for £275.00 at Berry Bros.
A New Model for Wine Buying
At its core, Winedrops offers a monthly wine subscription service. Customers receive a curated box of wines selected based on their preferences, refined over time through feedback and ratings. The company emphasises wines from independent producers, focusing on sustainable, organic, and low-intervention production methods.
According to Winedrops’ website, the wines are sourced from “under-the-radar” vineyards, many of which do not appear in mainstream UK retail. The company claims to bypass traditional distribution channels to offer better value for money.
What’s Working
For many consumers, especially those new to wine, the appeal is clear. Winedrops offers a simplified, guided experience that removes the pressure of choosing from hundreds of bottles. It introduces lesser-known producers in an approachable format, and the emphasis on sustainable sourcing resonates with a generation increasingly concerned with environmental impact and ethical production.
The packaging is minimal, the interface is user-friendly, and delivery is contactless—features particularly relevant in a post-pandemic retail environment.
Customer testimonials highlight the joy of discovery and the convenience of curated selections. Winedrops’ tone—friendly, educational, and non-confrontational—sets it apart from more traditional wine retailers.
Areas of Concern
Despite its growing popularity, questions remain about the transparency of Winedrops’ sourcing practices and the depth of its curation. While the company claims to offer bottles from independent, small-scale producers, detailed information on provenance, vintage, winemaking techniques, and importer relationships is often limited in public-facing materials.
Some customers have noted inconsistencies in quality across shipments and occasional gaps in customer service responsiveness. In the context of wine, where nuance, vintage variation, and personal preference all play significant roles, these inconsistencies are not unusual. However, they raise questions about whether Winedrops is delivering a truly personalised experience or relying too heavily on broad consumer trends.
Additionally, the subscription model may not suit all drinkers. Wine professionals and more experienced enthusiasts may find the lack of control over bottle selection frustrating. Unlike a traditional wine merchant, where consumers can ask detailed questions about specific wines, Winedrops’ digital-first model prioritises simplicity over depth.
The Subscription Trade-Off
Winedrops is not the first company to bring a subscription model to wine, but its success reflects a broader trend: the shift from expertise-based retail to algorithm-driven convenience. The challenge with this approach is that it can encourage passive consumption, where wine becomes another monthly delivery rather than a subject of engagement and exploration.
At its best, wine invites curiosity, dialogue, and learning. While Winedrops offers a gateway into this world, it may not provide the tools for long-term education or serious connoisseurship. This is not a flaw unique to Winedrops—it’s a limitation inherent to many wine subscription services trying to balance scale with personalisation.
Who’s Behind Winedrops? Ownership, Scale, and Structure
Winedrops is the brainchild of Seb Evans and Jonny Inglis, two British entrepreneurs who initially made their mark with Banquist, a fine-dining meal kit service launched during the COVID-19 pandemic. That venture focused on recreating Michelin-style meals at home and gained popularity during lockdowns. However, as hospitality reopened and consumer demand shifted, the founders pivoted to wine—specifically, to a scalable, recurring revenue model in the form of curated subscriptions. Thus, Winedrops was born.
The company has shown strong commercial momentum since its launch:
Subscribers: Winedrops now counts over 25,000 paying members, most of whom receive monthly deliveries.
Sales Volume: The company ships between 60,000 and 70,000 bottles each month.
Revenue: Based on average pricing, Winedrops is likely generating between £6–8 million in annual sales.
Profitability: The company claims to have reached profitable unit economics—a notable achievement in the subscription commerce space.
Marketing Spend: Founders publicly report spending over £200,000 monthly on digital advertising, primarily on Meta platforms.
Team Size: While exact staff numbers are undisclosed, Winedrops appears to run with a lean internal team, bolstered by outsourced logistics and contractors.
Headquarters: Banquist Ltd (Winedrops’ parent company) is registered at:
2 Tower House, Tower Centre, Hoddesdon, Hertfordshire, EN11 8UR.
Warehouse Location: Fulfilment and shipping are managed from:
Unit 5, Kenrich Business Park, Elizabeth Way, Harlow, CM19 5TL.
This lean, data-driven operation, combined with strategic ad spending and high retention, has helped Winedrops carve out a distinct place in the UK wine subscription market.
Final Assessment
Winedrops is a legitimate business with a clear value proposition: simplifying wine discovery through curated delivery. It serves a growing demographic of urban consumers seeking quality and convenience without the barriers of traditional wine culture.
However, its long-term impact on the UK wine landscape remains to be seen. If it can enhance transparency around its selections, deepen its educational content, and maintain a commitment to producer integrity, it could play a significant role in shaping how wine is marketed and consumed in the digital age.
For now, Winedrops is best viewed as a modern entry point—a useful tool for newer drinkers and a potentially helpful supplement for others. It is not a scam, nor is it a wholesale revolution. But it is an early sign of how wine retail is changing, and that in itself is worth paying attention to.
