We independently research every club that we review. Although we may receive free samples or commissions on some sales, our opinions are always our own.
Best Wine Club Gifts
Visitors come to the Wine Club Group looking for two things: wine clubs for themselves and wine clubs for gifts. Our recommendations for each are very different! Often when we review clubs, we ask specifically for a shipment to be sent to us “as a gift” so that we can show you exactly what your recipient will be getting. Because of that, most of our club reviews will include not only pictures but also unboxing videos. Below are our tips for finding the best wine clubs for gifts, along with some of our favorites.
Wine clubs come in all price ranges, from under $50 for first shipments to $100+ per month for premium selections. Think about how you want to spend total on the gift and how many shipments you want them to receive. Also, consider introductory versus ongoing pricing if you are not paying for it all up front. Many clubs have low intro offers but higher regular shipments, so calculate your long-term spend.
There are so many different considerations when choosing a wine club gift! Here is a short list of the things that we consider to be the most important:
Does the recipient like a specific type of wine? (red, white, sparkling, organic, etc)
Are you more interested in the quality of the wine or the quantity of the bottles?
Do you want to send one shipment or multiple shipments?
Do you want “extras” like gift wrapping or a gift with purchase?
Does the gift need to get there immediately or do you have time?
Do you mind sending a gift certificate or a gift note for future shipment?
Are There Wine Club Gift Certificates/Gift Cards?
In addition to the top recommendations we gave above, a wine club gift certificate is a great way to get someone their gift quickly and give them a little bit of choice. Because shipping laws are very restrictive, it's also nice to gift a wine club gift certificate that can be redeemed in ALMOST every state. Our top choice in this situation is Firstleaf. You can order a gift card for delivery on any date for as little as $25 or as much as $1000 and then they can order whichever wines they choose, from a BIG selection. Their regular club is less than $50 for the introductory offer as well.
While many of the wine clubs are very similar (monthly or quarterly wine shipments, tasting notes, food pairings, etc), there are other “clubs” that are more about the experience and the quality than the quantity. Our favorite for this is Vinebox. We reviewed their Chocolate Pairing box, but they also have a monthly subscription box and other great one-time purchase wine gifts as well.
Without a doubt, we see the most wine club gifts sent for Christmas. Most people are buying them from 1 day to 1 month before Christmas, which doesn't leave a long time for shipping, especially when many of the clubs ship once a month. If you are shopping before the middle of December, you can safely choose any of our top picks (Monthly Clubs, The California Wine Club, Firstleaf, or Vinebox). If you are shipping within a day or two of Christmas (or even Christmas Day!), you may want to order one of the clubs that allows you to print or delivery a certificate with wine to be shipped later.
This one from Monthly Clubs can be printed OR emailed now or on a future date of your choosing! It tells them what they are getting, how long they are getting it for, and when it will start. And you can include a personalized note!
