Wine 101 – Wine Clubs
Want to join a wine club? This part of our wine 101 guide will show you how to choose one…
During the holiday seasons, many people consider wine club memberships as gifts. The present seems ideal – the recipient can learn about wine each month, the gift goes on for the entire year, and usually the price can be paid out monthly. It’s especially great for those that already seem to have everything else.
There’s a fantastic range of wine clubs to choose from – some specialize in basic wines while others offer selections of the best wines available in the world. There are wine clubs offering everything inbetween too. So then, how do you go about choosing the one for you?
The first thing to do is to examine how much you have to spend. A wine club is available for every budget, you just need to ask yourself…would you like to spend $20-$30 a month to learn about wines in an inexpensive manner? Or do you have a bit more to spend? And would like to sample some of the finest available? Either way, you’ll be able to find one that matches your budget.
So, you’ve decided on a budget, now you need to consider what styles of wine you’re interested in. Wine clubs are available for every type of wine you could imagine. There are white wine clubs, sweet wine clubs, Californian-only wine clubs, “best of the world” wine clubs, “exclusive wines that you can’t find elsewhere” wine clubs, and all sorts of other combinations. Decide what your goals are. To learn more about a particular wine producing region? Or to try out exotic wines that you never otherwise would?
Once you’ve decided on your wine style and budget, the next step is to look on the internet to find the perfect wine club for you. When doing so, there’s a few extra things to consider.
Make sure you understand all the costs before you sign up. Specifically ask about sign-up costs and shipping costs. Also, what is their cancellation and returns policy? And what is the minimum contract length?
How long the average member stays with the wine club is also a useful piece of information to find out. Is it common for members to leave after a year? Can they provide any testimonials from existing members? The more willing they are to share such information, the more faith you can have in them. Look for any side benefits to belonging to a club too. You may be offered free gifts or be able to re-order your favourite wines at discount prices.
That’s everything covered; so start looking for a wine club and enjoy a great selection of wines for months to come.
