The Untold Truth Of Usual Wines

There's a good chance you've probably encountered Usual Wines on Instagram thanks to its sleek and eye-catching packaging. That's certainly part of the reason why this wine brand has become so popular with millennials. But there's more to Usual wines than meets the glass. 

Usual says that it sources delicious grapes, treats them well, and allows the grapes to shine through. Usual claims to use an artful approach to making wine and that the wine includes no additives like sulfites or sweeteners like sugar. That's why it says its wines are just "grapes, water, and sunshine" from sustainable farms that don't use pesticides in California (via Usual Wines). All of these claims are hallmarks of natural winemaking, according to Wine Simple by Aldo Sohm, a world-class sommelier and wine director of three-Michelin-star restaurant, Le Bernardin. The one exception is that Usual wines are quite clear and likely use a fining agent to remove sediment from the wine.

Usual wines are designed to be straightforward for those who simply want a good glass of wine at the end of the day. That's why the bottles of wine are not labeled by their varietals, but rather as rose, red, and brut. A closer look will tell you which varietals are blended together to create each of the styles of wine.

The rose hails from Santa Barbara with a 13.5 percent alcohol by volume. It's a blend of Syrah, Sangiovese, and Malbec grapes to create a crisp, floral, and fruity wine that's more dry than it is sweet. The red blend consists of Syrah, Sangiovese, Zinfandel, and Pinot Noir from Sonoma County. This wine has a 14 percent alcohol by volume and is made to reflect notes of dark fruits and cocoa. Though the red is lightly aged in oak, it remains on the dry side and is more acidic and tannic (via Vivino). Finally, the brut from North Coast is 12 percent alcohol by volume and is refreshing and bubbly with hints of citrus (via Usual). 

Each wine has no added sulfites, though there are naturally-occurring sulfites in wine as well as other foods like dried apricots and blue cheese (via Wine Spectator). Added sulfites are typically included as a preservative, but Usual wines are made in small batches and sealed to be enjoyed in one go. So you won't — and can't — re-cork the individual servings.

Usual wines are pretty distinct looking. Each bottle looks like a glass beaker with a screw top and are meant to be just enough to serve an individual. That's why these are perfect for those who want to enjoy a glass of wine at the end of the day without having to worry about opening a whole bottle for just themselves. Each bottle contains 6.3 ounces of wine, the equivalent of about one-fourth of a bottle of wine, which means you'll definitely have enough to enjoy since it's more than your typical pour (via Delish).

Apart from the social media-friendly aesthetic and single, yet generous servings, there's another reason these wines are great for individuals. Usual wines come with a subscription, which millennials love. So your favorite glasses of wine can be delivered right to your door and stored on a shelf while still looking great without ever having to set foot in a store. It doesn't get much easier than that.