However, joining a wine club can be the best move for a wine fan of any level, whether you are vino-curious and just getting into it or an advanced aficionado embracing every opportunity to learn and experience something new. And it's usually a lot less stuffy than you'd think.
Being part of a wine club is about more than getting bottles on a schedule. Someone, usually a sommelier or expert with years of industry experience, has done the work to procure the selection. This saves you from being overwhelmed while wandering grocery or bottle shop aisles, while providing the opportunity to learn about wines you normally wouldn’t have chosen.
Not to mention, pick-up parties and member events make for a fun setting to enjoy wine with others.
Several Valley shops have wine clubs that do it all. With a range of prices and plans, there’s something for nearly every budget. When it comes to wine clubs in Phoenix, here’s the cream of the crop and what you need to know when deciding to join.
The Wine Collective of Scottsdale specializes in Arizona wines that are more difficult to procure in the Valley.
Wine Collective of Scottsdale
The Wine Collective of Scottsdale
4020 N. Scottsdale Road, #104, Scottsdale How often: Monthly or quarterly
How much: The Wine Collective of Scottsdale's monthly memberships range from $25 to $75, and quarterly memberships run from $50 to $160.
The details: The monthly tier includes one bottle ($25), two ($50) or three ($75). Sign up for quarterly shipments and receive two bottles ($50), three ($75) or six ($150). Both tiers feature sommelier-picked local and global wines. The monthly membership requires a minimum commitment of three months, and the quarterly option requires a one-year minimum commitment.
Other perks: Members get a 10% discount on food, wines by the glass, tastings and bottles, plus pre-sale tickets to Meet the Winemaker and other events.
The cool factor: Flexibility abounds. Having six options isn’t common. Plus the Snowbird Benefit allows members to pause for up to four months a year. Also, wines picked up 30 to 60 days late may be substituted for something of similar value, a choice that most clubs won’t offer.
GenuWine Arizona
888 N. First Ave., #101 How often: Monthly
How much: Pay by the month ($39), every three months ($111), every six months ($216) or for the year ($408).
The details: Get two bottles each month. Members, or GenuWinos, can choose if they want all reds, all whites or a mixed bag. There’s also a four-bottles-a-month option for $69 a month.
Other perks: Every shipment comes with an Arizona-made or grown product. Members get 15% off food and beverages, invites to pick-up parties and free monthly wine tastings.
The cool factor: Members can visit GenuWine Arizona during the first five days of the month and try all four wine club options for free to decide which two or four bottles they would like to take home.
Postino Wine Café
Multiple locationsHow often: Quarterly or annually
How much: $60 for the quarterly membership; $220 for the year
The details: Wine Cult members get four somm-selected wines from near and far per quarter.
Other perks: Members get one complimentary glass of wine each month, 20% off the in-restaurant bottle collection, $15 Main Lineup bottles to go or for online purchase and access to the Wine Cult app which offers exclusive discounts and seasonal offers. All perks are redeemable at any Postino location.
The cool factor: Feel like a superstar athlete and get a signing bonus of $50 Postino Wine Café credit when you join.
Jamie’s Bottle Shop
7033 E. Main St., #102, ScottsdaleHow often: Monthly
How much: $55 or $140
The details: The $55 per month level is introductory and features one red and one white wine. A $140 per month option, geared toward more seasoned wine lovers, includes three bottles, one red, one white and another unique selection.
Other perks: Members get a 10% discount off all Jamie’s Bottle Shop's non-reserve room retail wines and zero corkage fee. They can also enjoy early access to select wines and invitations to members-only events.
The cool factor: Don’t feel like making the monthly bottle commitment? There’s a third annual membership option for $95 a year that gets you just the perks of early access to select wines, invitations to members-only events and 10% off wines, reserve room excluded.
Sauvage is situated in the historic Helen Anderson House at McDowell Road and Third Avenue.
Geri Koeppel
Sauvage Wine Bar and Shop
49 W. McDowell RoadHow often: Monthly
How much: $50.65
The details: Each shipment includes two natural, biodynamic wines from Sauvage Wine Bar and Shop's favorite producers, including exclusive selections not available elsewhere in Arizona.
Other perks: Get 10% off all retail purchases and never pay a corkage fee. Members get free Wednesday tastings, are the first to access special events and have access to bottles not on the shelves.
The cool factor: Club selections come with tasting notes and pairing suggestions, making it easy to plan your next wine dinner. And, Esquire magazine named this hip wine shop among the best in the country.
ODV Wines
1323 W. University Drive, TempeHow often: Every other month
How much: $70 per shipment
The details: Each shipment includes three bottles — one red, one non-red and another that’s different from the other two — plus an edible treat or condiment. Members have access to unique wine offerings and special pricing and are the first to know about sampling events.
Other perks: Located inside Tracy Dempsey Originals bake shop, ODV Wine Club members who buy six bottles may select a dessert from the cooler. Buy 12 bottles and get 10% off the case, plus one dessert from the cooler.
The cool factor: Pastry chef and owner Tracy Dempsey crafts the sweet and savory bites for members at pick-up parties. Also, club members get an ODV Wines logo wine bag.
Bottleshop 48
3318 S. McClintock Drive, TempeHow often: Monthly
How much: $40
The details: You get to pick two out of four possible wines to take home. Every month at Bottleshop 48, a sommelier runs the wine club tasting, where they walk members through each of the four to help with decision-making.
Other perks: Get 10% off all wine and wine-related events. And at the wine club tasting, a high-dollar premium bottle is made available to members at 50% off for just that night. Labels that normally retail in the $50-$65 range have been recent half-off steals.
The cool factor: You get to taste the wines before you commit to buying. Every tasting commences with complimentary bubbles. To add to the fun, each month’s wine selection has a theme, like May Flowers, Dashing Through Merlot and Girl Dinner Wines.
