The Good Wine Guru » wine clubs

Put A Cork In It

George — Tue, 30 Aug 2011 14:00:43 +0000

Now, I’m not what anybody would call a tree-hugger or anything like that, but I do support recycling. When it comes to the plethora of corks in our house, my wife recycles most of them into craft projects (which can be found and purchased at her Etsy store found here: http://www.etsy.com/shop/thegoodwineartist). If, however, you are not as…craft inclined as my wife, but you still want to recycle after you’ve enjoyed a bottle of wine you can of course place the glass in a recycling bin, but you may not know that the corks can be recycled as well.

Right now the California Wine Club has a program to recycle corks, and you can even get benefits from sending them your corks, including discounts on wine club memberships and footwear from SOLES. The best part is that if the Cork Drive can get 20 million corks by the end of September, they’re going to plant 1000 cork trees in the Mediterranean cork forests to celebrate.

To send in your corks just call 1-800-777-4443 or send an email to corkdrive@cawineclub.com and they’ll send you an envelope. Just be sure to tell them how many corks you have so that they can send you a big enough envelope. It’s that easy.

To learn more, including the importance of cork trees, you can visit the Cork Drive website at http://www.cawineclub.com/cork-drive . Thanks to everybody that sends in corks and if you do, leave a comment and say how many you sent in, I’m curious to see how many can get sent in.

Winfield Estate Proprietor’s Select Pinot Noir 2009

George — Fri, 22 Apr 2011 16:00:34 +0000

Varietal: 100% Pinot Noir
Region: Oregon – USA
Cost: $20

My Review: I’m never one to turn away a sample bottle of Pinot Noir, but I was intrigued when the Good Works Wine Club asked if I would review a few bottles for them. I’ve been seeing a trend in wine and charity going hand in hand, and it’s a trend I’m enjoying. I won’t lie and say I’m the most charitable person in the world, but if I can combine charity with something that I do enjoy, like say wine, well then we can talk.

The Good Works Wine Club is a wine club with no membership fees. When you sign up, you will be asked to choose a non-profit, they have a list to choose from or you can request to add another, and 20% of your purchase price will be donated to that non-profit. That alone should have people rushing to sign up and order wine as there’s some really good causes already listed on the site.

As for the wine. I have three bottles to sample, but I naturally started with the 2009 Pinot Noir because, as I’ve stated, I love Pinot. The wine was light in the glass, and on the nose I got notes of cherry and cola. In the mouth this was a more fruit-forward Pinot Noir, with the cherry and cola carrying over from the nose to the palate. A bit of tartness on the finish was a good finishing note, especially considering how light the wine was. Paired with a dinner of pizza (half pepperoni, half fresh basil and mozzarella), it was a great table wine, and a good red wine as we move into the warmer months – nice and light.

Starting off with the 2009 Winfield Estate Proprietor’s Select Pinot Noir has made me look forward to the other two bottles I was sent (a Syrah and a Pinot Gris), and if for no other reason than there are some really good non-profit organizations that are always in need of help, it’s worth ordering at least one bottle. The 2009 Pinot Noir isn’t going to blow your mind, but it’s also not going to disappoint or make you regret having spent the $20 on it. Give it a try and do some charity work at the same time.

Review: The International Wine of the Month Club

George — Sat, 14 Mar 2009 12:52:44 +0000

Through the years, I’ve had numerous people ask me the best ways to get introduced to new wines. There are lots of ways: go to wine festivals, visit a vineyard and try their wines, visit a wine shop and just pick something out, ask the bartender at your local wine bar to give you something new, or sign up for a wine of the month club.

Wine of the month clubs come in various shapes, sizes, and prices, and because of that they can be a bit daunting. With that in mind, here’s my thoughts on one wine of the month club in particular: The International Wine of the Month Club.

Started in 1994, The International Wine of the Month Club uses a 12-person panel headed by educator and industry expoert Don Lahey to ensure that all of the wine they select for their members is of the highest quality. With memberships that range from 2-12 months at a time, The International Wine of the Month Club, unlike some other clubs that focus on one or two specific areas, offers wine from all over the globe. From the classic wine making regions like France, Spain, and Italy, to the newer regions of California, Australia, Chile, New Zealand, and others, you’re not locked into a specific region or type of wine with this club, making it perfect for those looking to branch out into new wines and new regions.

The International Wine of the Month Club offers three levels to fit varying tastes and budgets. Those levels are:

Premier Series – $29.95 + s&h

selected wines retail in the $15-$25 range.

has been offered since the International Wine of the Month Club started in 1994.

the most popular club offered

members may choose to recieve two reds, two whites, or one of each.

Masters Series – $45.95 + s&h

one bottle from the Premier series level.
one bottle from the Collectors series level.
members may choose two reds or one red and one white.

Collectors Series - $65.95 + s&h

selected wines retail in the $30-$60 range.
members may choose from two reds or one red and one white.

Given the range of options offered by the International Wine of the Month Club, I really do recommend this wine club for anybody looking to branch out into new wines and new regions. With levels that can appeal to every taste and every budget, the International Wine of the Month Club has something for everybody.

For more information or to sign up for a membership, visit the International Wine of the Month Club at: http://www.winemonthclub.com or call them toll-free at (800) 625-8238.

2009 Virginia Wine Expo in Review