The Australian Wine Society Review

Australian Wine Society...
Investing in Taste

With literally hundreds of wine clubs available for you to join, finding one that does more than take your money in exchange for some pretty good wines is appealing.

Sure, there are some great deals available, but when you get down to the bottom dollar, it is still about…well…the bottom dollar. But what would happen if a wine club was nonprofit?

A Not For Profit Wine Club?

Yes. The Australian Wine Society is basically a well aged cooperative and is Australia's only not for profit wine club. When you join the Australian Wine Society, you will be charged $50, which is the cost of two shares in the club. The fee is good for life. :-)

If you ever decide to leave the society, for any reason, your $50 is refunded. In essence, you sell back your two $25 shares.

Proceeds advance the club and its mission statement: to promote and support excellence in the wine industry. All the Society asks is that you spend $100 additional dollars with them each year.

Ways to Purchase

With the Australian Wine Society, there are a lot of ways to purchase your wines once you are a "shareholder." For example, there are retail stores in both Melbourne and Sydney if you are looking for an afternoon adventure and enjoy sampling your wine before you buy.

However, it is very convenient to order online, also. Ordering can be done ala carte at great savings, or as a Society member you can also choose some ready-made plans.

Available Wine Plans... RTDs

RTDs, or regular tasting dozens, are the heart of the Australian Wine Society's online sales. The Wine Society offers eight different plans arranged by price and quality of included wines. Twelve bottles of specially selected wines will arrive at your doorstep shortly after you sign up.

Most are delivered in four specific months of the year and contain reds, whites or a mixed selection, per your wishes.

What Kinds of Wines Can You Get?

The wines that you receive in your RTD plan depend on you and your preferences.

The Best Value plan features beautifully drinking party wines that will cost $115 for a case of twelve bottles. The Ultimate Collection, on the other end of the spectrum, contains twelve bottles of flagship wines that are only delivered twice a year at a cost of between $600 and $700 per case. And there are several plans in between.

One unusual plan, the Cellaring Red 6-Pack, features six bottles of red wine, carefully selected to showcase the way wine changes with time.

All in all, it is safe to say that you will enjoy wines from well-known cellars, as well as the society's own label in whichever plan you choose.

Education

The Society was founded in 1946 when a group of wine loving people got together and began using their collective funds to purchase great wines. As the number of people involved increased, the more power they had to increase wine awareness and buy better wines also increased.

To date, the Wine Society still aims to educate and influence more people to appreciate wine.

Membership in the Society will give you great savings, as well as exclusive invitations to over two hundred events, ranging from educational wine courses to elite tastings.

While the free monthly magazine will help you to learn more about wines, and great ways to save on them, wine experts are also available to answer any further questions you may have.

As a summary, Better Homes and Gardens, a global and award winning magazine, has touted the Australian Wine Society as a trustworthy and respected wine club that offers good wine at great prices. What more can you ask for?

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