Winery Clubs - in any of them?

[David M. Bueker]

If you're not familiar with the concept, the clubs are where a winery ships a few bottles (usually 2 or 3, but sometimes up to 6) to you a few times a year. Good chance to try new releases. Most offer discounts on re-orders.

I was once in the Navarro club, but they shipped too much stuff (e.g. Sauvignon Blanc & Chardonnay) that I did not want, so I dropped out. I am still in St. Innocent and a couple of others, but am cutting back rapidly due to cellar space issues.

How about other folks?

I don't belong in any myself - mainly by choice. I know D&M wines in San Francisco has one of these clubs for champagne in the catalogs I get, which If I was smart I should maybe join but I haven't. I do purchase quite a few individual bottles from here and there (especially halves) but have never signed up for the club stuff.

It may be a somewhat "pessimistic" way to view things but I always get skeptical with clubs and things. I'm sure (or I hope anyway) that they're intentions are good, that they are just packaging good deals and new releases for you as a valued customer and that you do in fact save money. But I'm always worried that I might get stuck getting the throwaway/unsold/damaged bottles etc in these "package" deals or something. I'm sure it's just being a bit cynical on my part but it always sticks in the back of my mind. I think it's mostly the fact that THEY are choosing the wines that actually turns me off. Perhaps I'm too particular or whatever, but I enjoy the free thrill of seeking out wines myself and choosing them a bottle here and a bottle there, a half case here, a half case there (if possible), reading about wines beforehand from someone else's notes (or just from a guide), knowing specifically which wine (vintage) I want to try or just simply taking a chance on a champagne I DON'T know (but choosing the unknown myself) and clicking on the "add to cart" button. This can get dangerous with the debit card however! Having the sites choose these selections for me, for some reason, just takes all the above fun out of wine shopping to me. I do realize that clubs and package deals likely ARE good sources of "unknown" wines and such so I understand their appeal but for me I still have more fun just selecting and clicking my own selections randomly from a catalogue...

Jeff

Ridge ATP.

[David M. Bueker]

Ridge ATP.

Good one, though I have severla friends who are in it, so I never bothered. I get to try the wines anyway.

Not anymore. Did the Martinelli one for a while but the prices got out of control. Also hated having to buy all the other stuff just to get the Pinot. And then the Pinots got more hit and miss.

Did the Dutch Henry one for about 3 years. Prices again but also shipping cost. Paying winery prices and shipping on top adds such a premium that I could find other stuff distributed locally that I liked just as much for significantly less and then I am not left with all those bottles of Merlot.

[Jenise]

Not in any right now. I was in St. Innocent's for years but dropped out after discovering that the owner/proprietor had replaced some people's corked wines where he'd given me guff (argued back without agreeing to, claiming he had never asked for a corked wine to be replaced nor would he) the one time I asked after opening two corked bottles in a row. A discussion on this forum eventually led him to agree to do otherwise, but he put the responsibility for closing the issue all on me and the offer was so begrudgingly and resentfully made that I dropped out rather than pursue it. Was also with Swan for awhile, and dearly though I love the pinots I just didn't want the high alcohol zins that were also coming my way so I dropped out of that, too.

Now I'm happily "playing the field", you could say.

The only club we belong to is Tobin James (no surprise, huh?); and have been for a very long time. We are on the mailing list of a few others. Easton/Terre Rouge is usually good for a Spring and/or Fall sampler which are excellent values; right now they have an interesting Grilling Season special whereby the send 6 bottles of very nice stuff for a C note plus S&H. Unfortunately it finally got hot here, so that is out of the question. As you might also have noted, we got a mixed case from Knapp earlier when things were still rainy and cooler.

We have to go some distance to find a decent retailer other than our state liquor stores. There is an online idex for the wines they carry, and they do send mailers as well. Still, there is a ton of stuff we can't get through them.

I was an enthusiastic joiner of clubs, but they do get expensive and I am scaling back. I have kept two: Elizabeth Spencer (in Rutherford) I've been a memebr of off and on for awhile. I find their wines consistently well made and enjoyable, and there is a lot of diversity. I joined Signorello recently, but am afraid I will have to/should cut that out. I did enjoy their estate cab, though.

Tablas Creek, 6 bottles twice a year in the shipping seasons. Been on for years and really happy with the price and the selection.

I don't think this will surprise anyone who even casually follows my notes over the years, but No. I am not in a club and have zero interest in joining any. Unless of course someone devises one to give me 50% off of Loire, German riesling, Austrian, and Burgundy producers of my choosing!

[David M. Bueker]

I don't think this will surprise anyone who even casually follows my notes over the years, but No. I am not in a club and have zero interest in joining any. Unless of course someone devises one to give me 50% off of Loire, German riesling, Austrian, and Burgundy producers of my choosing!

How about I open some for you gratis.

Not much point in my joining one - they won't ship to this misbegotten State anyway.

How about I open some for you gratis.

Not a bad idea

We belong to several local ones here, but we have cut back. Domaine Serene & Cana's Feast right now. In the past there was Bergstrom, Lemelson and WillaKenzie, too. The advantage here is one gets invited to events and gets to taste wines outside the normal releases - library wines etc.

I don't think this will surprise anyone who even casually follows my notes over the years, but No. I am not in a club and have zero interest in joining any. Unless of course someone devises one to give me 50% off of Loire, German riesling, Austrian, and Burgundy producers of my choosing!

I'd join the CRB club (though I might have to trade off the Gamay).
No clubs for me. But might think of it if a favorite winery had system like QPBC (send back notice if you didn't want month's selection)

I'd join the CRB club (though I might have to trade off the Gamay).

Good idea. I don't know how easily CRB sells their stock each year, but they're probably missing a marketing opportunity!

Coffaro, Dry Creek Vineyards, and Quivira.
I need to get around to dropping Quivira - their new ownership and winemaker don't fit my style.

John

Right now, it's Adelaida and the lesser level of Vino Noceto's (which in a horrible marketing move is called "Small Nutz"). We do Adelaida because they make wine that my wife likes, which is rare for a California winery. The Noceto gets us a case of their basic Sangio, which is a well-priced wine that is excellent for weeknights with pizza and such.

Used to belong to Bonny Doon's "DEWN" club. I liked the wacky wines they sent but my wife was less enthralled with them.

I don't think this will surprise anyone who even casually follows my notes over the years, but No. I am not in a club and have zero interest in joining any. Unless of course someone devises one to give me 50% off of Loire, German riesling, Austrian, and Burgundy producers of my choosing!

Rahsaan, if you and I lived close to the Sampler, we might be able to swing a nice deal or two!

David Coffaro, Pedroncelli.

Rahsaan, if you and I lived close to the Sampler, we might be able to swing a nice deal or two!

Maybe. They certainly have a very interesting selection. Although competing on price is not their strong suit.

(Not that any decent high street shop in London really competes hard on price though...)

[Jenise]

Pedroncelli.

Now there's a name I haven't heard in ages. They must be doing good work if you're in their club, but what's their focus these days?

Pedroncelli.

Now there's a name I haven't heard in ages. They must be doing good work if you're in their club, but what's their focus these days?

Jenise,
I have been in the Pedroncelli club for a while now. Quite occasionally their wines will rise way above their price. Seldom is a wine below average. Their zinfandels have always been solid. Besides, where else can you buy a DCV Zin today for under $15? They released an estate Syrah in 2002 and have had some good bottling since. While not much of a white wine drinker, I have always found their Sauvignon Blanc (very often un-oaked) refreshing Summer quaffers.

St Innocent and Page Springs. I'll probably keep the St Innocent and drop Page Springs. Good wine, but it's widely available across the Phoenix area now, whereas St Innocent isn't.