Wine Clubs A Convenient Way to Know Wine

Wine clubs have been sprouting up in recent years as a result of an increased interest in wine and greater wine consumption. In fact, according to figures from the Wine Institute, sales of wine in the United States went up four percent in 2004. Exports of wine by other countries to the U.S. remain steady since foreign wineries have found the United States to be a lucrative place to do business. For wine lovers and would-be wine drinkers, joining a wine club would bring numerous benefits.

Many wine clubs count expert vintners or sommeliers among their members. But you don't need to be a wine aficionado to be able to join a wine club. A great many clubs welcome both newbies and experts. They offer much information not only about various wines out in the market, but also about many wine-related topics; for instance, which type of wine should be served with a certain entr?e; or news about the latest goings-on in the wine industry.

Wine clubs offer varying membership programs. For the fee you pay, you will receive wine selections from vineyards whose offerings meet the club's standards. Clubs can send you their handpicked selections, or give you the opportunity to make your own selections. Most clubs usually send two bottles of wine to each member per month; they can be two bottles of red or two of white, or one of each. Along with the wine, you will also receive pertinent information about them, such as the winery where they came from, any awards, publicity or accolades that have been accorded to the vintner, and a description of the conditions under which the grapes used in the wine were grown.

Wine Clubs - Different Levels And Expense

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Wine deals, discounts and sales

Great Wines Selections and Great Prices at Cellars Wine Club.

Wine of the Month Clubs - Online Wine Gift Club - Wine Clubs - Gift Baskets

Wine of the month club, online wine gifts featuring monthly wine clubs, gift baskets, wine glasses, corporate gifts and more. International wine club

Cellars Wine Club Membership Benefits

* Convenient monthly delivery to your home or office.
* Subscription to Cellar's Notes. Here you will find information on the featured wineries for the month, their wines, tasting notes, food pairings, recipes, and other wine related articles.
* Gift memberships includes a custom gift announcement notifying the recipient of their membership plus any personal message you would like to add.
* There are no monthly minimums and memberships to any one of our clubs can be cancelled at any time.
* 20% discount on case reorders of featured wines from the club.
* Exclusive offers and promotions on all wines and products featured on. cellarswineclub.com
* Exceptional customer service via phone or email.

Cellars Wine Club Membership Options

* Gift or Personal Membership
* Start Date
* Payment Method
* Wine Color Preference

Select between 8 Different Wine Club membership Levels:

- Premium Wine Club - $29.95 per month
- International Wine Club - $39.95 per month
- West Coast Wine Club - $39.95 per month
- Sparkling and Champagne Club - $49.95 per month
- Platinum Wine Club - $59.95 per month
- 90+ Point Wine Club - $79.95 per month
- Cellars Wine Club - $149.95 per month
- Case Club - $299.95 per month

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Platinum Wine Club

This wine club is designed for the more seasoned wine aficionado, and gives an all access pass to vineyards and wines not readily available to most. Tour classic regions as well as more recently discovered premium regions from around the globe. We take the guess work out of trying to find a new and exciting wine or winery. Our experts do all the work so you don't have to. These wines are produced in limited quantities from boutique wineries & vineyards and include all the favorite varietals as well as lesser known varietals often from grapes indigenous of a particular region. Hop on board, this wine tour starts now!

Membership Includes:

* Choice of 2 Different Reds, or 1 Red and 1 White
* Monthly Newsletter detailing the wineries and wines featured.
* Discount on wine reorders.
* Gift Announcement

Previously featured wines:

* Dehlinger, California, 2002 Estate Chardonnay
* Perrin, France, 2002 Chateauneuf du Pape Les Sinards
* La Braccesca, Italy, 1999 Nobile di Montepulciano
* The Colonial Estate, Australia, 2003 Explorateur Shiraz
* Whitehaven, New Zealand, 2002 Marlborough Pinot Noir

Platinum Wine Club

International Wine Club

Travel with your taste buds across the globe and try fantastic wines the rest of the world is offering. From Europe to Australia, from South Africa to South America and all foreign countries in between members will explore a new country’s wine every month. Our monthly selections are chosen by our experts and only their favorites are judged acceptable for our members. One month may bring an Italian Sangiovese and New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc to your door, while the next brings an Argentinean Malbec with a Tempranillo from Spain. No Passport or Travel Agent required!

Membership Includes:

* Choice of 2 Different Reds, 2 Different Whites, or 1 Red and 1 White
* Monthly Newsletter detailing the wineries and wines featured.
* Discount on wine reorders.
* Gift Announcement

Previously featured wines:

* Saddler's Creek Winery, Australia, 2000 Shiraz
* Epicuro Winery, Italy, 1999 Copertino Rosso Reserva
* Holmes Vineyard, New Zealand, 2003 Sauvignon Blanc
* Jurtschitsch Sonnhof Winery, Austria, 2003 Grüner Veltliner
* Nuevo Mundo, Chile, 2003 Cabernet Sauvignon/Malbec

International Wine Club

Proper Wine Tasting Etiquette

Proper Wine Etiquette For Being Served, Serving And Tasting

By Stuart Jay

When the bottle of wine is presented, it is proper wine etiquette to examine the label to be sure the producer and vintage match what you ordered. The restaurant might be out of a particular vintage and substitute a different year. It may not make a difference to you. However, if you wanted to enjoy a wine you have experienced previously and a substitution was made, there will certainly be a difference. In such case, you may wish to order a different wine. A different vintage could be trivial if it's a simple Cotes du Rhone but significant if you were ordering a 2000 Bordeaux and received a 2002 instead.

Temperature

Check that temperature is satisfactory. White and rose wines are best slightly chilled, at 50 degrees. Better to be too cold than too warm for either red or white. It isn't improper wine etiquette to request an ice bucket to chill both whites and reds; and don't hesitate to do so if that is what you would prefer. However, the conventional wine etiquette of placing the bottle in an ice bucket can compromise your experience; fine white wines will release more texture and bouquet as they warm up in the glass; try it. The exception to this would be when drinking a modest wine on a hot day. A red wine brought to the table slightly chilled indicates good storage; you can always warm up the wine by cupping the glass in your hands and swirling.

Cork

When the bottle of wine is opened, it is proper wine etiquette for the sommelier to present the cork to the person who requested the wine. The vintage on the cork should match the vintage on the bottle. Visual inspection of the cork often reveals little; a pristine looking cork can stopper a bad wine and a delicious wine can come from a cork that disintegrates as it's removed.

Sniffing the cork may reveal earthy aromas but keep in mind you're smelling the bark of a tree. Many a bottle has been mistakenly returned because there is mold on the top end of the cork. This has no effect on the wine; it simply means the bottle was aged in the producer's damp cellar prior to release, which is a good thing.

Swirl & Sniff

The proper wine etiquette procedure will dictate that the sommelier will then look to pour a small amount of wine for the person ordering the wine. Gently swirl the wine in the glass to release the aroma, give it a sniff, and then taste it. If there is an objectionable or unexpected aroma, the sommelier should recommend further aerating the wine in which case the "off odor" will dissipate, or replacing the bottle. Unfortunately, it is sometimes difficult to differentiate between funky aromas that are inherent in certain wines and similar smells that are symptoms of a defect. Proper wine etiquette is to consult with the sommelier. If you smell a moldy aroma reminiscent of a "wet basement" the wine is "corked", meaning that it has been tainted by a moldy cork. Unfortuantely, the mold is not visible nor does the cork necessarily smell moldy. Since there are varying levels of cork taint, a corked wine can be overtly stinky or the fruit character is slightly muted. If you perceive this to be the situation, send the bottle back immediately. If you're not quite sure, politely ask the sommelier for an opinion, all in keeping with proper wine etiquette.

Decanting

There are two reasons to decant a wine: (1) to separate the wine from the sediment in the case of a 20 year old port or red wine; or (2) to open up and soften the tannins of a young red wine. Decanting and swirling the wine in the glass will do a far better job than opening the wine two hours prior and letting the wine "breathe", which is not practical in most restaurant settings. White and sparkling wines rarely need extras breathing time. It is not proper etiquette or an acceptable practice to return a wine simply because you do not like it as much as you thought you might.

After you have taken a sip, the proper etiquette is to nod, say "thank you", "it's fine" or some signal for the sommelier to begin pouring. Wine etiquette dictates that the glass is filled about one third full to allow enough space to swirl the wine. Sparkling wines pour along or against the side of the glass to preserve the bubbles.

Wine etiquette may seem unnecessary, but following the proper wine etiquette will enhance the overall wine drinking experience. Wine etiquette and all its subtleties are intended to slow the experience so that the product before you can be fully appreciated and enjoyed.

We created http://www.YourLoveofWine.com because we passionately want to share with those with an interest the art, science, and physical and psychological aspects of the wine tasting experience. An experience without pretension which both the novice and seasoned wine lover can enjoy and appreciate. Some of the most exquisite wine experiences are made by passionate vintners creating wines with more styles and tastes than ever could be imagined and http://www.YourLoveofWine.com can take you on a wondrous journey, tracking down some truly exciting wines to bring to your door when you need them. Our mission is to deliver a greater online wine buying value than you will find anywhere through the combination of our outstanding customer service, depth of product offerings, value pricing and commitment to online wine buyers' satisfaction. Including the best of the elite red and white wines, gift baskets, wine racks, glassware, wine openers and charms.

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