Get Active with the California Wine Club
Written By: Randy Torban on Mon, Jun 2nd 2008
People join wine clubs for different reasons: to help ease their way into the world of wine, to continue building their wine education, or to give a great gift. And just like with every other aspect of the wine world, there are plenty of wine clubs to choose from. But the best clubs out there are designed to offer wine enthusiasts the opportunity to drink great wines that they may have never have thought to buy on their own. Clubs like the California Wine Club do this by providing patrons with an active wine club.
An active wine club is one that is designed to have wine drinkers doing what they should be doing -- drinking more wine. The California Wine Club offers three different programs that send between 2-4 bottles every month. This way, the people signing up are encouraged to drink their wine in a 30 day period, learning more about varietals, regions and styles. This type of club differs from "passive" wine clubs; those that send an entire case of wine every quarter. These clubs have far less contact, and give less encouragement to get through the wine.
Now, don't get me wrong -- I'm not saying that you HAVE to drink every bottle per month, which is why the California Wine Club offers the opportunity to order as little as 2 bottles. Their goal is to have customers become better educated, not just have the wine laying around for months to come. And because they offer choices of clubs, there is something for everyone. The Premier Club features 2-4 bottles of great wine from boutique wineries in California. This is a great way to introduce people to smaller wineries that may not have nation wide distribution.
A second option is the International Selection Club, which introduces customers to wines from all over the world. This club is great for wine enthusiasts who prefer learning about the old world wines for France, Italy, etc, as well as those looking to break into new hot spots like South America and South Africa.
The third option of the California Wine Club is the Signature Series; offering customers high-rated and rare selections from California. These bottles are for those looking to take the next step up in their wine drinking/collecting, and of course for those who know great wines.
With so many options to choose from, it is easy to see why the California Wine Club has been one of the most well respected clubs for the past 18 years. Its founders, Pam and Bruce Boring, are very passionate about wine, and they pass this passion on to club members. And because you can sign up on a monthly basis, there is no pressure to give the club a try. Just like me, you'll start looking forward to that monthly knock on the door, and to tear into the wine box to see what goodies you were sent. The anticipation alone is only out weighed by the taste of a great new wine.
