Recent Posts
What is a Wine Club and How Does it Work?
Have you ever uncorked a bottle of wine at a dinner party, taken that first sip, and wished you knew the story behind it? Or perhaps you’ve found a bottle you absolutely adore while on vacation, only to realize you can’t find it at your local shop? If you love the thrill of discovering new favorites and want a direct line to the artisans who craft them, you are ready for a wine club.
Joining a wine club is about so much more than just receiving a box of bottles. It’s about discovering wines you love, deepening your connection to a winery—and the people who work there. It’s an invitation to a lifestyle filled with celebration, discovery, and connection! A wine club membership unlocks a door to the vineyard that is usually closed to the general public.
In this guide, we are going to dive deep into exactly what a wine club is, how it functions, and why joining a premier California wine club like La Crema might just be the best decision you make for your cellar (and your palate) this year.
What is a Wine Club?
A wine club is a direct relationship between you, the wine lover, and a specific winery. Unlike buying a bottle off a grocery store shelf, joining a club means you are signing up to receive curated wine shipments directly from the source on a recurring schedule.
When you join a wine club, you are essentially becoming part of the winery's extended family. Clubs are designed to create ongoing access to wines, stories, and experiences that exist far beyond the retail environment. You aren't just getting juice in a bottle. You’re getting the winemaker's favorite barrels, small-lot wines, and vintage library releases that never see a distributor's warehouse, not to mention invitations to exclusive member events and other benefits.
Take La Crema, for example. As a winery-led club rooted in vineyard expression and craftsmanship, our program isn't just about sales. It's about sharing the specific terroir of our coastal vineyards and our artisanal winemaking methods with people who appreciate quality, authenticity, and craft. It’s a way for La Crema to say, "We made something special, and we saved some just for you."
Why Wineries Offer Wine Clubs
You might wonder, with all the wine shops in the world, why do wineries put so much effort into these clubs? The answer lies in connection.
- Wineries offer wine clubs because they want to build lasting, meaningful relationships with their audience. They want to know the people who are drinking their wine, and they want those people to understand the labor of love that goes into every bottle.
- Furthermore, wine clubs play a critical role in how a winery operates creatively. Winemakers are artists and scientists! They often want to experiment with a new varietal, harvest from a tiny block of a specific vineyard, or try a different aging technique. These "small-lot" experiments often produce too few cases to sell to national retailers. A wine club provides the perfect channel to share these special bottles with their most engaged supporters.
By having a dedicated group of members, wineries like La Crema can focus on quality and character rather than just volume. It allows them to share seasonal wines that perfectly match the weather and the mood of the moment. For La Crema, a wine club ties back to its focus on long-term connections. When you pop a cork, you know exactly where it came from, and the winery knows it’s being enjoyed by someone who truly cares.
What is the Difference Between a Wine Club vs. Wine Subscription?
While the terms are sometimes used interchangeably, a wine club and a wine subscription are not quite the same.
A wine subscription is typically a third-party service. Think of it as a wine-of-the-month aggregator. These companies buy wine from various producers and resell it to you based on an algorithm or a general flavor profile. It’s a great way to try random brands, but there is rarely a deep connection to the source. With a subscription, you are a customer of the service, not the winery.
A wine club, on the other hand, is run directly by the specific winery (or a specific family of wineries). It offers depth rather than breadth. When you join the La Crema wine club, you are dealing directly with La Crema. You are drinking wines crafted by their team, grown in their vineyards, and shipped from their estate. The provenance is guaranteed, and the connection is authentic. If you want to understand a specific winemaker's style and explore a specific region—like the stunning California coast or Oregon’s bucolic Willamette Valley—a winery club is superior to a generic subscription every time.
How a Wine Club Works
While every winery is different, most operate their wine clubs using a similar model that’s designed to be as seamless and exciting as possible from signup through delivery.
First, you sign up—either online or in the tasting room. You will be asked your preferences for quantity and wine type (red vs. white, or a mix) and to provide your shipping and payment details. Next, you will receive communication from the winery with updates about upcoming releases, shipment details, and exclusive opportunities. Most clubs ship seasonally, ensuring you aren't overwhelmed with monthly boxes but are also never left with an empty rack for too long.
Let’s look at how this works specifically with a top-tier club like La Crema.
Wine Selections and Shipments
At La Crema, the wines are chosen by the winemaking and hospitality teams with great care. The winemaking team looks at what is drinking beautifully right now and what is ready to be released to the world. They curate the selection to match the season and to highlight vineyard-driven wines that tell a story about a specific vintage or site. You aren't just getting random bottles—you’re getting a curated journey through the year.
Shipments to La Crema members occur in Winter, Spring, and Fall. This schedule is intentional. It ensures you have bold reds and full-bodied whites for the cooler months, crisp whites and rosés as the flowers bloom, and perfect pairings for your autumn harvest dinners.
Moreover, with each La Crema shipment, you receive in-depth communication from the winery to deepen your connection to the wines. A newsletter might include a deep dive into a specific vineyard, a pairing recipe, and an interview with the winemaker. La Crema’s team puts a lot of thought into their club content, which changes quarterly but is always genuine and informative.
Membership Flexibility and Customization
Gone are the days of "you get what you get." The best wine club experiences today are all about flexibility. Life happens, palates change, and your cellar needs might shift. La Crema understands this perfectly.
When you join, you choose your tier based on how much wine you want to enjoy:
- 4-Bottle Club: Perfect for the casual enthusiast.
- 6-Bottle Club: The most popular option, great for stocking up.
- 12-Bottle Club: For the serious host or collector.
But here is the best part: customization. Before every shipment, you get a notification. Do you want more Chardonnay and less Pinot Noir this time? Do you want to add a few bottles of that limited-release rosé using your special member pricing? You can! Whether you initially pick a red, white, or mixed selection, La Crema allows you to customize your order before it ships. You can adjust your shipment to match exactly what you are craving and even skip a delivery when life gets busy.
Billing and Commitment Basics
Transparency builds trust, and trust is essential for a happy membership. With a reputable club, you are never charged until the wine is ready to ship. You will receive an email notification (usually a few weeks in advance) letting you know the selection is ready for review and when your card will be charged. Most wine clubs are designed to be transparent and low pressure, with clear cancellation policies and no long-term contracts.
The pricing usually depends on the tier you select. For example, a 4-bottle mixed shipment from La Crema generally ranges between $170–$190, while the 12-bottle tier offers higher volume pricing. The commitment is typically minimal—most wineries just ask that you stay for a few shipments to get the perks—but cancellation policies are straightforward. If you need to skip a shipment because you are traveling, it’s usually just a click away!
What Are the Benefits of Joining a Wine Club?
Why commit? Why not just buy bottles when you feel like it? Because membership has its privileges! The benefits of a wine club membership extend far beyond the convenience of delivery. It’s about value, VIP treatment, and getting your hands on the "good stuff."
Access to Limited and Small-Lot Wines:
This is the holy grail for wine lovers. Many wineries produce small batches of wine—maybe only 50 or 100 cases—specifically for their club members. These wines never make it to wine shops or restaurants.
When you join La Crema, you gain access to these limited-production treasures. We’re talking about single-vineyard bottlings that express the unique soil and climate of a tiny plot of land or even our winemaker’s favorite barrel-selection wines that are extremely limited in quantity. Being a member guarantees you a seat at the table for these releases. It is the only way to taste the full breadth of the winemaker's talent.
Member Pricing and Exclusive Perks:
Let’s talk about savings, because who doesn't love a deal? One of the immediate benefits is the discount. La Crema members enjoy fantastic savings on every single bottle:
- 4-Bottle Members: 15% off bottles and shipments.
- 6-Bottle Members: 20% off bottles and shipments.
- 12-Bottle Members: A massive 25% off shipments and cases!
But the value doesn't stop at the wine cost. Shipping wine can be pricey, but members get preferential treatment here too. La Crema offers flat-rate shipping ($20 or $12 depending on the tier) and complimentary shipping for 12-bottle members.
And if you visit the winery? The red carpet rolls out. Members receive invitations to exclusive events just for them at the winery, along with complimentary estate tastings—up to 6 people per visit for the top tier! Imagine taking your friends to La Crema’s gorgeous Sonoma County estate and treating them to a tasting on the house. That is the power of membership.
Discounted pricing, first access to new and limited releases, and invitations to immersive member events—these are just some of the perks that turn everyday sipping into something a little more extraordinary.
A Deeper Connection to the Winery:
Finally, the intangible benefit: connection. Being a member connects you to the heartbeat of the winery. You get the inside scoop through newsletters, tasting notes, and behind-the-scenes content.
La Crema hosts exceptional member events, from release parties to intimate culinary experiences. Even if you live across the country, knowing that you are part of this community adds a layer of enjoyment to every glass. A California wine club like La Crema’s makes you feel like an insider—because you are one.
Step Into the Best Wine Club Experience with La Crema
If you have been looking for the best wine club to join, your search ends here. La Crema offers a masterclass in how a club should be run. By combining the soul of coastal California winemaking with a member experience that is flexible, inclusive, generous, and incredibly fun, they stand apart from the crowd.
La Crema’s club is rooted in a deep love for the vineyards—from the Russian River Valley to Monterey. When you sign up, you aren't just buying wine. You’re discovering world-class Pinot Noir and Chardonnay (and other varieties too) that sets the standard for the region.
Ready to fill your glass? The process is simple. You don't need to be in California to enjoy the California dream! People from all over the United States can sign up and have these coastal gems delivered right to their door.
Here is what you can look forward to:
- Head to the site: Visit the sign-up page
- Choose your adventure: Pick the 4, 6, or 12-bottle tier that fits your lifestyle.
- Customize: Select red, white, or mixed.
- Celebrate: Wait for that doorbell to ring!
Don't let another season go by drinking ordinary wine. Elevate your experience, save money on incredible bottles, and join a community that loves to celebrate as much as you do.
