With its discerning offering and client base, Wine Access is quickly gaining recognition as a destination for high-quality wines. One way of experiencing the entire Wine Access selection at a discount is through their wine club. If you’re thinking of taking the plunge, here’s everything you need to know about the Wine Access Wine Club.
The first thing to know about the Wine Access Wine Club is that it’s curation-based. That means every quarter, you’ll get six bottles hand-selected by the Wine Access team ($150 including shipping). Members won’t know in advance what bottles they will receive — it’s all about trust.
So how can you validate that Wine Access is indeed a trustworthy authority for selecting your wines? In evaluating curation-based wine clubs, we’ve found that a quality subscription must offer the following: accountability, a unique selection, and compelling pricing. (note: these criteria do not apply to non-curation based clubs such as winery clubs, which offer full clarity on what they will provide to members). Countless wine clubs claim to be “curated”, but not all of them live up to this promise. The best will introduce us to exceptional wines, while others might seem more like a front for wineries to get rid of unsold inventory. So how does Wine Access stack up against these criteria?
Accountability
For curation-based wine clubs, the key question is: who is choosing your wines? When a wine club doesn’t name an authority, it’s often a red flag. A vague description like “team of experts” equals no accountability around quality. We love that Wine Access club wines are selected by genuinely knowledgeable authorities in the space, including Master of Wine Vanessa Conlin and Master Sommelier Sur Lucero.
Conlin serves as a wine consultant to numerous celebrities, including NBA professional Josh Hart. Lucero has served as wine director or sommelier at restaurants including The French Laundry, Meadowood, and Daniel Boulud. Conlin and her team take personal responsibility for every wine club shipment. Each quarter, they produce new videos explaining to members via video why each wine made the cut. Ultimately, authorities like Conlin and Lucero pride themselves on having impeccable taste in wine. They’re unlikely to lead you wrong, because their reputation is at stake.
Unique Selection
Curation-based wine clubs should save members the legwork of searching for quality wines. Each Wine Access Wine Club shipment connects members to wines that are distinctive, well-respected within industry circles, and not easily available commercially. Here is a sampling of wines that have been included in past Wine Access shipments. As you’ll see, the selection ranges from traditional to adventurous, is highly-regarded by both critics and consumers, and from boutique, limited-production wineries.
- 2017 Domaine du Clos du Fief Michel et Sylvain Tete Chenas Les Grands Gandelins Beaujolais: This wine is produced from 50+ year old vines on a 4th generation Beaujolais Cru estate. While it has the typical lighthearted strawberry and red berry notes of Beaujolais, it also has a deeper earthiness and almost “funky” pungent notes that add further dimension.
- 2018 Andis Semillon Bill Dillian Vineyard Sierra Foothills California: This crisp, dry semillon offers a satisfying range of floral, citrus, and tropical fruit notes, earning it 91 points from Wine Enthusiast
- 2017 Domaine Nico Soeur et Freres Grand Mere Pinot Noir Mendoza Argentina: This is distinctive wine is the world’s first high-altitude Pinot Noir, grown at over 3,600 feet above sea level in Argentina’s Uco Valley. It is loved by critics and drinkers alike for its fresh, juicy notes of red cherry and spice, framed by chiseled minerality.
- 2017 The Vice Cabernet Sauvignon Diamond Mountain District: Only 420 cases of this single-vineyard, fully vegan wine were crafted. This is a classic Napa Cab with dark fruit and earthy cigar notes backed by firm tannins.
- 2015 Petra Zingari Toscana Rosso IGT: This singular blend of equal parts Merlot, Syrah, Sangiovese, and Petit Verdot earned high points from drinkers and critics for its earthy cherry and cigar aromatics and concentrated, textured profile. This wine also earned 93 points from Wine Spectator.
- 2017 Louis Moreau Chablis Burgundy France: 2017 was an excellent vintage year for Chablis, and the Louis Moreau is no exception. This wine exudes all the hallmarks of a classic Chablis — crisp green apple, lime, and floral notes, carried on a savory, mineral-driven finish.
Compelling Pricing
The Wine Access Wine Club costs $150 per quarterly shipment of 6 bottles. While this averages out to $25 per bottle including shipping, the wines range in price, and often are cumulatively worth more than the $150 cost of the shipment. This pricing is very reasonable, especially when compared to the amount one might spend on more mass-produced wines at nationwide retailers like Costco or BevMo. Wine Access also offers members a 10% discount on all purchases from its site.
The Verdict
The Wine Access Wine Club is an excellent choice for anyone who wants to easily experience a vast array of varietals, regions, and producers. Admittedly, it’s not for those who prefer a specific profile of wines. For example, those who prefer only full-bodied reds might want to find a more customized or targeted club. But for those looking to effortlessly discover new favorite wines, Wine Access’ thoughtful selections make tasteful additions to any cellar. To learn more, visit the Wine Access site.
Images courtesy of Wine Access.