Wine of the Month Clubs Rated 4-Stars and 4.5-Stars

Overview: This wine subscription focuses on high-quality and value-priced wines from small family wineries in California, and is perfect to give as a gift or to join yourself. Even though California wine is legendary, most of us can't afford legendary wine prices. The California Wine Club's "Love it" Guarantee means you'll love your wine or they'll send you something else at no additional cost.

What We Love: The California Wine Club appears on the most lists of best wine clubs on our website because they overdeliver on value, customer service, and quality. The Premier Series is their biggest wine club and is the perfect gift for a California wine lover. If you join for yourself, you'll also enjoy wine credits, concierge service for wine tasting trips to California, and more perks of membership. The California Wine Club now regularly offers introductory discounts, and that makes this wine club a better value while still delivering fantastic quality.

Could Be Better: Our only complaints about the Premier Series are twofold. First, if you order red wine only or white wine only, you'll get two of the same wine in your shipment. Second, they offer a 4-bottle version of the wine club (with free shipping), but you have to call to upgrade and we wish they would just offer it on the website when you sign up.

Overview: One-of-a-kind wine tasting club which delivers wine by the glass instead of in full size bottles so you can taste your way through sommelier-selected grown up juice. Reorder full bottles or more glasses of what you love. Now delivered quarterly.

What We Love: We especially love that sommelier Tyler Kennedy picks the wine — and it shows. We’ve been super impressed with the quality of each wine we’ve received. The unusual selection genuinely seems like a somm picked the wines. We also love the pricing which rewards bigger customers.

Could Be Better: Given the care taken to select interesting wine, we want more more information about the wine regions, the wineries, and the winemakers in the tasting notes.

Overview: An affordably-priced personalized wine club that learns what you like as you receive, drink, and rate six bottle shipments. International, domestic, and award-winning wine from a thoroughly modern wine subscription box service.

What We Love: Compared with other wine subscriptions in this price category, we think Firstleaf has nailed ease-of-use, presentation, and offers reasonably-interesting wines. We also really like that they identify the body, acidity, sweetness, fruitiness, and tannin level for each wine they sell. You can review the wine before it is shipped and swap out wines that have characteristics you don't like.

Could Be Better: We think their marketing materials make them seem better than they really are, but with a 100% satisfaction guarantee and inexpensive introductory shipment, you can decide for yourself.

Overview: This is the entry-level wine club from the International Wine of the Month Club, but unlike some other wine clubs in this price range you'll always receive Estate-bottled wines. Also for a wine club in this price range you get excellent tasting notes and winery information for every wine that's shipped.

What We Love: Unlike some other wine clubs which focus on acquiring closeout wines to ship to their members, this wine club cares a great deal about coming up with consistent selections befitting their reputation of 25 years in the business. Their tasting panel includes proprietor Kris Calef, wine professionals, and everyday wine drinkers, so they excel at finding palate-friendly wines with wide appeal.

Could Be Better: We'd love to see four-bottle shipments offered by this wine club as a way to help mitigate the cost. The company offers a reliable, quality-driven service, so you don't really get deals on the wine in the shipments. While we'd probably pass on this particular subscription for ourselves, we think it makes a terrific wine club gift — especially if you mix it up with some of their other cool monthly clubs.

Overview: We recently received several shipments from Vinesse, including the Chardonnay club, and they've really stepped up their wine buying. If Chardonnay is your thing and that's all you want to drink, now you can get monthly deliveries of your favorite fruit juice. Plus, you get Vinesse's rock solid satisfaction guarantee for every bottle, taking all of the risk out of joining a wine club.

What We Love: We strongly support all niche wine clubs. The taste of wine is subjective and we think everyone should drink what they love. Given the high delivery fees on this Chardonnay subscription from Vinesse, we recommending joining the 12-bottle wine club and have the shipments sent as often as is appropriate.

Could Be Better: We'd love to see customers rewarded for buying bigger allotments. "Buy more save more" pricing would be a great addition to the line-up. We'd also really like to see the shipping costs come down dramatically.

Overview: The Plonk wine club has always been among our favorites because of the proprietor's preference for quirky but delectable wines. Etty Lewensztain sources interesting wines made from grapes and regions you've never heard of (and some you have). Whether you choose four or twelve bottles you'll be glad you picked Plonk.

What We Love: Lately we've come to think of Plonk as the "Somm club" that isn't run by a sommelier. With a focus on wines under $30 that will delight any curious wine drinker, we think the value is top notch. Also, unlike most wine clubs, if you're thinking of going red-only or white-only, you'll actually get four different selections (three of each if you upgrade to 12 bottles).

Could Be Better: When it comes to Plonk we have little to ask for in the improvement department. Because the wines are so great, we'd really like to see a more giftworthy version of the subscription which includes gift wrap and maybe even store credits so gift recipients can order more of their favorites.

Overview: The Plonk white wine club has always been among our favorites because of the proprietor's preference for quirky but delectable wines. Etty Lewensztain sources interesting wines made from grapes and regions you've never heard of (and some you have). Whether you choose four or twelve bottles you'll be glad you picked Plonk.

What We Love: Lately we've come to think of Plonk as the "Somm club" that isn't run by a sommelier. With a focus on wines under $30 that will delight any curious wine drinker, we think the value is top notch. Also, unlike most wine clubs, if you're thinking of going red-only or white-only, you'll actually get four different selections (three of each if you upgrade to 12 bottles).

Could Be Better: When it comes to Plonk we have little to ask for in the improvement department. Because the wines are so great, we'd really like to see a more giftworthy version of the subscription which includes gift wrap and maybe even store credits so they can order more of their favorites.

Overview: The Plonk red wine club has always been among our favorites because of the proprietor's preference for quirky but delectable wines. Etty Lewensztain sources interesting wines made from grapes and regions you've never heard of (and some you have). Whether you choose four or twelve bottles you'll be glad you picked Plonk.

What We Love: Lately we've come to think of Plonk as the "Somm club" that isn't run by a sommelier. With a focus on wines under $30 that will delight any curious wine drinker, we think the value is top notch. Also, unlike most wine clubs, if you're thinking of going red-only or white-only, you'll actually get four different selections (three of each if you upgrade to 12 bottles).

Could Be Better: When it comes to Plonk we have little to ask for in the improvement department. Because the wines are so great, we'd really like to see a more giftworthy version of the subscription which includes gift wrap and maybe even store credits so they can order more of their favorites.

Overview: Using the same methods of wine selection for more than 25 years, The California Wine Club expanded their vision to include an International wine club, too. Get an in-depth look at new-to-you wine regions around the world with all of the perks of being a member of The California Wine Club.

What We Love: As hard as it is to find boutique wines produced in the United States, it's even harder to find these tiny gems overseas.The fine selections we received were an eclectic pair of wines from Becker Vineyards in Germany; a Pinot Noir and a Pinot Gris. There is much to love about The California Wine Club, but we especially love their devotion to their members. We also like that it's a family business supporting family wineries.

Could Be Better: As a general rule, we think The California Wine Club has little they can do to improve. Whether you're buying for yourself or as a gift, they've really done a lot to create a wine club worth joining.

Overview: Grapeseed Wine started out as a way to have customers help fund one-time wine productions by acclaimed winemakers, but now it's a premium wine club, too. Get preferred pricing on all of their new releases and enjoy helping stellar winemakers stretch their winemaking creativity.

What We Love: We're big fans of any group that has exclusive wines because they produced them (as opposed to buying out a full production of someone else's wine)

Could Be Better: We'd like to see more options available, particularly for gifting, but also for delivery frequency. We're looking forward to the next release of Grapeseed wines to augment the selection.