4 Reasons to Join a Wine Club

Are you a wine lover but don’t really know anything about different varieties or how to choose a good bottle of wine? Ditto for some of your friends and family? Well, here’s a no-brainer: How about gifting yourself or others a wine club membership?

Here are our top four reasons why wine lovers will love to receive this as a gift!

1. You Learn About Different Wines

If you don’t know your Beaujolais from your Burgundy or your Chardonnay from your Sauvignon Blanc, or you’re unsure if you enjoy sweet or dry wine, wine clubs are a great place to start learning. Not only will you study different types of wines, you’ll discover what you like and dislike about each one.

Even if you know you like Chardonnay as an everyday wine, you might be ready to switch to something new. Many clubs are focused on specific types of wine or regions, such as a French wine club or a red wine club. If you don’t know what you like, it’s best to choose a more general-selection wine club. You might also learn a little more about which wines pair the best with your favorite foods.

2. You Get to Sample Exclusive, Rare & Boutique Wines

Typically, wines selected for club members aren’t the ordinary bulk wines you find in stores. Instead, they’re often chosen from small wineries from around the world. By supporting these smaller boutique wineries, you may be helping to protect local grape varieties, local wine artisans and age-old, wine-making practices and traditions handed down through the generations.

3. You’re Always Prepared for Dinner Parties

Wine clubs typically ship regularly to your home. Not only does this allow you the convenience of it coming straight to you, but it also means you don’t have to shoulder the burden of selecting the perfect wine for your party and your guests. Instead, you have an opportunity to sample something new with all of your friends.

For example, if you aren’t sure if you like red or white wine, you could request one of each delivered each month. Or, if you want to learn more about reds, you can have two bottles of red delivered each month. With regular shipments, you’ll always have a spare bottle on hand for impromptu parties and gatherings.

4. More Excuses to Drink Wine With Loved Ones

• Host an informal group wine tasting
  Invite each friend to bring a bottle to share and taste. Hold your glass by the stem: Check the wine color, swirl the glass to release the aroma, taste the wine, and note its feel and aftertaste. Jot down tasting notes so you can remember exactly what you like and what you don’t.
• Practice presenting and pouring wine to a wine aficionado
  There’s a process involved, which can be fun to learn and practice. The practice will definitely come in handy if you ever have hopes of joining a group of more serious wine drinkers.
• Throw a Sangria party
  There are so many different recipes for Sangria, usually involving fresh fruit, some sparkling wine and rum or other liquor. Find a recipe that appeals to you, and mix up a pitcher for sharing.

Consider pairing a wine club membership with a special set of Schott Zwiesel, Spiegelau or Riedel stemware, or any other special accessories to bring out the best in the wine.

But, perhaps the most important tip to enjoying a wine club membership: Don’t just uncork and open up your wine the day it’s delivered or you might find that it tastes funny. No matter how much care is used in packing and shipping, “bottle shock” happens when the wine shakes during shipment. If bottles are opened too soon upon arrival, the flavor will not be as intended. Let all shipped wine bottles rest for at least a week before opening.

Cheers!

Learn More:

• Wine Clubs: Everything You Need to Know Before Joining
• Wine Gift Basket Ideas: Our Tips for Giving the Perfect Gift
• 20 Wine Gifts For Your Favorite Wine Aficionado
• Wine Aerators: A Guide to Opening Up Your Wine