
If you are new to wine, a wine club will help you find out which wines you really like (and those that you don’t). It is the perfect way of discovering new wines on a regular basis. If you’re not currently a member of a wine club, you should think again. Here’s why you are missing out.
Do you generally stick to what you know?
When faced with rows and rows of unfamiliar wines in the local supermarket, do you find that you always end up sticking to what you know? If you do branch out, it’s likely to be because you are swayed by the nicest, most appealing label or because you’ve gone on someone else’s recommendations (which then leave you feeling flat when you discover that you don’t like the same wine as them!) So in your quest to buy new, exciting, great tasting wines for your dinner party or Sunday Lunch, you come away with your same old, trusted bottle of wine. Sound familiar?
Join a Wine Club:
But all of that could be put to an end if you join a wine club. Each month or quarter (depending on the wine club), the wine club will send you a selection of wines from around the world. Featuring a variety of whites, reds, rosé and maybe the odd sparkling or dessert wine, you get to try wines from different grapes, countries and styles. True, you probably won’t like them all but it’s a great way of tasting your way through a selection of new releases, customer favourites and award winning wines that you probably wouldn’t have previously dared chosen.
Discover What You Like:
In the same way that we all like different food, the key thing to remember about wine is that we all like different wines and no one can tell you what you will like. (Remember this next time you are in the wine shop!) So to get the most out of your wines, you need to work out what you like. To help you along the way, most wine clubs enclose detailed information in the wine club case about the wines, so that you can learn more about the grape, country and winemaker as you drink. Suggestions for food matches can also give you confidence next time you host a dinner party. It’s also worth rating your wine club wines as you taste them, as you can be sure that you’ll have forgotten how the first ones tasted by the time you finish the case! Even better is to choose a wine club that displays customer comments on its website. That way, you’ll have an idea of what to expect from your wine club wine before you taste it.
Wine Styles Can Help:
Some wine clubs, such as the Virgin Wines Discovery Wine Club, categorise wines by style, such as “Classic Chardonnay”, “Oaky Aussie Chardonnay”, “Huge Reds” and “Soft and Juicy” reds. This is great for newcomers to wine, as it is far more intuitive than the traditional country and grape based categories, plus it recognises that certain grape varieties like Chardonnay can vary significantly in taste. The real advantage of being a member of a wine club that categorises wines in this way, is that it opens wine drinkers up to a far wider range of wines than they might otherwise have come across. For example in the “Fragrant but Dry” category, wine drinkers will find Argentinean Torrontes as a great value alternative to a pricey French Muscat – a recommendation that you won’t get from a wine club or shop that focuses simply on grape or country.
Try a Tasting Course:
To help wine drinkers learn more about wine, some wine clubs offer tasting courses or events. Tasting wines back-to-back allows drinkers to really get a feel for how two different wines taste and, ultimately, it can help them decide what to buy more of in the future.
Risk Free Buying:
Still not convinced? Part of the fun of joining a wine club is tasting new wines and discovering new favourites but if you are worried about getting something you really don’t like and wouldn’t have chosen yourself, don’t worry. Many wine clubs offer a money back guarantee, so if you come across a wine that you really can’t stomach, they will refund your money.
Join Today:
Joining a wine club can really help you when it comes to learning about wine. Not only will you get to taste a variety of new wines and find out what you really like but also it will give you more confidence in choosing your wines. You’ll never need worry about picking out a bottle of wine for your next dinner party again! To find out about Virgin Wines’ Discovery Wine Club, visit Virgin Wines.
Watch the video related to wine
San Diego and Temecula Valley Wine Country Frank Mangio of TasteofWineTV.com offers the first of four tips on tasting wine like a pro.
Help answer the question about wine
What is the best wine to give for a wedding gift?My wife and I do not drink wine. We are going to a wedding for some people who love wine. We were wondering what is the best type of wine to give for the wedding gift. We are hoping for a limit of $60 (what can I say, times are tough for us all). Thanks!
About Author
Louise Truswell has been working in and writing about the wine industry for a number of years. To help wine drinkers learn more about Wines, Virgin Wines Club offers tasting courses or events, visit Virginwines.Com
Tags: Internet Wine Club, Internet Wine Clubs, Online Wine Club, Online Wine Clubs, Virgin Wines, Wine, Wine Club, Wine Clubs, Wines
June 25th, 2009 at 6:18 am
fuck the colour just drink it n get pissed
June 25th, 2009 at 6:18 am
I have experience with only one wine club, the Wine of the Month club for St. Francis winery in California.
They were really very good – my card was charged about a week before the wine arrived, and there was never any problem of anything being broken or too hot when it arrived.
Check out your local wineries and see if any of them have wine clubs – it's much better if you already kow that you like the wine because you've tasted what they have…
June 25th, 2009 at 6:27 am
Some of the more popular wine club/store sites:
http://www.wine.com/wineclubs
http://www.cellarswineclub.com
http://www.wineaccess.com/store/winehouse/bboard
Some fantastic social networking sites that will cater to wine lovers:
http://www.upcoming.org
groups.yahoo.com
http://www.meetup.com
You can use any of the above links and start discussions with people tha tlove wine and having wine tastings. If you'd prefer a more local group I'd recommend setting up a reoccuring event on either upcoming or meetup where you can get together with new folks as well as existing ones.
June 25th, 2009 at 6:57 am
im in the wine industry and this is appauling – you are the reason everyone thinks we are wine wankers
June 26th, 2009 at 12:04 am
This is a Good Lesson. I’ve been to a few wine tasting and they were Wine Wonderful! I Love Wine. Thanks! ~Andree’
June 26th, 2009 at 6:07 am
I can tell you a good fight club
June 26th, 2009 at 8:03 am
Check it out:
http://www.google.ca/search?sourceid=navclient&aq=t&ie=UTF-8&rlz=1T4GFRD_enCA204CA204&q=red+wine+clubs
June 26th, 2009 at 4:07 pm
Yes! I belong to the Gold Medal wine club. It had been about 4 months now and I am fairly impressed with the wines. All have pretty much come from California (specifically the Central Coast but I have gotten stuff from Sonoma). Gold Medal has several different price and quality levels to choose from. I get the basic package with an add on that gives me an extra bottle every couple months. Check out their website at http://www.goldmedalwine.com. I used to belong to the California Wine club, I wasn't too impressed with them so I canceled.
Ok for your other questions. As far as tasting notes, I have "Tasting Journal" that I keep with me pretty much all the time. I always take notes when I open one of my new wines from the club and write them in the journal. I also use the journal when I go to tasting events, wine bars, or at wineries. I find I get funny looks when I am at a restaurant but I like taking notes so I just ignore people. Lets see as far as managing my membership, they just bill me every month on my credit card. It is just about the same each much so… Lastly, I don't really taste my wine club wines in a group setting, sometimes I will bring one to dinner at friends or something but I don't make a special point to taste them in a group. Sometimes if I get something I think I wont like (for example I am not a big California Chardonnay fan) I will give it to someone that is.
June 26th, 2009 at 11:14 pm
I've been in a few. Wine.com has several to chose from. Check on their site. I gave my brother-in-law one a few years ago, and was a member of one of theirs for a few years myself.
Other places to look:
cawineclub.com
winemonthclub.com
thewineclub.com
atasteofcalifornia.com
cellarswineclub.com
vawineclub.com
That should give you a good start.
June 27th, 2009 at 2:42 am
Because youtube is the place where I tell everybody what I hate. Duh!
June 27th, 2009 at 9:23 am
all wine tastes nasty. i hate wine. i hate beer. i hate alcohol.
June 27th, 2009 at 10:28 am
IMHO – wine clubs are fine, but if you really want to explore wines, you should have a local shop in your area. If the pro's are knowledgeable and this isn't simply a "liquor store", then I'd stick with that. This way, you can attend tastings, events there and sometimes, good wine shops have the Wine Maker come and show off their best wines.
Also, if you're truly interested in wine and this is not simply a passing phase in your life, I'd recommend a book or two. "The Wine Bible" by Karen McNeil is by far the best. It's huge and thicker than War & Peace, but it's not necessary to read it cover to cover. You can pick it up anywhere and learn at your own pace.
There's also a fun online wine course that's free: http://www.freewinecourse.com/ feel free to check that out too.
You'll also save money in the long run as there's a ton of mark up in a bottle of wine shipped to you.
June 27th, 2009 at 1:50 pm
I think I counted about 10 sexual innuendos. Well, I’ll be back shortly.
June 27th, 2009 at 4:21 pm
Sounds great. Maybe find a butcher or deli owner or someone who could incorporate some meats and/or cheeses once in a while.
Are you going to call the club "Stop Your Wining?"
June 27th, 2009 at 6:35 pm
Then y r u watching it?
June 28th, 2009 at 1:42 am
to start with u are holding wrong wine glass…sorry
June 28th, 2009 at 3:05 am
lol good answer
June 28th, 2009 at 4:57 pm
I don't belong to a winery specific wine club. My only issue with winery specific clubs is you have to really like their wine because that is all you get. It tough because wine quality changes over time due to weather, new winemakers, etc. Make sure its somewhere you really like. If you want something with verity try a general wine club. I belong to Gold Medal Wine Club. I get something new each month and so far it all has been pretty good.