The Internet makes almost any consumer good or service available with just a few clicks of the mouse. This is wonderful news to food and wine enthusiasts who now have access to some of the world’s most wonderful gourmet experiences through such things as wine club memberships and specialty food programs.

Wine clubs are among the most popular of the specialty food programs on the Internet, with many having existed for almost two decades! Most of the best wine clubs provide access to smaller or family-operated vineyards that would otherwise remain unknown in the larger world.

For example, a person interested in handcrafted wines from United States vineyards would be able to choose from a large number of wine clubs in order to find the perfect selection. One of the best features of such opportunities is that they deliver monthly selections right to their member’s front doors!

To choose the best wine club it is important to consider what the needs and intentions of the membership will be. For example:

• Will the wine be for “everyday consumption” or is it intended to be cellared and aged before enjoying?
• Is there a particular variety or region that is of interest to the member?
• What are the selection criteria for the wines available through the wine club?
• Are there any guarantees around satisfaction of members?
• What kind of flexibility is available in the wine club membership?

These are important questions since they determine the exact “kind” of wine club being joined. There are some wine clubs that place an emphasis on wines that are being sampled in order for larger purchases, such as additional bottles or cases. Most of these wine clubs will place a great deal of importance on affordability and high quality. There are other wine clubs however that are working to help their members build up a valuable wine cellar, and provide bottles intended to be placed into long-term storage.

Additionally, there are also many wine clubs that help members acquire wines that meet both ends of the spectrum, meaning they are a bit more valuable than everyday table wines, but are perfectly suited to cellaring.

Wine club memberships are also available for those who are looking to learn more about the world of wine, and their clubs deliver one to four bottles a month of wines from around the world that have been selected by experts. Such wine clubs frequently accompany their monthly mailings with “newsletters” or other printed information that offers background details on the vineyards and the variety of wine. In this way a member tastes a wine that they have read about, and can understand the history of the grape, the development of the wine and the process used by the vineyard whose wine they just sampled. Additionally, these same membership programs usually work to guide their members in choosing the proper food pairings for the wines delivered.

In addition to choosing a wine club for personal membership there are many groups that make wine club gift memberships available as well. These too will come in many varieties and with many different types of wine available. The wine club gift membership however will not usually provide the same “ongoing” service that most wine clubs offer, but will ask for a three, six, or twelve month period of delivery that must be paid for in advance.

When choosing a wine club it is critical to understand what is wanted of the service before enrolling in a plan. There is really a plan for everyone interested in wine, and a quick search using a traditional Internet search engine will provide many excellent opportunities.

Share: