I recently decided to delve into the world of wine subscriptions and decided to give the California Wine Club a try. Known for their impressive selection of artisan wines from small wineries in California, the club attracts wine enthusiasts like myself who appreciate and enjoy discovering new, boutique wines. I chose the Premier Series subscription, as it is their most popular option and offers a diverse selection of wines from different regions.
Throughout my journey with the California Wine Club, I was able to taste a variety of unique and exquisite wines from Napa Valley, Sonoma, and other California wine regions. The club provided me with the option to customize my shipments with a mix of reds and whites, so I could explore a range of flavor profiles and wine styles. Additionally, the club offered useful information about each wine, including tasting notes, pairing suggestions, and winemaker stories – all of which contributed to an unparalleled wine tasting experience.
In exploring the California Wine Club, I appreciated their commitment to supporting small-scale wineries and bringing high-quality, hand-crafted wines to the forefront. The club offers flexibility in membership options, allowing wine connoisseurs to personalize their shipments according to their preferences and budgets. Overall, my experience with the California Wine Club proved to be more than a simple wine subscription; it became a journey of discovery, allowing me to indulge in the diverse and distinctive offerings of California's wine regions.
Overview of California Wine Club
History and Founders
The California Wine Club was founded by Bruce and Pam Boring with the goal of helping artisanal wineries share their small-batch wines with enthusiasts. Their passion for wine led them on a journey to discover California's best-kept wine secrets, and they wanted to share their discoveries with others. Since its inception, the wine club has expanded beyond California to highlight boutique wineries from the Pacific Northwest and around the world.
Membership Options
The California Wine Club offers a variety of membership options tailored to different tastes and budgets. Membership ranges include:
- Premier Series: This is their most popular option, featuring hand-selected wines from small California vineyards. The cost starts at $41.95 per delivery.
- Signature Series: For high-end, limited-production wines, this series delivers excellent treasures from California's most decorated winemakers. Prices and availability vary.
- International Series: If you're interested in exploring wines from around the globe, this series delivers hand-selected bottles from international family-owned wineries.
- Aged Cabernet Series: Wine connoisseurs will appreciate this series featuring Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon wines aged 7-12 years.
- Pacific Northwest Series: Showcasing the best of Oregon and Washington wines, this series is perfect for exploring the unique flavors of the Pacific Northwest.
Membership flexibility is a key offering of the California Wine Club, allowing members to switch between club levels, skip deliveries, or even cancel their membership without penalty. This approach makes the wine club experience convenient, customizable, and enjoyable.
In addition to enjoying great wines, members receive a newsletter with exclusive insights and stories about the wineries and wine artisans, as well as tasting notes and food pairing suggestions.
I believe that the California Wine Club provides a great opportunity for wine enthusiasts to explore different wine regions and styles, while also supporting small artisanal wineries. From my experience, their impeccable selection and commitment to quality make it worth considering for any wine lover.
Premier Series
Wine Selection
As a member of the California Wine Club's Premier Series, I've had the privilege of exploring an impressive selection of wines from small, family-owned wineries across the Golden State. The variety of reds, whites, and even sparkling wines is diverse, with popular varietals such as Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, and Syrah. My appreciation for boutique wineries has grown as I've tried vintages not commonly found in stores, like those from French Bar Wines and Ojai Vineyard.
Pricing and Shipping
The Premier Series pricing is affordable, starting at $41.95 for two bottles per shipment. You have the option to receive only reds, whites, or a mix of both. There's flexibility in the delivery schedule too, with options like monthly, every other month, or even quarterly. This pay-as-you-go wine subscription is convenient and personalized, without the pressure of long-term commitments. Shipping costs vary depending on the subscription options, but the club offers lower shipping costs and occasional discounts on reorders of wines I've come to love.
Pros and Cons
The pros of the Premier Series include an amazing selection of hand-picked wines sourced from lesser-known, family-owned wineries across California, such as Napa Valley and other renowned regions. The club provides excellent customer service, with a personal wine consultant available to guide me through my wine journey. The “Love It” guarantee grants confidence in each shipment and the discounts on re-orders are a nice touch.
Some cons I've encountered include potential difficulty in canceling the subscription. However, their customer service has been helpful when needed. Additionally, if you prefer exclusive selections like aged Cabernet or international wines, you might find the Premier Series a bit limited. But for someone like me, who enjoys discovering new flavors from California’s boutique wineries, the Premier Series is a delightful experience.
Aged Cabernet Series
Wine Selection
In the Aged Cabernet Series by the California Wine Club, I found an impressive array of handcrafted wines, primarily featuring Cabernet Sauvignon from prestigious Napa Valley wineries. As a unique offering, this series focuses on wines that have been aged for 8-12 years, catering to those who appreciate the complexity and depth ofaged cabernets. What I like is that this wine club represents an opportunity to taste rare wines sourced from small family wineries, showcasing their hard work, passion, and dedication to producing outstanding products.
Pricing and Shipping
The Aged Cabernet Series is a quarterly subscription, meaning that I receive shipments of aged Cabernet Sauvignon every three months. For my convenience, I have several subscription options to choose from, including two-bottle and four-bottle shipments. Prices start at $219 per month, but the exact cost depends on the specific wines included in each shipment.
Shipping costs vary based on the destination; for instance, I might pay more or less for shipping depending on where I live. It's important to note that the club provides excellent customer support, with personal wine consultants available to answer my questions and guide me through my wine journey.
Pros and Cons
As a member of the Aged Cabernet Series wine club, I've noticed several advantages and disadvantages:
Pros:
- Unique selection of aged Cabernet Sauvignon wines, rare to find in other best wine clubs.
- Wines are sourced from small family wineries in the renowned Napa Valley, reflecting high-quality craftsmanship and uniqueness.
- Access to personal wine consultants for advice and guidance.
- Quarterly shipments provide ample time to enjoy and savor each bottle.
- Flexible subscription options (two bottles or four bottles per shipment).
Cons:
- Pricing might be on the higher side compared to other wine clubs, as aged cabernets typically have a higher value due to their rarity and complexity.
- Shipping costs may vary depending on the destination, potentially adding to the overall cost of the subscription.
In summary, my experience with the Aged Cabernet Series has been enriching and enjoyable. I appreciate the unique offerings of aged Cabernet Sauvignon wines, the support of personal wine consultants, and the opportunity to explore wines from prestigious Napa Valley wineries. While the pricing and shipping costs may be higher compared to other clubs, I consider it a worthwhile investment for the exceptional wine experience it provides.
International Series
Wine Selection
As a member of the California Wine Club International Series, I have the opportunity to taste amazing wines from artisan wineries all over the world. The selected wines come from regions like France, Germany, Australia, Argentina, and South Africa, among others. The club focuses on handpicked, high-quality red wines, and the option to choose from a case or smaller shipments allows me to tailor my membership to my preferences.
During my experience with this wine club, I've had the pleasure of sampling wines from renowned international wine regions, as well as hidden gems that would have been hard to find on my own. From the bold reds of Sonoma to the elegant whites of Oregon, my palate has truly broadened through the International Series.
Pricing and Shipping
The pricing for the International Series is reasonable, given the high quality of wines that are offered. Membership starts at an affordable price point for wine enthusiasts with discerning tastes. Shipping is also straightforward and hassle-free, with the club taking care of everything necessary to safely transport the wines to me in the United States.
Additionally, the club provides exclusive discounts on reorders, allowing me to stock up on wines I particularly enjoyed, knowing I'm getting the best value for my money.
Pros and Cons
Here are a few key aspects of the International Series that stand out to me:
Pros:
- Wide variety of wines from different international regions
- Handpicked, high-quality selections from artisan wineries
- Exclusive discounts on reorders
- Customizable membership options with cases or smaller shipments
Cons:
- Limited to mainly red wines
- May be more expensive than some other wine clubs
One aspect of the International Series that I appreciate is their “Love It Guarantee.” If I ever receive a wine that isn't to my liking, the club offers a no-fuss replacement or credit, which gives me peace of mind knowing I'm always going to enjoy the wines I receive.
Pacific Northwest Series
Wine Selection
In my journey exploring the California Wine Club, I stumbled upon the Pacific Northwest Series, which specifically focuses on small, family-owned wineries in the Washington and Oregon regions. Being a wine enthusiast, this piqued my interest as it offered a curated selection of high-quality, handcrafted wines from two lesser-known, yet exceptional wine regions in America.
Every shipment I received contained rare wines, many of which aren't easily available outside the state they were produced in. I appreciated that the club made an effort to include both established and emerging wineries, giving me a chance to discover a wide range of unique wines from different producers.
Pricing and Shipping
The Pacific Northwest Series offers several subscription options, allowing me to choose the one that best suited my taste preferences and budget. After some research, I found that the most popular club – the Premier Series – starts at $41.95 for deliveries. While this pricing is reasonable, it's essential to consider your budget and whether you value access to hard-to-find wines from this region.
Shipping was straightforward and reliable, with my wine deliveries usually arriving on time. However, it helps to remember that shipping costs might vary depending on your location, which is something to consider when evaluating the overall cost of the subscription.
Pros and Cons
As I enjoyed my experience with the Pacific Northwest Series, I took note of some pros and cons related to what it offers:
Pros:
- Hand-selected, award-winning wines
- Access to small, family-owned wineries
- Focused on the Pacific Northwest region (Washington and Oregon)
- Rare wines that are hard to find outside their production state
- Amenities like wine cellar discounts
Cons:
- Shipping costs could add to the overall price of the subscription
- Pricing may not be suitable for every budget
- Limited to wines from the Pacific Northwest region
Case Club Series
Wines per Case
I have found that the Case Club Series from the California Wine Club provides an excellent opportunity to explore new and rare wines. As a subscriber, I receive 12 bottles of handcrafted wine per shipment, which allows me to try a diverse range of offerings. These wines are often from small, artisan wineries in California, with occasional selections from Washington, Oregon, and wineries worldwide. I find this variety appealing and enjoyable.
Flexible Options
One aspect of the Case Club Series I appreciate is the flexibility in subscription options. I can choose my preference for the type of wine I'd like to receive, whether it's all red wines, all white wines, or a mix of both. Additionally, there are “pay as you go” options which are particularly convenient for controlling my spending and ensuring that I only pay for the shipments that I want to receive.
Pricing and Shipping
When it comes to pricing, I find the Case Club Series to be competitively priced. Each shipment costs approximately $180, which I believe is reasonable considering the quality of the wines and the convenience factor of having them shipped directly to my doorstep. Shipping costs typically depend on the destination, but I've found that standard shipping is relatively affordable and timely.
In conclusion, the Case Club Series from the California Wine Club offers an excellent opportunity to experience high-quality, rare wines while providing flexible subscription options that allow me to cater to my preferences and budget. It has been an enjoyable journey discovering new wine varieties, and I look forward to continuing my exploration with each shipment.
Additional Features and Benefits
Personal Wine Consultant
One of the best perks of joining the California Wine Club is having access to a personal wine consultant. I found this particularly helpful because my consultant assisted me in selecting wines based on my taste preferences and guided me through the various club options. Their expertise made the whole experience feel more personalized and enjoyable.
Love It Guarantee
The California Wine Club offers a “Love It Guarantee” which I really appreciate. This means that if I happen to receive a wine I don't enjoy, they will replace it with a different one at no additional cost. This guarantee made me feel confident in trying new wines, knowing that I wouldn't be stuck with something I didn't like.
Reorders and Discounts
As a member, I discovered that I could reorder my favorite wines at a discounted price. This feature was quite appealing because if I come across a wine that I truly enjoy, I can easily stock up while saving money. Additionally, the club offers various promotions and special deals throughout the year for its members, which I found to be a nice extra perk.
Customer Support
Finally, I was impressed with the excellent customer support provided by the California Wine Club. Whenever I had a question or needed assistance with my account, their team was quick to respond, providing timely and helpful solutions. Not only did they help me with club-related issues, but they also offered guidance on wine storage and serving tips, enhancing my overall experience as a member.
Conclusion
After trying The California Wine Club and reading several reviews, I can confidently say that it offers a great service for wine lovers. The low price of entry and flexible delivery options (monthly, every other month, or quarterly) make it accessible to a wide range of wine enthusiasts.
I chose the Premier Series for my first shipment, which is their most popular option. The cost of four bottles, featuring two red wines and two white wines, came to $86.90 with free shipping. This allowed me to sample an impressive selection of wines, hand-selected by experts from renowned wineries across California and around the world.
While the club offers memberships with wine shipments ranging from $39.95 to $219 per month, it's important to not focus too much on the retail price of the wines. Some months, the shipment may have wines that vary in price, but the overall quality and experience are what make this wine club stand out.
In summary, I believe The California Wine Club provides a solid offering that caters to various preferences and budgets. Its curated wine selections and membership flexibility make it an excellent choice for wine connoisseurs and casual drinkers alike.