Wine clubs offer a lot for wine lovers

California wine clubs

Wine clubs have become an established part of the traditions of California wine. Think of them like a book-of-the-month club, but with wines instead of books. You buy a certain number of bottles a year, and they are delivered to your door. You get discounts and benefits, there shouldn’t be any cost to join, and you can cancel at any time.

Wine clubs pride themselves on their ability to find quality lesser-known wines and bring them to members. They cater to everyone from the expert to the novice. Some wine clubs include the Plonk Wine Club, the Gold Medal Wine Club, the International Wine of the Month Club, Lot 18’s Tasting Room, the Original Wine of the Month Club, Club W and Uncorked Ventures. Each of these has slightly different rules, methods and traditions.

Many wine clubs offer more than one series — wines grouped by theme and category. You might be able to choose to get wines from the Pacific Northwest, aged Cabernets or the most highly rated wines in California. At tours and tastings, you can meet the winemakers and socialize with other wine lovers.

A wine club worth joining near St. Helena

Anderson’s Conn Valley Vineyards in Napa Valley, a 10-minute drive from downtown St. Helena, has its own wine club. By agreeing to buy six bottles a year in groups of three, you can get Level I membership with discounts on their wines, tickets to parties and invitations to a complimentary tasting. Anderson’s wines are sold online and in five locations in Napa Valley, and many other locations nationwide. Join today.