The Best of the Web
1. Introduction
Although I generally believe that serious wine hobbyists are better off building a relationship with a good local merchant and making their own wine-buying choices, there's a significant demand for wine-of-the-month "clubs" that deliver to your door. In that realm, the following organizations have impressed me with their selections, flexibility and commitment to service.
California Wine Club
The California Wine Club offers interesting monthly selections at fair prices, and will ship to most states of the U.S. except for the few that are particularly aggressive about "protecting" their citizens from unregulated alcohol. Its Signature Series features higher-priced California wines.
http://www.cawineclub.com/
K&L Wine Merchants
K&L Wine Merchants, an established California retailer, offers a two-bottle monthly bargain package for $15 plus shipping, available wherever local law allows. Other levels also available.
http://www.klwines.com/
Ridge Vineyards
Ridge Vineyards has become a US icon winery, and it offers two programs for obtaining their wines directly from the winery. The Advance Tasting Program offers all reds, six to eight shipments per year. The Z-List offers nothing but zinfandel. Twice-yearly six-bottle shipments: April: two each, Sonoma Station, Paso Robles, Lytton Springs, and in September: two each, Pagani Ranch, York Creek, Geyserville. http://www.ridgewine.com/
Schaefer's
Tri-Wine Wines of the Month is run by Schaefer's of Skokie, Ill., an excellent wine shop with a fine reputation. Schaefer's offers several wine of the month programs.
http://www.schaefers.com/TriWine.html
The Rest of the Web
Touring and Tasting
Touring and Tasting is a slick wine-related travel magazine; the website offers fairly generous extracts from the current and past issues. It also offers a commercial wine club with four levels of membership. Warning: sometimes a slow loader.
http://www.touringandtasting.com
Washington State Wine Club
The Washington State Wine Club specializes in Washington wines. The website contains facts, history and general information about wine. http://www.washingtonstatewineclub.com
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