14 years of the best wine clubs
I’m trying something new this year for my Father’s Day list — making it as easy as possible.
I’ve picked out 5 no-brainer wine clubs that are perfect for any dad who is into wine. These are relatively affordable selections from reliable companies who aren’t gouging you and have a history of delivering palate-pleasing wines.
These wine subscriptions are all perfect to give to Dad, whether it’s for Father’s Day, his Birthday, or any other special occasion. Bonus: I’ve tried wine from all of the wine clubs on this list and my recommendations are based on first-hand experience.
If your dad likes a particular kind of wine, please shop my selection of Niche Wine Club Gifts. If your dad is into primo wine, definitely check my Best High-End Wine Clubs list. For dads with a “go to,” check out these specific clubs for Red Blends, Pinot Noir, Cabernet. If you’re not sure, drop me a note and I’ll help you choose.
Don’t forget, Father’s Day in 2022 is Sunday, June 19 and you should order by Wednesday June 8 to ensure actual wine arrives by Father’s Day. If you’ve waited too long to get the wine there on time, you can always choose a gift with an electronic gift notification, or even choose an online gift card instead of a prepaid subscription.
Select a state. Don’t forget to select the state he lives in before you shop. Not all wine clubs can ship to all states and it would suck to get all the way to checkout before you figure that out.
21+ Signature Required for Deliveries. Because the gift is alcohol, someone at least 21 years old will need to sign for the packages when they arrive. If Dad has a busy schedule he can redirect packages to a nearby FedEx or UPS Pick-up Location or you can send the gift to work (if that is allowed). Learn more about local wine delivery peculiarities and workarounds.
Keep your budget in mind. Like everything, wine is getting more expensive. For wine clubs, so far, I’ve only seen modest price increases to cover mostly increased transportation costs. A wine club is a generous gift, but it can be challenging to keep it affordable. Most two-bottle wine clubs will cost $150-180 for three months once you factor in deals, shipping costs, and sales tax. Most two-bottle wine clubs will cost $150-180 for three months once you factor in deals, shipping costs, and sales tax.
Personalized vs Curated. While a personalized wine club might be a great fit for your Dad, they start with an electronic gift card and your Dad then has to set everything up herself. I typically recommend curated gifts for everyone with an exception for your significant other if you live together.
Ongoing vs prepaid. Most wine gift subscriptions are prepaid — you choose how many shipments to send and then you pay for all of them up front. There are some really cool subscriptions out there that don’t offer “prepaid” gifts and therefore make giving them a hassle. I left them off this list of gifts, but you can always choose one of them anyway.
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 May 29, 2022
I receive multiple deliveries from most of the wine clubs I review
#1 California Premier Club
#2 International Premier Club
#3 Plonk Wine Club
#4 SomMailier Wine Club
#5 Red Wine Club
by The California Wine Club
Good satisfaction guarantee
Good wine club gift
#1 Best Gifts / #4 Best Wine Clubs / #4 Best White
The gold standard two-bottle wine club gift featuring high-quality wine from California’s best small family wineries. In terms of the competition, they are best-in-class for gift presentation, value, and customer service. I always recommend this wine club first for gifts.
Why Dad will love it: Every wine in every shipment — whether you pick red wine only, white wine only, or a mix of the two — comes from a small family winery in California that he’s unlikely to have tried before… So they’re familiar, but new to him.
Why you’ll love to give it: You can rest easy knowing that if for some reason he doesn’t like one of the wines he receives, The California Wine Club will make it right with their “Love It” Guarantee. Plus, this year, you can upgrade his three-month gift for free — choose a nice wooden crate for presentation or a bonus bottle of bubbly in the first shipment.
About the Wine
The California Wine Club prides itself on only working with small family wineries. Why? Because they generally work the hardest, their land and grapevines are their pride and joy, and they’re free to produce varieties and blends worth drinking — in other words, they make wine that is approachable and interesting.
Giving a Gift?
In addition to handcrafted wines, gift subscriptions include: Uncorked® guide to each featured winery; a $25 Wine Credit; and a VIP Winery Tour and Tasting invitation.
All gifts, from 1-12 shipments, include a personalized note at no extra charge. Gifts are available monthly, every other month, or quarterly.
Ways to Upgrade
Wooden Crate. Give a gift of at least three months and use code CRATE to have the first shipment presented in a wooden crate (pictured). Good for any club level.
Bonus Bubbly. Gift a gift of three months or longer and Dad will get a bonus bottle of sparkling wine in his first shipment. Good only for Premier Series.
Upgrade to Gift+ (pictured) to give Dad something before the first shipment of wine arrives. Will ship 2 business days after you order via US Priority Mail. $19 additional, available on all club levels.
Last minute? You can customize a letter to print or email to your dad so he has something to open on Father’s Day.
Good to Know
Chock full of benefits, a membership at The California Wine Club has a lot to offer. They offer "Love It" Guarantee will replace any bottle the customer doesn’t love, provide a personal wine consultant, and produce the full-color magazine highlight the wines in each shipment. Coupled with even more benefits, this the best value wine club in its class.
Want to spoil him a little more? The California Wine Club offers two premium wine clubs, a Pacific Northwest club, and an International Club, too.
California Premier Club
by International Wine of the Month Club
Good satisfaction guarantee
Good wine club gift
#5 Best White / #8 Best Wine Clubs / #8 Best International
For Gifts Save $10 when you give a 4-month wine club gift. Use code SAVE10 at checkout.
For Gifts Save $15 when you give a 6-month wine club gift. Use code SAVE15 at checkout.
For Gifts Save $30 when you give a year of wine gift. Use code SAVE30 at checkout.
If your dad loves more than just California wine, I recommend taking a good look at the wine clubs from the International Wine of the Month Club (IWOMC). Another of the old guard clubs who just get everything right when it comes to giving wine, I’m generally impressed by the quality and value offered by this under-the-radar wine subscription.
Why Dad will love it: Most of the wine selected by the International Wine of the Month Club isn’t widely distributed in the US. These refined selections are chosen by a multi-tiered tasting panel of professionals and wine club members and they’re sure to please most wine lovers.
Why you’ll love to give it: IWOMC has the most fully-featured gifting program of any of the wine clubs I’ve reviewed. You can pick any length of membership from 2-12 months, mix and match subscription items (like cheese or beer), and they even let you pay as you go instead of all up front.
About the Wine
Where the first two clubs on this list focus on California wine, this one has a global perspective. Sometimes California wines are included, but recently featured wines include a 2019 Côtes du Rhône red blend, a South African Sauvignon Blanc and Semillon blend, a Chilean Pinot Noir, and a Greek Vidiano (white). They really go out of their way to source wine most Americans will find unusual, but only from reliable producers respected for quality.
Giving a Gift?
All gifts, from 2-12 shipments, include a personalized note at no extra charge. Gifts are available monthly, every other month, or quarterly. Bottles in the first shipment come wrapped in reusable organza wine bags.
A unique feature of this wine club gift is the ability to pay as you go. You can plan to give a gift of 2+ months and only pay when the wine ships each month. They do not offer one-time gifts.
If you want it to start sometime other than "immediately," you can choose a month for shipments to begin. In case Dad is traveling in May and won’t be home to receive a wine shipment.
Ways to Save
Give more. Modest discounts are available for higher volume purchases, specifically more shipments. For 4+, 6+, and 12-shipment gifts you can use the discount codes SAVE10, SAVE15, and SAVE30 respectively.
Ways to Upgrade
Higher-end Clubs. International Wine of the Month Club has an array of clubs you can upgrade to: the Collectors series is their most premium, the Masters series is a mix of the Premier and Collectors series, and for specialists, they offer a Bold Reds series.
You can Design Your Own Club by combining any and all of their other club options into a custom subscription gift with their somewhat-easy-to-use online tool. Click the Good To Know tab to learn more.
Last minute? You can customize a letter to print or email to your dad so he has something to open on Father’s Day.
Good to Know
The International Wine of the Month Club is one part of the Monthly Clubs line-up. In addition to four different wine clubs, they also offer a bunch of other high-end monthly clubs. These include: several subscriptions for beer, two cheese subscriptions, two chocolate subscriptions, a floral bouquet subscription, and two hand-rolled cigar subscriptions.
You can Design Your Own Club by combining any and all of these into a custom subscription gift with their somewhat-easy-to-use online tool.
International Premier Club
Good wine club gift
#1 Best White / #2 Best Wine Clubs / #2 Best Quarterly
For You Save $10 and get free shipping on your first wine shipment. Use code SUBSCRIBE10 at checkout.
For dads who love things that are off the beaten path, look no further than Plonk. Curator and sommelier Etty Klein has a knack for finding an impressive selection of truly interesting and delectable wines from around the world — which all happen to be sustainably grown, organic, or biodynamic.
Why Dad will love it: I can virtually guarantee he’s never heard of half of these grapes or wine regions, if not 80-90% of them. They don’t hail from places like Bordeaux, they hail from places like the Canary Islands, Georgia (the country), and New York! Treat him to wines made from Jacquere, Inzolia, Mencia, and Bobal.
Why you’ll love to give it: Plonk also likes to make giving wine easy. Pick your wine color, pick the number of bottles, choose the delivery frequency, choose ongoing vs prepaid, and check the box that says it’s a gift. Boom, done. Wine hero status bestowed upon you. Oh, and now you can save $30 on any prepaid wine subscription gift with promo code DADCLUB30. Even better.
About the Wine
There is nothing dull or ordinary floating around the Plonk inventory. I especially love the unique selection of aromatic white wines from all over Europe, but the red wine selection is also exceptional — featuring regions all over the old world and new, with styles ranging from light-bodied and austere to full-bodied gems perfect for sipping.
Giving a Gift?
Plonk has never made a big deal of gifting — no gift wrap, no fancy packaging — but he’s happy to include a gift message in the first box. You can choose to pay all up front or pay as you go (which is nice).
Good to Know
Proprietor Etty Klein is a certified sommelier recognized for her ability to pick great wines. Accolades hale from Wine Enthusiast magazine, Wine & Spirits magazine, Food & Wine magazine and a host of other media sources. I frequently see picks in the Plonk Wine Club that go on to critical acclaim and praise and so I trust her curation 100%.
Plonk Wine Club
by SomMailier
Good wine club gift
#3 Best International / #5 Best Quarterly / #6 Best Wine Clubs
SomMailier exclusively offers boutique French wine, imported just for this club. Founder and CEO Laurent Yung is a 5th generation member of the Yung wine family from Bordeaux. My own experience with the wines from SomMailier is that they are distinct (both in character and quality) from widely available French wines I’ve tried.
Why Dad will love it: Getting to know French wine can be challenging when you live in the US, especially if you’re on the west coast. If you don’t speak French and you associate it with stuffy people and stuffier customs, it’s tempting to stick with something else. This wine club pushes past all of that to present approachable wines in an approachable manner. Getting with French wine was never so easy.
Why you’ll love to give it: SomMailier definitely makes you look good. The wines come with detailed cards with just the right amount of information for the wine lover who’s also not a major nerd (like me). Dad will learn about each of France’s wine growing regions and why so many people think of France when they think of wine.
About the Wine
I have had the pleasure of trying many wines from SomMailier, and even though I don’t always love red French wine, I found each interesting and distinctive. Some highlights include: his very popular Le Fleur des Pins white Bordeaux blend from Graves, a 2016 Cab-dominant red blend from Graves in Bordeaux, a Chardonnay from Arbois in Jura, a traditional red Rhône blend from Lirac, and a Corsican Vermentino.
Giving a Gift?
Choose three, six, or twelve bottle shipments delivered quarterly. Gifts include detailed cards about the wines and a fun gift box.
SomMailier comes with a 100% Satisfaction Guarantee and an exclusive wine tour of Laurent’s family’s wineries in Bordeaux if Dad is heading that way.
Ways to Save
Give more. Modest discounts are available for higher volume purchases, both more shipments and more bottles per shipment. The club is available as a 6-bottle gift (called Rendezvous) or a 12-bottle gift (called Et Voila), in addition to the most affordable 3-bottle gift (called C’est La Vie).
Save 5%. As I mentioned under the Good To Know tab, Laurent runs on narrow margins. This 5% discount with code EXTRA5 is the most he can offer for gift subscriptions.
Good to Know
The wine is kind of expensive (around $37 a bottle for the three-bottle subscription, plus shipping), and not because the prices have been artificially inflated by too much demand. Between the French wine tariffs from 2020-2021 and more recent overseas shipping nightmares and inflationary pressures, Laurent’s costs have gone up. He runs on a narrow profit margin, keeping the costs as low as he can, because he believes Americans need to taste this exceptional French wines from small producers that otherwise wouldn’t get their wines to the US.
SomMailier Wine Club
by Pour Me Wines
Good wine club gift
For You Save 20% on your first shipment when you enroll in the Red Wine Club. Use code POURME at checkout.
Something new to the wine club world! This start-up (not the venture capital kind, the mom-and-pop bootstrapped kind) offers a unique approach to curating its selection of red and sparkling wine — the founder, Genna Tatom, only works with great importers and distributors to share with us the great wines she wants to drink herself.
Why Dad will love it: These are wines of substance and character, mostly classics with a twist. There are no other red wine and sparkling clubs out there, and this gives Dad the chance to celebrate something every month, and also pair his home-cooked meals with great red wines.
Why you’ll love to give it: While every wine club on this list is a small business, Genna is just getting started and helping this entrepreneur through her first year in business is a gift you give her, too. Plus, she lets you choose 20% off or free shipping for your first shipment.
About the Wine
I go into great detail in my review of each of her wine clubs, but the main takeaway based on what I have tried so far is this: enjoy high quality wine from serious wine regions. Whether it’s a classic Northern Rhône Syrah, a Beaujolais Gamay Noir, or a Vintage Sparkling Wine made in the Traditional Method but from native Italian Nerello Mascalese, each bottle is worth it.
Giving a Gift?
Genna doesn’t have pre-paid gift subscriptions in her rotation yet, so you have two choices: join the subscription on behalf of your dad or send him an electronic gift card. I strongly recommend the six-bottle Red & Sparkling Club to get all of her monthly selections. The six-bottle membership is $190 per shipment (and the three-bottle membership is $100).
Good to Know
Pour Me Wines is unique among wine clubs because it’s not run by an industry professional. This means she’s not paying attention to the hype, she’s not overly concerned with centuries-old reputations and other status markers, she’s not following winemaker pedigrees — she’s just selecting a diverse variety of great wine she wants to drink herself.
Red Wine Club
What do you get the wine-loving dad who absolutely does not need more wine? The struggle is real, but the solution is simple — get him a Coravin.
Just in time for Father’s Day, all Coravin systems are 30% off at Coravin.com Plus, get free ground shipping on orders over $75.
In case you don’t already know, a Coravin is a wine preservation system so that he can drink a glass at a time, check in on some babies that are laying down to age, or preserve that bottle of bubbly until next Sunday. Coravin is a complex world, so I recommend reading my extensive guide before buying.
Already know about Coravin? Shop this page for the latest Coravin deals on all the models.
Fine wine retailer Millesima recently acquired a large quantity of the 2012 vintage of Dom Perignon (only released in some years, not every year) and is offering a big price break. Instead of the market price of $325, you can give Dad a special bottle of Champagne in the classic Dom gift box for just $254.99. Plus get free shipping on your first order over $100 with coupon Millesima1st.
Given the Champagne shortage, you many not want to wait to snap up this opportunity... maybe get one for yourself, too? Get this deal
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?
Like most things, one size does not fit all in wine gifts. Our reviews outline the best wine club for gifts. We also have lists for red and white wine gifts.
Review by: Jessyca Frederick |
After 14+ years trying 1000+ 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 (or to give as a gift) at 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.
