For
wine lovers and would-be wine drinkers, joining a wine club would bring
numerous benefits. Find out why many people are turning to a wine club
for information and sharing.
Wine clubs have been sprouting up in recent years as a result of an
increased interest in wine and greater wine consumption. In fact,
according to figures from the Wine Institute, sales of wine in the
United States went up four percent in 2004. Exports of wine by other
countries to the U.S. remain steady since foreign wineries have found
the United States to be a lucrative place to do business. For wine
lovers and would-be wine drinkers, joining a wine club would bring
numerous benefits.
Many wine clubs count expert vintners or sommeliers among their
members. But you don't need to be a wine aficionado to be able to join
a wine club. A great many clubs welcome both newbies and experts. They
offer much information not only about various wines out in the market,
but also about many wine-related topics; for instance, which type of
wine should be served with a certain entrée; or news about the latest
goings-on in the wine industry.
Wine clubs offer varying membership programs. For the fee you pay, you
will receive wine selections from vineyards whose offerings meet the
club's standards. Clubs can send you their handpicked selections, or
give you the opportunity to make your own selections. Most clubs
usually send two bottles of wine to each member per month; they can be
two bottles of red or two of white, or one of each. Along with the
wine, you will also receive pertinent information about them, such as
the winery where they came from, any awards, publicity or accolades
that have been accorded to the vintner, and a description of the
conditions under which the grapes used in the wine were grown.
Wine club membership offers several other perks. For instance, premium
members are offered the ability to buy wines at discounted prices. If
they have a Wine of the Month program, you can be sure that you'll
realize significant savings from being a member than if you just bought
the featured wine at regular prices. Joining a wine club would be a
good investment if you are a regular wine drinker -- which many people
are becoming because of much publicized news about how regular wine
consumption has numerous health benefits. Also, most of the wine clubs
today offer gift membership program, which you can give to people who
would enjoy wine either by itself or with a meal.
Many wine stores or retailers have their own wine clubs, which you can
join for a fee. Some clubs offer open-ended programs, meaning you can
cancel your membership anytime. You should base your wine club choice
on several factors. Are the services they offer worth the rate they are
charging? What are their expert credentials -- do they have wine
experts who can give sound wine recommendations? Do they have
additional activities for members, such as wine tastings or perhaps
visits to vineyards? You should evaluate these factors and more before
you select a club to join. There are hundreds of wine club web sites
online, and they provide detailed information on what you get for your
money.
People enjoy the benefit of receiving their wine at their doorstep --
no more need to zip around to a wine seller's physical location for a
bottle of vino. However, you should remember that most U.S. states have
strict laws regarding the shipping of wine from state to state. Perhaps
you might consider choosing a club that has a branch in your particular
state because in such cases the law is not as strict. This is another
factor that you should look at when you are evaluating which club to
join.
You can choose to join a wine club that has international coverage --
one that features wine produced in the world's most popular winery
regions, and whose membership runs in the thousands -- or you could opt
for a smaller, more specialized wine club, which focuses on only one or
two specific wine-producing regions. Then there are clubs that
concentrate on providing only a certain type of wine, such as red,
white, or champagne.
As you can see, there are many factors to consider when choosing a wine
club to join. But then, as you can also probably see, there are
numerous benefits you can experience if you choose the right wine club.
