Is 19 Crimes Worth It?
🦙 Paco's verdict: Worth it for the fun
Yes — for the price and the vibe, it's a fine buy. 19 Crimes is a soft, easy, crowd-pleasing everyday red that does exactly what a ~$10-$12 bottle should. Just go in clear-eyed: a chunk of what you're paying for is the talking-label gimmick, not the liquid.
Quick answer
19 Crimes is worth it if you want a fun, low-stakes red that's easy to drink and easy on the wallet. It's smooth, fruit-forward, and reliably inoffensive — a solid Tuesday-night or party bottle. It won't blow your mind, and you're partly paying for the gimmick, but at this price that's a fair trade.
Value Check
Short answer: yes, it's worth it — as long as your expectations match the price. At roughly ~$10-$12, 19 Crimes delivers a smooth, ripe, slightly sweet-edged red that goes down easy and pleases a crowd. Nobody's going to call it complex, but nobody's going to spit it out either. Think of it as the gateway-red equivalent of a reliable chain restaurant: consistent, comforting, no surprises. That's a real value when you just want a bottle that works.
What you're really paying for
Let's be honest about the math. Part of your money goes to the wine — a decent, mass-produced Australian red. The other part goes to the brand: the augmented-reality app, the historical-convict storytelling, and the conversation-piece label. That's not a knock. The gimmick is genuinely fun, and fun has value at a party. Just know that a quieter-labeled bottle at the same price often gives you a touch more actual wine in the glass. You're paying a small 'vibe tax' here — and for the right occasion, it's worth paying.
What Paco would buy instead
- Yellow Tail Shiraz (~$8-$10) — the original cheerful Aussie red; same easy, fruity style with even less ceremony.
- Bota Box Old Vine Zinfandel (~$18-$22 for a box) — way more wine per dollar if you're pouring for a group and don't need the label.
- An entry-level Côtes du Rhône (~$12-$15) — if you want to spend the same money but level up the actual liquid with a bit more structure and savory depth.
When it's actually worth it
It's a yes when the occasion rewards the gimmick: a casual party, a gift for someone who loves a good story, a game night, or anyone just getting into red wine and wanting something soft and approachable. It's also a yes as a no-brainer house red — chill it slightly, serve it to a mixed crowd, and watch it disappear. The exception: if you're a structure-and-tannin person who wants the wine to challenge you a little, this isn't your bottle. You'll find it too soft and too polished.
If it were my money
For a fun bottle to bring somewhere or hand to a curious newcomer, I'd grab 19 Crimes without overthinking it — the price is right and the gimmick earns its keep. But if it's just me and a steak on a Tuesday, I'd put the same money toward an entry-level Côtes du Rhône or a Yellow Tail and skip the app. Same spend, more wine, fewer features I don't need.
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Bottom line
Worth it for the price and the fun — a reliable, easy-drinking everyday red. Just remember you're partly paying for the talking label, so buy it for the vibe, not for a mind-blowing glass.
Frequently asked questions
- Is 19 Crimes actually good wine?
- It's good for what it is — a smooth, fruit-forward, crowd-pleasing everyday red at a budget price. It's not complex or age-worthy, but it's reliably drinkable and inoffensive, which is exactly the job at ~$10-$12.
- Why is 19 Crimes so popular?
- Mostly the marketing. The augmented-reality app that makes the labels 'talk,' the convict backstory, and the conversation-piece bottles made it a viral hit. The wine inside is solid and easy to like, but the brand experience is the real draw.
- Is 19 Crimes worth the money or am I paying for the gimmick?
- A bit of both. You're getting a perfectly fine red plus a fun gimmick, and at this price that's a fair trade. If you want maximum wine-per-dollar and don't care about the label, a quieter bottle gives you slightly more in the glass.
- What would Paco buy instead?
- For the same easy style and even cheaper, Yellow Tail Shiraz (~$8-$10). For more wine per dollar at a party, Bota Box Old Vine Zinfandel (~$18-$22 a box). And to actually level up the liquid for similar money, an entry-level Côtes du Rhône (~$12-$15).
Still deciding?
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