Is Traveling Vineyard an MLM? Unpacking the Wine Business Model
So here I am, minding my business, when someone casually drops the name REWINED. I thought, “Huh, cute name,” until they said it was run by Traveling Vineyard. Cue the record scratch. I had already roasted Traveling Vineyard in my “Wine MLMs You Should Avoid” post and somehow blocked it from memory.
REWINED is a wine club that only features wines from (you guessed it) Traveling Vineyard. The website itself looked fine on the surface… so naturally, I Googled the parent company. And yep, there it was. That familiar scent of “Gaslight, gatekeep, girl boss.”
Red Flags and Wine Guides
I clicked “Become a Wine Guide” so you don’t have to. And I was greeted with:
“A new career, a new life.”
Ok calm down. This isn’t a Colleen Hoover novel. It’s a sales gig for budget wine.
They promise flexible hours, the ability to be your own boss, and to eventually turn this into your full-time job. Sorry but “full-time job” and “hawking cheap wine at in-home tastings” do not go together. Hard pass.
Stay-at-Home Mom Targeting: Classic MLM Move
Like other wine MLMs, Traveling Vineyard goes after stay-at-home moms because “flexibility.” And they don’t even try to hide it. I had to do a lot of digging (and even sent an email from my alter ego Bri Chyze) just to get to the join page. Spoiler: You’re buying your own business kit, which is a fancy way of saying “you’re paying to work here.”
The Kits (aka Pay-to-Play)
Here’s what they offer:
• Essentials Success Kit – 10 bottles of wine + “marketing materials” for $99
• Digital Success Kit – $35 store credit + access to digital assets
• Complete Success Kit – 10 bottles + glasses + more “marketing stuff”
Oh and there’s a $15.95 monthly fee to keep your site active. That adds up to $191.40 a year. Just to exist.
Also, you can’t even check out unless you pick a random Wine Guide to “sponsor” you. I picked Sarah-from-somewhere. Sorry girl.
Transparency… Not So Much
When I finally found the financial compensation page, it had the audacity to open with:
“Transparency is huge for us.”
If transparency is so huge, why did it take me more clicks than it takes to find a good Riesling under $15?
They use all the classic MLM phrasing: “team building,” “rewards for recruiting,” “growing your business.” Basically, they spelled out “pyramid scheme” but made it inspirational.
A Closer Look at the Fine Print
They say you don’t have to sell monthly. Just pay your $15.95 and vibe, I guess? They also offer a “Sommology Kit” to teach you food and wine pairings… Something you could learn for free on my blog, no kit required.
The Math Isn’t Mathing
I stumbled on their 2017 Income Disclosure, which is… a trip.
According to the report:
• Top 0.04% (let’s say 2 people) = $116,935 average income
• Bottom 72.42% = $350 annually
• Bottom 25% = $30. THIRTY DOLLARS.
You’re paying at least $220.40 just to make $30. That’s not a business. That’s a scam with a corkscrew!
Also, if you’re hoping to be one of those 2 people making decent money? You have a better shot at becoming an astronaut. Literally.
2025 Update Disclaimer
Yes, this post is accurate as of 2025. But if Traveling Vineyard suddenly decides to rebrand as a kombucha empire or claims you can earn a company yacht for selling 12 bottles, I’m not responsible. MLMs love reinventing themselves more than your ex who just discovered therapy. Always double-check before you dive in.
