Wine Club

As with any decision in life, joining a winery wine club offers both advantages and disadvantages. It’s important to resist the pressure many wineries apply to immediately join. While joining a wine club can be a satisfying and enjoyable decision, you should take some time to consider what the particular winery has to offer and if it’s the right one for you. If you find a winery that offers the types of wines you enjoy, a winery wine club can be a rewarding experience.

When deciding if you should join a specific winery’s wine club, consider the following disadvantages. Shipping costs, as we all well know, can be a significant expense. Usually, a winery wine club will send out 3 or 4 shipments each year with a selection of wine and whatever other paraphernalia the winery chooses to enclose. Additionally, the wine club membership typically allows you to enjoy wine at a discount. However, it’s important to calculate whether the added shipping costs will out weigh the benefit of the wine discount.

Moreover, the winery chooses which wines to send to you, the member. You have no input in the varietal or vintage you will receive. If the winery decides to ship all whites and you prefer reds, you may feel like you are paying for something you don’t really want. Another consideration is that the discounted price is based on the retail value which means, in some instances, you may be able to find the wine cheaper online or elsewhere. Also, because you will be receiving more than one bottle, you will need to consider wine storage.

Advantages to winery wine club membership are numerous. One of the most enticing reasons, other than delicious wine, is that membership is usually free. You can also choose to quit the wine club at your discretion. Further advantages include advance shipment of wines not yet released to the public. You essentially get a sneak peek into new vintages. Wineries will often send special release or special reserve wines that you may not have been able to try otherwise. Joining the wine club of a winery whose products you especially prefer means you will get a surprise selection of wines you are sure to enjoy. Wineries may also hold special events for wine club members only, which often give you the opportunity to meet and mingle with other wine lovers.

If you plan on joining a winery wine club, it would be wise and helpful to invest in a quality wine cooler. Wine refrigerators come in many sizes and capacities; you can choose a smaller wine cooler if you plan on storing a relatively small collection or purchase a larger one if you intend on your wine collection being ever expanding. Also, owning a proper wine cooler lets you age some or all of the wine sent to you through your membership. It would be especially delightful to store and relish well-aged special reserve wine. The advantages seem to out weigh the disadvantages and if you decide to join, make sure to fully enjoy the winery wine club experience.