Wine Clubs – Are They Worth It?

We all have our favorite wineries, and it is very tempting to sign up for wine clubs. The question is, “Are wine clubs worth the cost?” Wine clubs often offer special perks for their customers – free tastings at the winery, wine club member only events, and discounts. It can be really easy to over-commit yourself to wine clubs in the beginning. Because of this it may be helpful to consider some of the following tips when you are joining a vineyard’s wine club.

1. Don’t join on the first tasting. If you’ve had the wine before, great, that’s fine. But if this is your first experience with the winery, make sure to visit again if you can. Sometimes the heat of the moment will cause you to make a regrettable decision.
2. While you don’t have to pay for your club selections until they come, make sure you can afford the clubs you belong to. The costs add up quickly, especially if you are having wines shipped. Create a budget and stick to it. Otherwise, you may have a surprise Visa bill every three months.
3. Be sure you understand the terms of the club. Will you need to pick the wines up at the winery? Do they select the wines or do you select the wines? Can you pick up at any time or do you have to pick up during an event? What is your obligation?
4. Don’t be afraid to cancel clubs that aren’t working for you after the initial obligation. Let’s face it, once in a while in the heat of the moment you sign up for a wine club and you regret it. Fulfill your obligation and move on.
5. Don’t be afraid to get to know the vintner. Usually he or she will be happy to talk to you about the wine crafting process.

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