For me, there is nothing better than a big glass of Zinfandel while snuggling under a blanket and watching my DVR’d shows in the winter months. Also, equally as great is sharing a bright bottle of crisp Pinot Grigio with friends during a summer cookout. No matter how you enjoy your wine, The California Wine Club makes it easy to try handcrafted wines from small family wineries in the US and abroad. I really love wine, both white and red, so I was excited when The California Wine Club offered me a trial of their services. First, I’ll talk a little bit about the wines I received, then I will go into more detail about the club itself.
The wine was delivered safe and secure by my local Fed-Ex in an egg carton style package for protection. Note: there does have to be someone older than 21 at the residence to sign for the package in order for it to be delivered, however, you can call a wine specialist to learn about other alternatives for delivery.
I was surprised at how many “extras” were in my package! They included a recipe booklet with mouth watering recipes you can make with your new wines, an Uncorked brochure which is a guide to this months selection, a $25 gift certificate to the club and even some wildflower seeds to plant! This month I received Campus Oaks wines from the Gnekow Family Winery. The winery was founded in 1996 and is located in Collegeville, CA. I was sent the 2011 Lodi, Old Vine Zinfandel (Zin is one of my favorite reds…how did they know?!) and the 2012 Pinot Grigio.
- Campus Oaks 2011 Old Vine Zinfandel– My fiancee was my tasting buddy, so we opened this up to have with some delicious steaks that he cooked on the grill. The wine was slightly spicy with fruity undertones. It was soft and easy to drink. Fun fact: this Old Vine Zin is the most popular wine that The California Wine Club has ever featured and it received a 95 point rating at the California State Fair. Retail: $19, Reorder Price: $12.99
- Campus Oaks 2012 Pinot Grigio– I am usually not a white wine gal, but since I had the bottle, I wasn’t not going to try it! Let me tell you, I was pleasantly surprised! It has a great clean and crisp taste with bright citrus notes. My fiancee was hesitant to try this one since he isn’t a fan of white, but he ended up loving it as well! It would make an awesome peach sangria…one of my favorite summer-time concoctions! Fun fact: There were only 1,200 cases of this wine produced. Retail: $17, Reorder Price: $10.99
Ok, so the wines were great, now lets talk a little more about the club itself. The California Wine Club started over 25 years ago and they are dedicated to delivering fantastic artisan wines directly to you. This is fantastic for folks like myself (in a small NH town) who don’t really have access to many artisan wines. They offer 5 different wine club levels, there are no membership fees and you can cancel at anytime. Each level offers monthly, bi-monthly and quarterly deliveries with the option of choosing 1 red & 1 white, 2 reds/2 whites OR 3 or 4 bottles.
- Premier Series– The original and most popular level features handcrafted award-winning wines from small family wineries. Starts at $39.95/month.
- International Series– This level features handcrafted wines from around the world. Starts at $71/ month.
- Pacific Northwest Series– this level offers limited production wines from the exciting regions of Oregon and Washington. Starts at $77/month.
- Signature Series– this option offers wines for collectors and connoisseurs who wish to experience California’s highest rated and most coveted wines. Starts at $124/month.
- Aged Cabernet Series– this level is the ultimate reward in fine viticulture featuring Napa Valley’s most prestigious Cabernet’s that are aged 8-12 years. Starts at $219/month.
Shipping for each 2 bottle level is $13 a month, plus any state taxes. (If you order 3 or 4 bottles, they will pay for the extra shipping cost!) The wines are carefully packed and delivered in temperature controlled trucks to keep the integrity of the wines. If there is ever an issue with damaged items or if you have a problem with the wine you received, The California Wine Club will replace it immediately.
I have nothing but good things to say about this club! The wines they offered were great and the membership is flexible and upfront with no hidden costs. With Father’s Day and Graduation/Wedding season approaching, this would be a wonderfully appropriate gift and they are currently running a spring special: If you buy a 3 month gift, you get the shipping for free (a $39 value) and pay only $115!
Product received from PR for editorial consideration, all opinions expressed are my own.
Is a wine club something you would be interested in joining or gifting?
