Life can get pretty busy sometimes, and there is a better alternative than just grabbing the closest bottle at the store. Wine clubs generally provide several advantages - great value for some, first-rate access to collectibles for others. Most clubs also put a lot of effort into wine education (which is one of the main benefits of joining a wine club): shipments are stuffed with newsletters and thorough descriptions of the wine, the winemaker, and the region, and sometimes even food and wine pairings or recipes suggestions. Other benefits include discounts on re-orders and cancellations, and a select few wine clubs accept returns.

Another big plus: clubs tend to buy in bulk, thus yielding a lower bottle price, and don’t deal with distributors - which usually add on another layer of pricing. This is why wine clubs can generally offer better prices, aside from the shipping costs. Wine club membership also means access to those small production mom and pop wineries you wouldn’t have heard of otherwise. Think about it: there are too many amazing wines in the world that aren’t on the store shelf at your local store.

The most important thing to consider is selecting the right wine club that fits your style. If you like aged Cabernet Sauvignon, consider joining the Aged Cabernet Series from The California Wine Club, for example. We put together the list below to help you learn about the top 5 wine clubs currently on the market; this list is not comprehensive, but it’s a good start!

Plonk Wine Club

This one is for those who are adventurous about wine. Plonk has a “let’s explore” wine approach that allows you to discover interesting varietals from diverse regions. The wines offered by Plonk are not what you’d typically find in retail, and are always accompanied by tasting notes, food pairings and recipes. The wine club also offers refunds on any wine you don’t like! Check them out on their website.