We really like the Stolpman wine club because it’s pretty low commitment (only ~$200 per year) and you still get all the perks of free wine tastings and invitations to pre-release/pickup parties. Of course, we tend to buy a lot more from them since they also give good discounts on their other wines, but we like that it’s not a commitment. Anyway, I wanted to ask - what are your favorite low-commitment winery wine clubs? Prefer something around Santa Barbara county so it’s not that far for tastings and events. Also, we drink primarily reds. Thanks!
Tensley is a good one in that area for right around $300/yr in terms of the wines and discounts…not sure about tastings/parties etc since I’ve never actually been to SB wine country (hoping to rectify that soon)
Tercero - Larry is super flexible about structuring the offerings to what you want or don’t want, plus the wines are excellent and age worthy…
Easton Terre Rouge, as little as 4 bottles, 3 times a year. Discounts on all wine purchases, complimentary tasting.
Although I now order through a friend, it’s hard to beat Bedrock. Minimal commitment, flat rate shipping, and world class wines.
One thing to consider in this context too – a lot of wineries are willing to be flexible to an extent with their club arrangements, if you just ask.
You can call one offering and say something like “hey, I need to skip this one or buy less than the minimum this time but want to stay on for the future,” and they’ll usually say that’s fine, no problem. Unless it’s SQN, McDonald or Screaming Eagle or some highly desired competitive type list like that where you’ll need to toe the line.
Back to the question, Tercero would be a great choice in the area of interest to you. Probably Liquid Farm as well. Though neither is the vineyard large tasting room type place with big events and so forth, if you’re looking more for an in on things like that.
BNSH is pretty low, it used to be 2x $130 now it’s like 3x $95. They’re building a new tasting facility on the grounds of the vineyard but currently the tasting room is in Los Olivos.
Thanks! I didn’t know they had some flexibility with purchases. I will ask next time we are interesting in joining a club.
And even if they don’t acknowledge it up front, as they might be understandably reluctant to do, you can still ask at the time.
Picture you’re, say, Stolpman, and you’ve had a wine club customer for several years, and that customer asks to skip the fall offer but stay on the list. Why would they boot him or her off? They’re better off retaining the customer than being hard line about the rules.
Now if someone is sort of abusing that situation (skipping purchases frequently, while visiting the tasting room a lot for free tastings), then that might be different, but that’s not what we’re talking about here.
Arista, tasting room located in Healdsburg, is free to join their “A-List”. That gives you access to purchase allocations, but their is no minimum. I think they just ask that you buy something at least once a year. Being on the A-List gives you access to free tastings, which is really nice. Their tasting room is gorgeous and is by appointment only so doesn’t get too crowded. Not sure about events, I’m on the East Coast so unfortunately can never take advantage of them.
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Some, like Denner and Tablas Creek, have a lower threshold in what they require you to purchase, but the discount is less. Many of the clubs offer a discount by being a member, but the discount is less if you only commit to buying fewer bottles.
Suggest you also look at Loring. Brian is incredibly generous, and offers excellent wines at great price points, both thru the club shipments and special offers.