Wine Club Suggestions?
 

I'm wanting to join a wine club one of these days, but I was wondering if there are any TFP'ers here who have joined or are still part of a wine club?

What were your experiences?

I'm not really a huge fan of the reds, unless someone can suggest one that is more sweet tasting than dry/sour, AND won't give you a headache.

If anyone would know of a good white wine club (although I'd be willing to experiment with reds), I'd appreciate any suggestions.

Thanks :)

a wine club that they mail you the bottles or a wine club where you can go and taste the wines and learn about the regions?

Most of the mail order places have fairly generic wines, you might be better off going to a wine store, and telling the person who works there, this is what you like or this is what you are serving and this is what you want to spend - and ask for suggestions...

Or pick some bottles that look pretty -

and get yourself a small notebook, and paste the label into the notebook along with your notes on the wine - like what you ate with it -and the tastes of it - certain foods do change the taste of wine....

For Reds - based on what youo say you don't like -s tay away from Cabs and merlots.. pinot noirs you might like a bit more...

Well, seeing as how you're from Westminster, CO...


Go to... Mondo Vino


It's the best wine store in Colorado. (And about five blocks from my house.)


All you have to do is walk in, tell a clerk what your tastes are and they can point you to the best of the best for the best price.

One where they send you the wine. And thanks for the red suggestions. :)

That's awesome, thanks so much :)

And while you're in the 'hood.


Walk across the street from Mondo Vino to a little place called Swimclub32. It's a beautiful restaurant with a great wine list. All small estate/artisan wine. Great food that mostly organic and local. Great signature cocktails. Artisan sake. And the best chocolate truffles you'll ever have.

I went to Viansa in Sonoma a few years ago and ended up a member of their club for several years untili the shipping became an issue for me (no one was ever home to sign and they refused to leave it so several shipments got sent back because the UPS man was an ass). They have beautiful blends. One of the owners is the daughter of the Sebastini family. The vineyard is gorgeous and the staff was wonderfully friendly, unlike some of the snottier places I'd visited and walked out of due to haughty attitude. I did the Solo Vino option and used the whites for hostess gifts. I was popular at housewarming parties. :lol:

I don't know if it's still an issue, but it was in '04, make sure that the state you live in allows alcohol to be shipped in across state lines. Florida was on that list at the time, but I remember it wasn't that long of a list four years ago.

I've been getting wine from the Napa Valley Wine Exchange for at least 5 years, and I recently moved our membership to the red-only one because that's what we've enjoyed most from there. Not to say that some of the whites weren't good, but my wife and I are much more partial to reds. They also send suggested recipes to be paired with each wine, some of which are incredibly good.

I've found that it's a great way to experiment with wines. Now, if you're looking for specific wineries, that's something different. I've been fortunate enough to get to know some of the wine makers over the last few years going back to a time when the wife and I were in Napa during football season, asked about the Bears game only to have the owner bring out a TV to watch the game and invite us to sit on his patio and watch with him while the Bears destroyed the Lions. He's introduced us to several other folks, and we're customers for life. It doesn't hurt that he's got one of the best Pinot Grigio's I know about.

One other thing - a few wineries are figuring out how to get around state laws. I'm thinking of La Castellana specifically (if you haven't tried Il Barone yet, you're missing out), and they're not selling their wines in stores at all. You have to have them send it to you directly, which is legal in every state except Utah since there is no other distribution method. It's also one of the coolest wineries I've been to since it's basically castle on a hill in Napa.

If you want a stopgap solution to discovering new wines on the cheap, try http://wine.woot.com/

They have a different wine (or set of wines) every week, usually at or below the various vineyards wine club prices. I can't participate due to AZ being alcohol shipment unfriendly, but I've heard nothing but good things about the wines currently available.

watch sideways..

Slight threadjack but we're not asses, we just can't leave the wine at your front door. My job>you getting your wine because you don't get it sent to work or go pick it up.=)

Uh, what? You've got me confused. How is that a threadjack, and what are you talking about exactly? And to who, me? :confused: :confused: :confused: :confused:

He's a delivery guy. You have to be at home to sign. They can't leave liquor/wine/booze on your doorstep.

Thanks LOL

You can't beat developing a relationship with someone that knows their stuff at a decent wine store.

I've had some good wine in restaurants while traveling for work over the years and then tried to purchase them in a wine store. That's where I've learned about the wine and also many less expensive substitutes that quite often are actually better.

And good wine store managers love to help you learn about the products they sell!

That's what the box said, but for a couple of years when my father-in-law had signed us up for a club, we'd find the box sitting on our front step each month. I guess our delivery guy didn't care.

Sue, did you check out Mondo Vino yet?

Not yet. I will eventually once I've got money afrter bills are paid. :) Also I want to go with my bf since he's into trying new wines too.

Cool. It's worth it.