Skip to main content

The Manual may earn a commission when you buy through links on our site.

The 6 best wine club memberships you can get, hands down

Looking to join a wine club? These are your best options

An overhead shot of an empty wine glass, a glass filled with wine, wine bottles, and differently sized red wooden horses on pink table.
Image used with permission by copyright holder

It’s tough to imagine a better era for wine than the one we’re living in. From canned wine that actually tastes good to brilliant sommeliers opening our eyes and palates up to exciting offerings, it’s a fine time to be alive and sipping.

Now, there are a lot of wine clubs out there. Every outlet or public figure seems to be offering one, from Martha Stewart to the Wall Street Journal. Frankly, many are worth ignoring. But a good club is a godsend, outfitting you with unusual or hard-to-find wines you can enjoy at home. Better, the selections are often vetted by industry pros, meaning they’re also guaranteed to impress when you pop the cork.

Recommended Videos

There’s a good side to all of those options, however. Namely that you can join up with the best wine club that caters to your every wine preference. Whether you gravitate toward natural wines, orange wines, Italian wines, or certain varietals, there’s an ideal wine club out there waiting for you.

Glasses of different kinds of wine
Image used with permission by copyright holder

What is a wine club?

Wine clubs have been around for over 50 years, with the first, the aptly named Wine of the Month Club, starting in 1972. A wine club is a membership-based program that ships you a selection of wines at certain times during the year (monthly, quarterly … and so on). Wineries directly run many of the wine clubs, but in some cases, wine shops and other entities run clubs.

The wine club shipments come with a selected number of bottles delivered straight to your door. In addition to the wine, club members often receive educational materials about the wines in the shipments, including pairing suggestions and recipes. Many times, members will get special discounts and invitations to exclusive members-only events.

How to join a wine club

Most times when you visit a winery, you will be told about the winery’s wine club and be given a chance to join right on the spot. Since wine clubs are a big source of revenue for wineries, some will really push a membership, so make sure to do your research before committing. Also, look for wine clubs online, as some of the independent clubs aren’t attached to specific wineries, but they offer better pricing and access to wines from smaller winemakers that you may not have had the chance to discover.

Before signing up for a wine club, make sure to research the wine shipping laws in your state, as some states don’t allow for direct shipments of wine to consumers.

Here are six wine clubs very much worth checking out. If you do end up signing up, don’t forget to keep your booze organized like a pro.

Three bottles of wine on flesh-colored background.
Image used with permission by copyright holder

MYSA

If natural wine is your thing, this is your wine club. And even if you don’t know much about the genre but just want to try some more adventurous wines, MYSA is a great route. The recent March mixed shipment involved a lively Syrah from Croatia, an extended skin-contact Viognier from the Yarra Valley in Australia, and a bright Spanish Rosé. In addition to the wines, a small sheet is included with a QR code that unlocks specs on the wines themselves. There are three different club options (mixed, orange, and red, of varying amounts), and you can also shop for wines by the bottle on the club’s website.

Vintage letters and two bottles of wine on vintage newspaper with the text “Wine Access” in white font encircling a white straight line at the center.
Image used with permission by copyright holder

Wine Access

Sommeliers say great things about this club, which gets its paws on cult wines from all over the place. We’re talking limited-production European wines that even the best restaurants only get every so often, if at all. The collections are split up by region, and there’s even an ongoing collaboration series wherein the club works with a top-rated chef to choose the wines and suggest the best pairings for each wine. Wine education can be intimidating, but Wine Access informs and entertains equally. Another perk? The related materials are well-written and create valuable context as you wonder what exactly you’re sipping on.

Six bottles of wine on green background with arrows.
Image used with permission by copyright holder

Laithwaites

If you’re looking for maximum bang for your buck, Laithwaites is up to the task. You may recognize the name, as the brand has been around since the late 1960s, beginning as an importing outfit set up to expose Londoners to Bordeaux wines. Today, it’s a global marketplace of inexpensive, food-friendly wines from all over the globe. The club sets members up with wines they can enjoy no matter what they’re eating for dinner. The three tiers of club membership all come as full cases, so show up thirsty or with a proper wine fridge to make your selections last.

Seven bottles of wine displayed on a platform against a plain background.
Image used with permission by copyright holder

SommSelect

As the name suggests, you get the somm’s choice with this fine club. That means interesting finds from all over the wine map, like Slovakian whites, blends from Lebanon, or Austrian Riesling. Of the four club routes, The Blind 6 is perhaps the most appealing, a half-case that sets you up to have a proper mystery wine experience and sharpen your palate. The wines are veiled so you can taste through and try to figure out what you’re tasting, much like an actual sommelier in training. On top of the club, SommSelect also offers daily specials, case discounts, and a general wine shop full of intriguing choices.

Three bottles of Domaine Tempier Bandol displayed against a brick wall.
Kermit Lynch

Kermit Lynch

One of the great wine importers of the world, Kermit Lynch also offers some quality wine club options. The company brings the same sense of passion and exploration to its club that it has to its importing business and wine shop for years. There are interesting tag-alongs in each shipment of wine too, like solid food pairing suggestions, recipes, and winery profiles. Presently, five very different club options are available, from an introductory two-bottle per-month tier to a bi-monthly case featuring wines from France and Italy. If you live near Kermit Lynch’s shop in Berkeley, California, you can pick up your wine there and save on shipping costs.

Six bottles of wine on a table in a dining area.
Image used with permission by copyright holder

Roscioli

This club would likely be approved by the late Anthony Bourdain, as the food personality was a fan of the Roman tasting room. Now, Roscioli is a club in addition to being a must-visit tag on anybody’s Italy itinerary. The highly-curated family of wines focuses on Italian producers, many of which didn’t end up stateside prior. There’s a focus on sustainably-produced wine overall and several tiers for enthusiasts to explore. The club looks to bring a part of Italy to your home, via educational videos and “ask the winemaker” forums. And the crew has done its homework, having visited 600 wineries firsthand.

Whether you’re looking to dabble in some new wine finds or build up a serious collection, the wine club is the best and easiest route to do so. If you live near a wine country, we encourage you to get out and taste and become members of your favorite local labels. If there’s no wine scene in your backyard, or you simply want access to hard-to-find stuff from near and abroad, try out one of these six standout clubs.

Mark Stock
Mark Stock is a writer from Portland, Oregon. He fell into wine during the Recession and has been fixated on the stuff since…
Chianti wine: Everything you want to know about this charming drink
There's something special about this Italian superstar
Wine, cheese and grapes spread

It doesn't get much more quintessentially Italian than Chianti. Everything about this wine - even the bottle itself - simply sings of romantic sidewalk cafes, gorgeously flowing fountains, and lush Italian countryside picnics. It's hard to even open a bottle without hearing Pavarotti singing from somewhere in the distant corners of our minds.

But what is it about this charmingly classic wine that makes it so famous? What does Chianti actually taste like? What's the difference between Chianti and Chianti Classico? And which foods are best served with this staple of Italian culture? We're here to answer all of the questions you've ever asked yourself about Chianti.
What is Chianti wine?

Read more
8 best hard cider brands to drink this fall
If you're a cider fan, then you must try these brands
Hard cider

When we turn the seasonal corner to autumn, along with pumpkin spice-flavored everything and a chilly nip in the air, you’ll start to see classic (alcohol-free) cider and hard cider everywhere. Sure, you can drink hard cider all year long, but it makes the most sense from September through the holidays.

For those new to the beverage, hard cider is similar to wine. But instead of being made with grapes, this fermented drink is made with apples. Just like wine, hard cider can range in flavor from very sweet to very dry, depending on the amount of sugar added. However, while wine is higher in alcohol (11 tp 14% ABV), the best hard cider is more on par with beer (4-8% ABV).
The best hard ciders to drink this fall

Read more
You can now get MEATER’s new Pro XL meat thermometer, and it’s well worth the investment
MEATER actually makes using a meat thermometer a fun experience
Meater meat thermometer

If you spend a lot of time (as we do) grilling, roasting, pan-frying, and poaching, you understand the need for a truly great meat thermometer. It's one of those tools that people try to avoid using, opting instead for little tricks like comparing the feel of the meat to the palm of your hand to test its doneness. We've all tried these little "hacks," and we've probably all ended up under or (worse) over-cooking a piece of meat because of them.
It's time to shake the stigma around using meat thermometers. They're the only surefire way to guarantee your meat ends up cooked to the exact temperature you're craving. If you've been holding off on buying this essential part of any kitchen tool collection, now is the time to strike.

MEATER, one of the biggest names in smart meat thermometers, has just launched a brand-new, top-of-the-line collection headed by their latest product, the MEATER Pro XL.
The MEATER Pro XL has four separate probes with one centralized digital charging hub, providing users with the versatility to cook multiple dishes simultaneously and utilize different cooking methods. This way, you can enjoy a perfectly cooked medium-rare steak, and Uncle George can still get his medium-well, all using the same thermometer unit. The new unit also boasts strong wireless connectivity with unlimited range, a USB-charging system, precision-calibrated probes, smart-temp multi-sensors, an easy-to-use app, and a sleek, ultra-slim design you'll be proud to show off at your next cookout.
MEATER's clever wireless design is the first of its kind, allowing any chef to thoroughly enjoy using a meat thermometer and getting incredibly delicious results, every time.

Read more