‘Tis the season to shout at your steering wheel while parked in the lot
of the local mall—furious in frustration over what the heck to
buy that special someone. Yes, the holidays are here and in the spirit of
giving I offer some solace to the confused shopper – yes, I count myself
among you.
Whether you’ve got a wine enthusiast on your list or you just
hope to create one, a gift membership to a wine club is a gift
they won’t soon forget. After all, how could they; the wine will
keep arriving periodically at their door for at least the ensuing year.
Wine clubs are an excellent way to demonstrate your thoughtfulness while
also showing in no uncertain terms your good taste. It’s sure to be appreciated
with each pull of the cork.
There are countless wine clubs available in Wine
Country and dozens more to found throughout the nation and reachable
via the Internet. The trick is to locate the right club to join—whether
for you or on behalf of your gift recipient. Most respectable wine
clubs are designed to keep members abreast of their favorite wines
while offering them first-look insight into new wines or wines
they might not otherwise find on their own. Most wineries operate wine clubs
through which members are offered first dibs on reserve vintage orders,
exclusive discounts, and invitations to private tastings, classes,
and parties.
Other
wine clubs are more like clubs in the traditional sense. They have
members from far and wide and offer those members diverse benefits.
A good example is The California Club (800-777-4443;
www.cawineclub.com),
a well-run club that, for 16 years, has kept its members in touch
with the best in small-batch, family-run wineries.
The wines featured by
California Wine Club are often not available in stores. Members
of the club—there’s no initiation fee—get a subscription to the club’s excellent
newsletter, monthly or quarterly shipments of wine to their door, and exclusive
savings of as much as half off the retail price on reorders of
favorite wines. The club also offers expert advice on selecting wines that
suit individual tastes. There are many gift membership options available,
but the club’s most popular is its “Premier” level, which includes two bottles
of award-winning wine and the newsletter for $32.95 plus shipping.
The American Cellars Wine
Club (800-823-5527; www.vinesse.com) offers its members access
to wines from around the world, delivered in two or four-bottle
shipments along with extensive tasting notes, background information
and a few food-pairing tips and recipes to boot. The ACWC offers
six different membership types: The namesake club, which includes
shipments of bottles averaging $12 from vineyards throughout the nation;
the California Treasures club, focusing on Golden State wines also at the
$12 price point; the Four Seasons Sampler Series, with a shipment four times
per year; and the World of Wine Sampler Series, with a half-case
in each shipment. Big Bold Reds and Light & Sweet
round out the membership types.
Whatever membership you choose,
a wine club gift will ensure they’re raising a glass to you long
after the holidays.
Wine
Clubs