Finding the perfect wine gift can be overwhelming with so many options available. Here at The Wine Club Reviews, we’ve done the work for you and curated a list of top wine club gifts for various occasions. Whether it’s a holiday, birthday, anniversary, or a simple thank-you gesture, a wine club subscription offers an exceptional experience for wine enthusiasts.
Experience gifts are memorable, and a wine club subscription is perfect for those who love exploring different wines. These gifts are not only unique but also provide a lasting enjoyment that extends beyond the initial occasion. That’s why we retested and thoroughly reviewed these services in 2024 to bring you our top recommendations for wine club gifts based on hands-on personal experiences with each service.
This review gathers our recommendations for the best wine club gifts available in 2024 based on our experience with each service.
Short on Time? Here Are the Best Affordable Wine Subscription Services:
- California Wine Club – Best Gift Overall – Best Wine Club Gift for Wine Connoisseur
- Firstleaf – Best Gift for Award-Winning Wines, Personalized & Affordably Priced
- Naked Wines – Best Wines Straight from the Winemakers to Your Loved Ones
- Bright Cellars – Best Premium International Wines as a Gift
- WSJ – Best Affordable Wine Club for Designed Gift Wine Boxes
- Wine Awesomeness – Best for Adventurous Palates
- Winc – Best for Affordable Personalized Wine Gift
- Gold Medal Wine Club – Best for California & Worldwide Wines
- Wine Insiders – Best for Low-Budget Expertly Selected Wines
In This Review, We Gathered the Best Wine Clubs to Bring as a Gift
1. California Wine Club – Best Gift Overall – Best Wine Club Gift for Wine Connoisseur
Pros:
- Handpicked wines are curated by local experts
- Satisfaction guarantee, or they will replace your wines for you
- Great discounts and exclusive offers for members
- Excellent selection of wine gift cards, memberships, and collections
Cons:
- You can’t choose your wines, but you do get access to a wine consultant
- A smaller selection of international wines due to focus on California and domestic
About California Wine Club
For those who want to pamper their friends, family, or coworkers with exceptional wines from small family wineries in California, the California Wine Club is an excellent choice!
Established in 1990, this wine subscription service bridges the gap between small artisan wineries in California and wine enthusiasts, showcasing their finest creations. Within the California Wine Club’s selection, you’ll find wines from esteemed regions like Sonoma, Napa Valley, Russian River Valley, Santa Barbara, Orange County, and Santa Cruz County, as well as standout international offerings.
What Do You Get?
The California Wine Club offers a fantastic range of gifting options under the website’s ‘wine gifts’ section. You can purchase a personalized gift card, a one-time shipment of specially curated wines, or a three or twelve-month wine club membership with two to six bottles each.
Prices range from $50 to $1000. Depending on your choice, a gift card can be sent via email to your gift recipients, or a wine shipment, including a personal greeting card, can be sent to the address of your choice.
What Do Customers Think of California Wine Club?
Customers love the boutique wines and being able to taste quality vineyards they would not have access to otherwise. One user shared this about their business model, “this is where a wine club steps in – They will negotiate with these underappreciated producers that aren’t well known and lacking a good distribution network, buy their wines on the cheap in bulk, and then ship them to their members.”
Another user shared, “Several wine clubs act as distributors for small wineries where they’ve been abandoned by large-scale distributors — two from this group that are worth exploring are The California Wine Club and Gold Medal Wine Club.”
2. FirstLeaf – Best Gift for Award-Winning Wines, Personalized & Affordably Priced
Pros:
- Completely personalized with options to select your own wines as a wine club member
- Affordable gift packages, gift cards, and individual bottles from the wine shop
- Offers a large selection of wine from over 100 wine-making regions
- Access to their wine concierge to help you select from their catalog of over 300 curated bottles of wine
Cons:
- Shipping is only free if you purchase 12 bottles
- You can’t customize the wines in the gift bundles
About FirstLeaf
FirstLeaf is an exceptional choice for gifting a monthly wine club. It blends top-tier wines with budget-friendly prices. FirstLeaf’s wines have won an impressive 3000+ awards, making them a delight for any wine enthusiast!
By collaborating directly with world-class wineries and eliminating the middleman, FirstLeaf offers savings of up to 40%-60% off standard retail prices on exceptional vintages. Each shipment is tailored to the customer’s preferences, leveraging feedback from over 3.6 million satisfied customers to enhance the wine-tasting experience.
What Do You Get?
FirstLeaf has a great gift section on its website that makes it easy to purchase gift cards or expertly curated bundles of wine based on the number of bottles and whether you want red, white, mixed, or fine wine selections. You can also view the wine shop and select your own gift delivery of hand-picked wines. Gift bundles range from $60 to $100.
With a FirstLeaf gift card, your recipient will enjoy affordable, award-winning wines. They can redeem their gift card for regular wine subscription shipments or purchase individual bottles or wine boxes from the Firstleaf online store.
What Do Customers Think of FirstLeaf?
Customers really enjoy learning more about their taste profiles and trying different diverse wines they wouldn’t normally choose. One customer wrote, “I’ve tried a few wine clubs, and the one I like the most is the Firstleaf wine club. I’m not really tied to one specific local winery so for me I look for interesting wines that I haven’t tried before. They’re the only one I know of that has a master of wine as their winemaker and actively change what they recommend based off of your own ratings.”
Another customer shared, “My partner and I have recently signed up for the FirstLeaf wine club. We’ve received 12 bottles so far which have been great “daily drinkers” when we don’t feel like cracking an expensive bottle.”
3. Naked Wines – Best Wines Straight from the Winemakers to Your Loved Ones
Pros:
- Handpicked bottles of wine from independent winemakers around the world
- Large selection of premium small batch domestic and international wines
- Customer satisfaction guarantee and great customer support
- Excellent gift selection of gift cases, gift cards, and individual bottles
Cons:
- Only comes in 6 or 12-bottle shipments
- The website is not as user-friendly as others
About Naked Wines
Naked Wines operates on a unique concept revolving around a community of customers known as ‘angels’ who rate and financially support winemakers. This model allows winemakers to focus on creating quality wines while keeping prices low. The selection includes high-quality boutique wines and wine cases, delivering exceptional value.
They work with over 159 independent winemakers from 14 different countries and cut out the middleman to connect you directly with winemakers, driving the cost of the wine down. Their gift cases are perfect for loved ones, holidays, birthdays, or work events.
What Do You Get?
The price range for wine gifts fits any budget, from $60 to $300 or more. The process is quick and easy online, with the option to send the wines directly to the recipient, including a gift message and a big sticker indicating it’s a gift.
What Do Customers Think of Naked Wines?
Customers appreciate the value of savings on premium bottles of wine, access to unique wineries, and excellent customer service. One customer wrote, “From my own 15 years experience with NW, their medium-high red wines that sell in the $35-55 range per bottle are equivalent to the $55-75 red wine bottles retail that I would compare to.”
Another customer wrote,” NakedWines features wines by many individual winemakers from around the world, some who have their own vineyards, most who purchase their grapes just as many large wineries do. The winemakers themselves help market the wines and respond to reviews left on the website. The wines are clearly labeled by grape type and appellation and often come from premium vineyards. Some of the winemakers are well known for their work at other, large wineries. NakedWines has top-notch customer service and will immediately refund your money if you don’t like any wine you purchase.”
4. Bright Cellars – Best Premium International Wines as a Gift
Pros:
- Great for beginners to taste new wines and develop their palate
- Personalized shipments with a satisfaction guarantee
- Large selection of high-end international wines
- Impressive and unique pairing algorithm to match your wine preferences
Cons:
- Individual bottles must be purchased in packs of four or more
- Wine memberships can be a little more expensive than other wine clubs
About Bright Cellars
Bright Cellars offers a unique pairing algorithm created by its MIT graduate founders, ensuring customers receive wines matched to their palate. They source top-tier wines from around the world, making it an excellent choice for discerning wine lovers.
Their selection includes hard-to-find wine from award-winning wine-making regions like Italy, Spain, Portugal, and South America. They have a great gift shop with different bundles to choose from and great discounts for members.
What Do You Get?
Bright Cellars allows you to treat your loved ones with a unique gift of wine or a gift card. You can send a case of expertly curated wine or send a personalized certificate to the recipient, and Bright Cellars will ship them their personalized matches directly. Gift card values range from $50 to $400.
What Do Customers Think of Bright Cellars?
Customers appreciate the fun quiz, which teaches them more about their palate and allows them to try different wines to find ones they like. One customer wrote, “I’ve used BrightCellars for a year. I think it’s a fine, convenient service for beginner wine enthusiasts like me. I’ve only disliked one or two bottles. I’m still on a journey to taste as many different wines as I can, so I think this is a fun way to do it.”
Another subscriber said, “I am signed up for bright cellars, and haven’t had a wine I disliked, but there have been some I didn’t like as much as others. They do include general informational cards in their boxes (increasing in detail/information level for each box so far) and most wines come with a specify information card, which is also helpful when figuring out what varietals you like.”
5. WSJ- Best Affordable Wine Club for Designed Gift Wine Boxes
Pros:
- Good-quality wines are hand-selected from around the world
- Great rewards program to earn free bottles and merchandise
- Introductory pricing is excellent and highly discounted
- Lots of gift options that are beautifully packaged
Cons:
- No customization and personalization options
- Gift cases can be more costly than other competitors
About WSJ
The Wall Street Journal wine club subscription is a 5-star wine club offering 12-bottle wine subscription boxes at a great price per shipment that are sourced from the top wine-producing areas in the world. The club has a massive selection of excellent international wines to be delivered directly to your door every quarter.
The one thing that stands out about the WSJ wine club is its unique and super attractive Introductory Offer program of 12 bottles of wine plus a bonus gift for $69.99!! That is $5 a bottle! While these are not their regular club prices, it is an absolute bargain you simply can’t afford to miss, and you must give the club a try.
What Do You Get?
WSJ has a great selection of wine gifts for everyone on your holiday shopping list or for treating your family and friends. The packaging is beautifully done, and options for gifting include wine bundles, gift cards, and accessories. Prices range between $80 and $100 for wine bundles.
What Do Customers Think of WSJ?
Customers love the large wine selection and the value of what they receive. One user shared, “A friend received a wine subscription from the Wall Street Journal wine club. I enjoyed the wines. They were delicious.”
The wine club also offers tasting events depending on your location. Another member shared, “I’m a member of WSJwine, and they have a wine tasting every spring in NYC!”
6. Wine Awesomeness – Best for Adventuresome Palates with Many Gift Options
Pros:
- Fun and unique approach to discovering new adventuresome wines
- Excellent variety of high-quality wine at affordable prices
- Flexible subscriptions with options to swap out wines
- Great affordable gift options for subscriptions, curated boxes, and gift cards
Cons:
- The satisfaction guarantee process can be a little confusing to navigate
- Best for adventuresome palates and those who like to try new things
About Wine Awesomeness
Wine Awesomeness aims to curate an extraordinary collection of international wines, each with a unique story. The service provides gifting options through subscription wine plans, one-time wine packs, and e-gift cards, ensuring flexibility and variety for wine enthusiasts. The wines come from various regions, offering a rich tapestry of flavors and experiences.
The company takes a fun approach to curating truly exceptional wines that are rarer and lesser-known, making them perfect for wine adventurers. These wines are hand-picked from all over the world, and they make drinking wine exciting.
What Do You Get?
Gift a subscription box of three or six bottles to be delivered monthly for three to twelve months starting at $147. Or you can pick a curated box between three and twelve bottles starting at only $36. They also offer gift cards for your gift recipient to pick out their own wines.
What Do Customers Think of Wine Awesomeness?
Customers love the adventure of trying curated unique wines and discovering new varieties and flavors they would not usually have access to. One customer wrote, “I’ve been buying (delicious and unique crowd-pleasing) wines from here for years. Never fails as a fantastic gift (gifts to self also count!!) and is a steal for what you get.”
7. Winc – Best for Affordable Personalized Wine Gift
Pros:
- Lots of customization options and personalized pairings
- Affordable pricing offers great value for quality wines
- Excellent selection of West Coast and Californian wines
- Fun and easy way to explore new wines and great for beginners
Cons:
- Limited options for premier and high-end wines
- The rewards system can be a little confusing to navigate
About Winc
Winc is the US’s largest wine club, known for its personalized and enjoyable wine club experience. The subscription box service offers over 100 wines from California and worldwide at affordable prices. Wines are matched to the customer’s flavor profile based on a short six-question quiz.
Winc’s wine club is perfect for starting a wine-tasting journey or enhancing existing wine knowledge. Winc offers a 100% satisfaction guarantee, ensuring every recipient enjoys their wine selection.
What Do You Get?
Purchasing a Winc wine club gift card is flexible. Simply choose the amount you want to spend, between $60 and $500, and write a personalized note. Your customized gift card will be sent directly to the recipient, allowing them to redeem it for a personalized wine delivery based on their palate profile. You can also select from wine packs starting at around $100.
What Do Customers Think of Winc?
Winc customers love trying new wines at affordable prices. One user shared, “By producing their own wines, they are able to ship their wines to consumers in many more states than they could if they were only buying existing wines.”
Another reviewer wrote, “Lost Poet Red Blend from Winc made our Saturday blissfully delicious.”
8. Gold Medal Wine Club – Best for California & Worldwide Wines
Pros:
- Excellent selection of boutique wines and hard-to-find selections
- Perfect for those passionate about California region wines
- Flexible subscriptions and great prepaid gift options
- Beautiful gift wrapping and packaging
Cons:
- It is not the best fit for those looking for international wines
- Wines are not able to be customized
About Gold Medal Wine Club
If you want the best wine club experience for a loved one passionate about wine, the Gold Medal Wine Club is an excellent choice! With over 25 years of experience, this club specializes in award-winning and highly-rated wine bottles.
Many of the wines featured in their three different clubs have received top medals in various wine competitions or are highly rated by national wine publications. The wines are usually produced in small batches from boutique family wineries, ensuring unique and high-quality selections.
What Do You Get?
Select from the gold, platinum, or diamond subscription level and choose between 2-12 bottles of wine that you can have delivered every month or every 3 months. The gift comes in a premium box with wines wrapped in organza gift bags and a personalized card, making it a delightful and luxurious gift for any wine lover.
What Do Customers Think of Gold Medal Wine Club?
Customers appreciate the ability to try small-batch wines from lesser-known wineries throughout California. One user wrote, “Garagiste Series ($$) from the Gold Medal Wine Club. Interesting wines from tiny wineries in California. Many are ageable. Gold Medal also offers a Diamond Series ($$$$), which is mostly Napa/Sonoma wines that are good candidates for aging.”
9. Wine Insiders – Best for Low-Budget Expertly Selected Wines
Pros:
- Affordable, budget-friendly wines with a large, high-quality selection
- Great gift card options and gift wine sets for every budget
- Extensive selection of international and domestic wines for every palate
- Their wines have won over 2,200 awards with satisfaction-guaranteed
Cons:
- Gift packages are not customizable
- Shipping times can be slower in some regions
About Wine Insiders
Wine Insiders is a direct-to-consumer online retail wine shop and wine club. Wine Insiders is well-established, having been around since 1982. This wine club is proud to offer exemplary customer service and an extensive wine list with wines from both local and international wine regions.
A team of a few professional wine curators with over 50 years of experience manages Wine Insiders’ wine list. This discerning team tastes thousands of wines every year, but only approximately 3% of those wines are accepted to become part of the Wine Insiders wine box experience.
What Do You Get?
You can easily gift your friends and family with a Wine Insiders gift card from $25-$250, which they can redeem for their favorite wines or use towards a subscription. There are also some well-curated wine sets starting at $50, which you can send to those on your gift list.
What Do Customers Think of Wine Insiders?
Subscribers find the wines to be of high quality and have a great selection. Customer service is responsive and makes it easy to replace wines you don’t like. One customer wrote, “I did have a Spanish Tempranillo and an Argentinian Malbec (not usually my favorite varietals) that seemed to at least be a slightly better value.”
Another subscriber shared, “I’m using this as an opportunity to try “nice” some organic wines. It’s hard to justify spending much on a bottle at the store since organic flavors can be a hit or miss in my experience.”
Tips For Choosing the Right Wine Club as a Gift
A good wine club gift aligns with the recipient’s wine preferences and knowledge level. Understanding their preferences (red, white, sweet, dry) helps tailor the selection and know how experienced they are with their wine palate.
A quality wine club gift offers variety, introducing new wines from various regions and styles, ensuring an exploratory experience. They also provide flexibility in subscription options and have an excellent customer service experience. Here are some other considerations for choosing a wine club as a gift:
Cost Factor
Once you know what kind of preferences or features you want in a wine club, keeping an eye on your budget is best. While you might want to avoid the potential pitfalls of cheaper wines, you might also want to avoid the pricier premium subscriptions. A mid-price point is always an excellent bet for a quality gift.
Wine Variety
If you already know your recipient’s preferences, you may want to consider a club membership that specializes in that type of wine, like California whites. If you aren’t as sure, a gift card is a fantastic option, allowing the recipient to make their own selections and customize their wine club membership to their palate.
Choose if You Want a Gift Card or a Gift Box
Gift cards offer the most flexibility for the recipient to choose their preferences in their wine club membership or try out picking their wines if they are more experienced. Plus, you don’t have to worry about someone being home to sign for the delivery. If you know what they like or if they are newer to wine, a gift box is a more intimate and memorable choice for a gift.
Check Members Benefits
Wine clubs differ in their member benefits. Some offer great rewards programs and discounts, while others may offer tastings and events for those in the area. Look for one that will be the best value for your recipient.
Check If Delivery Is Available to Your Recipient Area
There are some restrictions on alcohol delivery in certain regions, so it is always a good idea to check the delivery area first. Most clubs will have you enter your state or zip code first to ensure you are within an area they ship to.
Why Trust Us? Our Methodology
At Wine Club Reviews, we work hard to taste the wines and test all wine clubs’ membership processes before including them on our website. This means you will be able to look at valid information that comes from first-hand experience and covers all the elements and aspects you should know about each wine subscription service.
If you are contemplating buying a wine club membership for a loved one, make sure you have a look at our promotion page. You can access some fantastic promotions from many wine clubs that will mean your gift-buying dollar will go even further!
Final Thoughts
We hope you find the perfect wine club gift for your preferences and budget. In this review, we’ve highlighted the top wine subscriptions available in 2024, each offering a unique way to celebrate special occasions with the gift of wine. Whether for a birthday, anniversary, holiday, or just a thank-you, wine club memberships are gifts that keep on giving, bringing joy and excitement with each bottle.
The magic of wine club gifts lies in their ability to create lasting memories. It’s not just a gift but an experience that unfolds over months, taking the recipient on a journey through the diverse world of wines. Explore these exceptional wine club options and share the joy of wine with your loved ones, making them feel truly special.
