Wine clubs or wine subscriptions are a great way to expand your palette and discover new wine brands and varietals you’ve never tried before. And with all the current options, there’s never been a better time to join one. But with all these options the question everyone has is, how do we know we’re signing up for a quality wine club that is going to send us wine we will actually enjoy?
Before delving into what wine subscriptions are our favorite, there are a few guidelines to keep in mind when choosing your own. First, which may seem obvious, what type of wine does this wine club provide? Most subscriptions let you decide if you’d like all red, all white, or a mix, but if you’re not a fan of one or the other, you’ll want to avoid the clubs that only provide a mix. Next, you’ll want to look at the number of bottles you’ll get per shipment. If you’re someone that goes through bottles slowly you’ll want a subscription with a smaller number of bottles, but if you drink your wine by the bottle or host a lot, you’ll want one that comes in half or full-case shipments. Lastly you’ll want to look at how often they send you wine. Most do monthly, but others do quarterly, so you’ll need to factor that into your budget or how much you’re willing to spend.
SommSelect | From $99
SommSelect wines are handpicked by sommeliers so that you can “drink like a somm”. They offer four different wine club options ranging from $99 - $220/month. The Explore 4 ($99/mo) is built around a changing theme and offers a unique introduction to wine and is a great option if you want to expand your palate. The Somm 6 ($199/mo) contains reds, whites, bubbles, and more of what the sommeliers are most excited to be drinking that month and includes everything to know about each bottle and tasting notes. The Somm 6 Reds ($220/mo) is for the red wine drinkers who want to explore different reds from around the world. Included are also tasting notes and pairing suggestions. The Blind 6 ($220/mo) is for those who want to refine their palete and are designed so everything is a blind taste test.
Winc | From $30
With Winc the first thing you do is take a little survey on if you prefer reds, whites, or a mix, what kind of flavors you like, what regions you’d like to try wines from, and what your favorite foods are. Winc then sends you 4 bottles of wine matching your palate and you can then rate the wines you received for more suggestions and for them to better understand what you like. They have a couple features that make Winc stand out including satisfaction guaranteed where you never have to pay for a bottle you didn’t like and you can skip a month any time with no charge. They also have wines that you can add to your order at any time if you know it’s one of your favorites. Winc is a great option for wine drinkers just getting in the game who want to discover and learn more about what they do and do not like.
Viticole Wine Subscription | From $99
Although Viticole’s shipments contain mostly red and white wines, they also can include ciders, meads, botanical infusions, sake, and multi-fruit ferments. They provide two memberships with the $99 subscription comprising of 2 cases per year (24 bottles total), 1 case delivered in the spring and the other in the fall and the $198 subscription including 4 cases per year (48 bottles total), 2 cases in the spring and 2 in the fall. In addition you will receive seasonal special release offers with both subscriptions. Also, Viticole’s founder works closely with organic producers to create exclusive bottles just for club members.
Martha Stewart Wine Club | $90
Enjoy 12 Martha-selected wines every 12 weeks including access to Martha’s serving, pairing, and entertaining suggestions, a tasting note guide, and wine accessory gifts. You have the choice of all red, all white, or a mix and the ability to skip shipments. Plus, if there’s a bottle you don’t like the flavor of, they’ll replace it for free. This is the perfect wine club for those who love to entertain as you’ll have all the information you need for how to be the best host with your bottle of wine.
Plonk Wine Club | From $110
Plonk Wine Club is the most customizable subscription on this list. You can choose from all red, all white, or a mix, if you want 4, 6, or 12 bottles per shipment, and you can pay month-to-month, or choose a prepaid package of 3, 6, or 12 shipments. What makes Plonk unique is they search the world for artisanal, small-production, unique wines that are not available at most stores. They select all organic, biodynamic wines from lesser known regions made of indigenous grape varietals. This means only choosing wines from vineyards that do not use pesticides, herbicides, or commercial additives. This is the wine club for the all-natural lover.
Cellar 503 | From $50
Cellar 503 showcases unique, high-quality, and affordable wines from the state of Oregon. With Cellar 503 you can choose from 2 or 4 bottles a month. With the 2 bottle membership they offer 2 reds ($60), 2 whites ($50), or one of each ($55), and with the 4 bottle membership they offer 4 reds ($120), 4 whites ($100), or 2 reds and 2 whites ($110). Each wine comes with detailed tasting notes and the backstory of the winery or the winemaker. They also do monthly themes which makes the wine tasting even more fun.
Whether you’re an experienced sommelier or new to wine, there’s a wine club that is perfect for you. And with your bold reds our Aervana Wine Aerators are always there to help let your wine instantly breathe so you don’t have to wait to try your new shipment of wine.