15 years of the best wine clubs
California wine is epic. From the famed French upset in 1976 to Napa's sky-high prices and cult wines, to the unbelievable number of wineries to choose from and style of wine available, you can get it all in California wine country. And when you join a California wine club, you get a premium sample of that bounty to try every month.
When shopping for the best California wine subscription, you might feel a little overwhelmed by choices. There are so many out there, some specializing in just one region, like Napa or Central Coast, some specializing in boutique wineries, and some just showcasing the amazing range of talent in winemaking occuring in California.
I live in the Golden State and do quite a bit of wine tasting here, not just the wines from the wine clubs, but at wineries, too. When I assess the quality of wine from one of these subscriptions, I use my extensive experience to judge their previous selections, their winery partners, and their price points. That means that only the very best California wine clubs make this list.
FYI: I find great wine deals so you don’t have to. To keep me on the hunt, I earn a commission when you buy wine based on my recommendations.
This list was last updated on November 16, 2022
I receive multiple deliveries from most of the wine clubs I review
#1 High-End California Club
#2 Wildcrafted Wines
#3 Garagiste Wine Club
#4 California Premier Club
#5 California Gold Club
#6 Organic Wine Club
#7 Sunset Wine Club
by The California Wine Club
This wine subscription focuses on high-end, small-production wines from small family wineries in California. It is perfect to give as a gift or to join yourself.
The Signature Series is one of our favorite premium wine clubs. I never get tired of exploring the different styles and terroirs of high-end California wine.
The Signature Series is the perfect wine gift splurge for a wine lover who likes to explore new wines. For an extra $18 you order a pre-wine gift package announcing the gift. Send it to yourself to present in person on the big day or send it directly to your wine lover so they know the wine is coming.
High-End California Club
by Travelfood Curated Wines
Good wine club gift
#2 Best California / #8 Best Premium
A wine club featuring hand-picked tiny-production wines from Napa, Sonoma, and other northern California wine regions. This “mom and pop” wine seller focuses on wines produced by well-known winemakers and made of grapes from premium vineyards.
Their wine selection is a veritable who’s who of famous winemakers, especially their creative side projects. There aren’t many wine clubs featuring this “new California” ethos and they’re as rare as the wines they ship.
Wildcrafted Wines
by Gold Medal Wine Club
Good wine club gift
For Gifts Give a wine club gift of 12 shipments and save 5%. Click for This Deal.
Garagiste is a term which describes up-and-coming winemakers who toil away creating artisanal wines in their, well not usually, garages. If you're someone who wants to be up on the latest and greatest future stars of California winemaking, try the mostly red wine selection of Garagiste wines from the Gold Medal Wine Club.
I look forward to discovering new wineries from all over California. I know I'm getting very good wine at below-retail prices and helping small family businesses grow.
With elegant gift packaging as an upgrade option, you can make any wine subscription gift really stand out. Send a personalized greeting card ahead or ship it to yourself to present on the big day. When the wine arrives, the first shipment's bottles are wrapped in organza and presented in a beautiful artist-designed gift box.
Garagiste Wine Club
by The California Wine Club
This wine subscription focuses on good-quality, well-priced wines from small family wineries in California. It is perfect to give as a gift or to join yourself.
The California Wine Club appears on many of our lists of best wine clubs because they overdeliver on value, customer service, and quality.
The Premier Series is the perfect wine gift for a Californai wine lover. For an extra $18 you order a pre-wine gift package announcing the gift. Send it to yourself to present in person on the big day or send it directly to your wine lover so they know the wine is coming.
California Premier Club
by Gold Medal Wine Club
Good wine club gift
California is home to some of the world's best wine regions and wineries, many of which are boutique wineries. A boutique winery is typically a small-family operation with limited distribution beyond their tasting room. This wine of the month club is a great way to get introduced to what California wine has to offer at reasonable prices and it makes an excellent gift.
Consistency. I've been receiving their shipments for years and I've never had a wine I didn't like. You can't really ask for more than that from a wine club.
Gold Medal always offers beautiful gift packaging, but you usually need to order a whole year's worth of wine to get it free. Our readers get an exclusive deal on their premium gift package, included with any Gold Series gift of 3-months or longer. Your wine lover will also get a bonus bottle of red wine in their first shipment.
California Gold Club
by Organic Wine Exchange
Good wine club gift
#6 Best California / #9 Best White / #11 Best Quarterly
For You Get 10% off the first three shipments when you join an Organic Wine Exchange club. Use code WC10X3 at checkout.
The perfect wine club for organic wine drinkers, Organic Wine Exchange (OWE) offers so many personalization options that everyone can get the best organic wine club for their needs. Choose Organic, Biodynamic, Vegan, No Sulfites Added, or all of the above.
Proprietor Annie Arnold has gone out of her way to bring her love of organic wine to wine consumers in a convenient way with a great wine club. Annie is doing everything she can to make buying great organic wine easy.
When giving a gift, Organic wine clubs are hard to find. Most are set up as ongoing subscriptions, which is great if you're buying for yourself, but less great when you want to give someone the joy of organic wine. The OWE clubs make great gifts, but they're not big on gift presentation. A custom gift note in the first box is the extent of the pomp and circumstance. That's just right for a wine club focused on wines that are eco-friendly.
Organic Wine Club
by Wine Access
Good satisfaction guarantee
Good wine club gift
#2 Best Wine Clubs / #2 Best Affordable / #4 Best Quarterly
For You Get $25 each of your first two shipments when you join the Sunset Wine Club. Click for This Deal.
A surprisingly excellent wine subscription value. Wine Access, who manages this club for Sunset Magazine, has impeccable taste and a knack for finding wines of great value. The team applies these skills to their love of west coast wines, giving you one of the best six packs you’ll find at this price.
Excellent $20 wine is getting harder and harder to find in California these days, but the Wine Access team nails it. What I love even more than the incredible value is that it comes with a world-class wine education offered by Master of Wine, Vanessa Conlin.
Sunset Wine Club
Step 1: Select a state
Step 2: Consider gift presentation
Step 3: Consider wine selection
Step 4: Consider your gift budget
Bonus: Wine club gift FAQ
In this article:
Are wine clubs worth it?
Which wine clubs are a good value
How to save even more
Which wine clubs are not a good value
Why you should let experts pick your wine
Top reasons to join a wine club
How do wine clubs work?
What types of wine clubs are there?
What is the best wine club to join?
Looking for a wine club subscription? We taste wine from nearly every wine club we review and rate the clubs objectively. Satisfaction guarantees, wine quality, convenience, discounts, and several other factors help us determine the best wine of the month clubs.
The best red wine can be pricey so pick a trusted wine club with a satisfaction guarantee. Quality & service is how you get on our list of best red wine clubs.
Wine clubs are the white wine lover's best friend. Excellent & affordable sums it up. There's so much more than Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc, so join one!
Find budget nirvana by combining two smart wine shopping tactics: Buy by the case, get a subscription. These are the best quarterly case clubs on the market.
Review by: Jessyca Frederick |
After 15+ years trying 1000s of bottles from 100+ different wine clubs, I know what it means to be a wine club worth joining. My reviews can help you find a great wine club for you and the best wine club gifts for any budget and for any wine preference.
Feel free to ask me for a personal recommendation. I won't harvest your email address for a marketing list — I don't send marketing emails.
Learn more about my review process and why you can trust me.