Looking for one of those wine clubs/shops that mail out assorted cases on subscription basis

May 10, 2011 11:04 AM

Can anyone recommend a wine club mail order company? I'm looking for a gift for someone: one of those subscriptions where you pay money every month/quarter and in return they send you a nice assorted case of wines.

I made a note of a few companies like this a few months ago but I can't find my notes and Google just seems to be turning up clubs where people meet in real life and drink wine. I'm in the DC area in case it's relevant.

posted by uk_giffo to Shopping (7 answers total)

Best answer: In my experience (I've been on the receiving end of a couple of these)--you'll do much better (either in cost, or in quality of wines) if you can find a good wine shop where the person lives and making arrangements for the local shop to deliver a mixed case every month. My and dad have each gotten me one subscription and also one mixed case from a local shop, and the local selections were much better and more varied.

There's a great deal of markup for the selection and shipping--you'll avoid that if you go local.
posted by Admiral Haddock at 11:08 AM on May 10, 2011 [1 favorite]

We loved belonging to Bella Winery's wine club. But it would be important to know that the person liked that kind of wine, I suppose.
posted by dpx.mfx at 11:32 AM on May 10, 2011

I belong to Laithwaites wine. Selections have been decent, and for someone who isn't too snobby about their wine, and is kind of lazy about going to the store to buy a case, it's worked out for me. Plus they send tasting notes all set for a nice binder.

But depending on where you live, if a local wine store offers a club, that may be a good way to go, as well.
posted by rich at 12:24 PM on May 10, 2011 [1 favorite]

We have also used Laithwaites and can recommend them. And also Wall Street Journal Wine.
posted by cda at 12:38 PM on May 10, 2011

If you're going mail order, just make sure the recipient is in a state where it's legal to get wine delivered.
posted by maryr at 8:20 PM on May 10, 2011

The boyfriend and I are the recipients of a CHEFS Wine Club subscription and have been really happy with the wine. I'm not a huge snob, but I can tell good from dreck, and the wines have all been good.
posted by felix grundy at 8:51 AM on May 11, 2011

Response by poster: Thanks for the tips everyone. I found a local wine shop which sells a nice pre-selected mixed case every month
posted by uk_giffo at 11:00 AM on May 12, 2011