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+--- Thread: Advice regarding wine clubs (/thread-16636.html)
- olle - 07-30-2003
Please help!!
I apologize for the rather remedial question, but I’ve decided I should start educating myself about wine. I’ve always liked wine and now I think it’s about time I learned the basics.
So my question is, are wine clubs a good way to start learning about wines and varietals?
I recently saw an ad online about a wine club from Trinchero Winery, I believe it’s called proprietor’s club. I thought it sounded fun since you would get winemaker notes and pairing suggestions with each delivery. What I liked about it was it looked very non-committal. I think it was only $40 for two bottles delivered every other month with no membership fees...or somthing like that...
If any of you could check it out and let me know if I’m missing something or if it’s not a good idea, I’d really appreciate it. I would hate to sign up for something and find out later that it was a bad idea. The information page is:
http://www.trincherowinery.com/propclub/landing.html
Are there any other good wine clubs that I should check out??? I mentioned the wine club above because I just happened to come across their ad today and it started me thinking that a wine club could be a good way to learn etc.
Thanks in advance for any expert advice you could give to this budding wine enthusiast! [img]http://www.wines.com/ubb2/biggrin.gif[/img] [img]http://www.wines.com/ubb2/biggrin.gif[/img]
Cheers!
Olle
[This message has been edited by olle (edited 07-30-2003).]
- olle - 07-30-2003
I almost forgot...
Hello!
I'm new here. I live in SF and I'm finally trying to educate myself about wine...I figured that I'm in the right area of the country and that I'd best 'edumicate' myself on the wonderful world of wine.
You all seem very cool and laid back, so I thought I'd try to tap into some of the knowledge flowin' around here.
Thanks!
[the new kid]
Olle [img]http://www.wines.com/ubb2/wink.gif[/img]
and I suck at spelling
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[This message has been edited by olle (edited 07-30-2003).]
- Innkeeper - 07-30-2003
Hi Olle, and welcome to the Wine Board. I could recommed a couple that I belong to, but I'm in Maine, and you are in wine country. Highly recommend you get out to the wineries. Even those that charge, charge much less than wine clubs, considering how many wines you can taste. In addition to hundreds of sites you can visit in Napa and Sonoma north of you, you can also go east to Plymouth to visit Easton/Terre Rouge, and south to visit the many great sites in Monterey and Paso Robles, including Tobin James in Paso. I guess I gave away the names of wine clubs.
- quijote - 07-30-2003
I'm pretty new to wine myself. If I were you, I'd consider spending the first $40 on a couple of good intro books (_Wine For Dummies_ is good, in spite of the title, and Andrea Immer has a good intro book, too), and then spend another $100-200 buying your own wines (using the books as a guide for what to purchase) and trying them out at your own pace. If you have a friend or two to join you, even better: share the expense.
I spent quite a bit of money during the first couple of months of my self-imposed crash course on wine, not because I had to (there are inexpensive versions of merlot, cabernet, etc to purchase and sample), but because the more I got into it, the more I wanted to sample different things. If cost is an issue for you, consider trying out "wine flights" at wine bars or restaurants in your area. Also, as Innkeeper said, take advantage of the presence of wineries in your area; make them part of your classroom. I used to live in the Bay Area, but never really took that opportunity; now I wish I could.
- Kcwhippet - 07-31-2003
Olle,
There are several very good wine shops right in San Francisco, and they have weekly, free, in-store tastings. You can taste wine there and get free advice from professionals. Sign up for their news letters and you'll get all the info on upcoming events and monthly sales. There is a great shop in the Cannery and there's also the Wine Club just south of the Embarcadero, where you can get wine at some really good prices. Find them all in the Yellow Pages.
- wondersofwine - 07-31-2003
I don't think a wine club is the best way to start. You usually are restricted to one winery's offerings and they may not be the style most appealing to you. (Simi has a wine club with Ravenswood and several other wineries but it would probably be on the expensive side.) I agree with the other suggestions about visiting wineries, using books to improve your knowledge and doing free tastings (or even occasional paid tastings) put on by wine retailers. If you can find like-minded friends, you can hold joint tastings accompanied by food. Everyone brings a bottle to share--can be on a theme such as Zinfandels or Pinot Noirs, or Rieslings, or open to all kinds of wine. Take note of those you like--the grape variety, winery, vintage, etc.
- cablover - 08-02-2003
I enjoy wine clubs. The way I use them is to join for a while and then stop and join another. If there is one I really like, I stick with it. Most of them have functions at the wineries for club members and, since I am in the Bay Area, my husband and I have been able to enjoy them. Joseph Phelps has a low end level that sends out some great wines and they have an annual free event that is a lot of fun - good food and wine.
Almost all wineries have clubs so if there is one whose wine you enjoy it is a good way to get discounts. If I want to buy a quantity we just drive up to Napa to pick it up and save on shipping charges.
- olle - 08-05-2003
Thanks for all the great replies.
Getting out to the wineries themselves is a great idea...since I don't have a car it makes it a little more difficult to get out to "wine country".
Kcwhippet - I like the idea of researching when wine shops have tastings in SF, that is a bit easier to coordinate. I'll have to look up that wine club near the emarcadero since I work in the financial district.
I'm still thinking of joining the Trinchero Winery wine club...I like the idea of wine coming to you! [img]http://www.wines.com/ubb2/wink.gif[/img]
Ultimately, I think I'll have to rent a car with some friends and go up to a few wineries around here.
Thanks again for all your help!
- Kcwhippet - 08-05-2003
Before you join the Trinchero club, you might be interested to know that they are the ones who made the big splash when they flooded the market with White Zinfandel.
The Wine Club is a shop located on Mason at the end of the cable car.
- Jackie - 08-08-2003
I can recommend the Limerick Lane wine club. All their wines are award winners. Very high quality and hard to find.
See http://wines.com/limericklane/
Of course, I am a little partial since I maintain their website and know them to be very nice people. Kidding aside, you will be hard pressed to find better wine.
Jackie