HOW-TO: Select a Wine Club

Wine clubs come in two major flavors; clubs through wineries and clubs through restaurants. Through wineries, you will most likely get a selection of wine delivered to your doorstep every month. Through restaurants, they will generally set aside a bottle of wine for you, and require you to consume in-house.

When selecting a wine club, there are several important things to consider:

• Cost: Through either method, you are looking at an investment. You are either promising to buy a number of bottles every month from a winery, or making a reservation at a restaurant every month, to drink your bottle of wine there. We do have the option of drinking our wine at the bar, but that's no fun! We have always reserved for dinner to enjoy our wine.
• Frequency & Amount of Wine: There are many combinations available through various wine clubs. You'll have to research what makes sense to you. Some people are happy getting enough wine in one shipment to last the month. Others (like us) prefer flexibility in where we find our wine. Will you be able to make a trip to the restaurant? Will you want to store some of the wine? Do you prefer to drink a bottle over several sittings? Do you prefer having guidance during your tasting?
• Commitment: Can you afford to be locked in for a year, for 6 months?  
• Types of Wine: A restaurant club might offer you something new and intersting, that you may not find in area stores. A winery club may offer good value from your favorite producer. A general mail-order club will offer a wide variety and you can often select only red, only white, or mixed. This type of club is probably the most generic, a mixed bag with each shipment.
• Customer Service: Who will be your direct contact? Is it a live person, or a generic email address? Are they quick to respond to your questions about the Club, do they inspire confidence?  Do you get the sense you'll be "sold" on lots of other services once you join? Or that your name will be sold to advertisers? We like working with Kimberly at Public; it's nice to have her contact info if we have questions and to know she's working behind the scenes to reserve our table and insure we have an amazing experience.
• Perks: This will vary wildly. Extra service and free food at a restaurant. Access to special events. Private tasting rooms at a winery. Discount on further wines from winery.

There are pros and cons to each, but if you choose carefully, a wine club will offer you even more enjoyment for your bottle of wine.