Wine Club Invitations

Are Wine Club Invitations...
A Bargain or a Scam?

Lately, many corporations and retail companies have decided to take a shot at the growing wine club business. This accounts for why you may be receiving wine club invitations from your local newspaper, supermarket or even University.

As it is the case with any such publicity, you have to be able to tell great marketing from a truly great offer. Indeed, invitations from wine clubs will usually include a special joining offer, as it is the case with most membership-style purchases.

It is very important to read through all the information before you decide to say yes to such invitations.

You have to look at what they are really offering after those first dazzling bargains.

The best thing you can do is compare what they are charging for wine to the prices listed at other online retailers.

Don't take selling lines like "A $100 value!" for granted. Take the time to check it out. Snooth.com is a great source for this, as it lists virtually every wine in the market with reliable expert ratings and the prices offered by different sellers.

Becoming a Member

Another important thing you need to take into account is how your membership will work.

Some wine clubs ask you to commit to a certain period of membership, although most of them do not require it. Whatever the case, it is always advisable to read the small print of your wine club invitation. You certainly don't want to be bound by contract to buy a large "mystery" case of wine every month.

But if you do enjoy the fun of "mystery" cases, such as the ones offered by the Sunday Times Wine Club, I suggest you give the wine club a try first. Once you know you can trust them with wine selections and shipping, you are ready to move on to the next level.

But if you have never heard of them, and you just liked the sound of the invitation, I advise you to buy a small amount of inexpensive wine to start with. Then, you can go crazy with their Reserve selections and buy gift memberships for your friends, if you are really satisfied.

Having said all of this though, my best (and easiest) advice to you is to take a little bit of time now to browse the reviews on this very website. You will find many useful wine club reviews here and the list probably includes the club with the invitation you are interested in.

Compare and Contrast

While wine club invitations abound, not all of them are worth the taking.

You should consider them thoroughly, comparing them to what the top wineries in your area are offering in the shape of wine clubs. You should also compare them to the major wine clubs such as the Wall Street Journal Wine Club, the Four Seasons Wine Club or Virgin Wines, for example.

And then, if your prospective wine club stands up to the test, you should just say yes, and uncork away. :-)