As a long-time wine lover, I’ve had the same experience as many others: I’ve gone to my local grocery store in search of the right bottle of wine for dinner, a special event, or a party, only to be confronted with shelves upon shelves of wine. I grab a few familiar bottles or take a chance on an unfamiliar label, overwhelmed by the variety of options and with no foundation to judge quality or creativity. Like most wine lovers, I enjoy learning about new wines from other locations, but I don’t want to buy a terrible bottle for myself or to share with others. The modern-day wine club has arrived.

I enjoy the idea of having wine experts assist me in selecting my next excellent bottle, and the ease of having high-quality wine delivered directly to your door is hard to top. Many wine clubs are proud of the outstanding value they provide, and they are able to do so by delivering wine directly to customers and building tight ties with wineries and winemakers. My wine club memberships have introduced me to a wide range of great wines, including hidden treasures from boutique and independent wineries that I would never find in a shop. I’m a big fan of California red wines, so I chose a wine club that focuses on the Napa and Sonoma areas. There’s a wine club for every palate and choice, whether you like to explore wines from around the world or stick to your tried-and-true favourite varietals. There are even wine clubs dedicated to vegan, organic, and Kosher wines, as well as one that includes gourmet bacon in every shipment, which had to be good (except, uh, for the Kosher folks I guess). Wine club subscriptions make a terrific present because there are so many to select from and so many customising choices.

Best of all, my monthly wine club membership allows me to share wine with my family and friends. Seeing that wine club shipment on my porch reminds me to schedule some networking and relaxation time. Many of the wine club members I know save their bottles for a monthly meal with friends. I enjoy planning a date night with my wife, such as supper at a BYOB restaurant followed by a night at the theatre or a movie. We also enjoy entertaining guests for dinner or just wine and cheese. There’s no one-size-fits-all approach to enjoying a bottle of wine.