Arizona Wine Clubs

As Arizona’s wine industry has burgeoned over the past 30 years, it’s become easier for urban dwellers to take day trips to their favorite wineries. All three of Arizona’s major growing regions—Sonoita, Willcox and the Verde Valley—are within an easy day’s drive of Phoenix, and because most of Arizona’s wineries are small family operations, it’s not unusual to talk with the winemaker in person during a tasting room visit.

But what if you don’t have the time or inclination to drive for two or three hours to get a few bottles of local wine? One of the many benefits of joining a wine club is the opportunity to have a selection of wines shipped to you periodically, allowing you to fill your cellar (or wine fridge) with offerings from your favorite Arizona winery. You’ll always have a ready supply on hand for drop-in guests or a nice bottle to warm you up on a cold rainy night. And at most wineries, membership in the club is free, although you might have to commit to a certain number of shipments.

Membership in a wine club can offer lots of other benefits as well:

Discounts on bottles or tastings. While the general public might have to pony up $5 or $10 for a tasting, for wine club members there might be no charge. And if you want to take home a bottle or two, most wineries offer discounts of from 10% to 20% on purchases.

Access to limited releases or past vintages. Most wineries hold back some of their production for aging in-house. This is especially true of special releases or exceptional vintages. When they release them, they usually give wine club members the first shot. It’s an easy way to build your collection with hard-to-find, aged vintages and enjoy wines at their peak.

Special events. Most wineries with clubs throw member-sonly events that can include new vintage release parties, tastings, winemaker dinners or vineyard parties. Attending events is a fun way to get to know others who share your passion, including the winemakers and families who produce the wine. Barbara Pierce of Bodega Pierce in Willcox says they approach their wine club as an extended family and appreciate the opportunity to build personal relationships and friendships with their best customers.

Education. When you join a club and taste wines you might normally pass over, you educate your taste buds and learn to appreciate different styles and varieties. “Arizona wineries offer a great place to start your wine knowledge,” says Wendy Prigge, tasting room manager at Carlson Creek’s Scottsdale tasting room. “They give you plenty of opportunities to broaden your palate.”

Pierce agrees. Before joining a club, she advises that prospective members should visit the tasting room to make sure the wines suit your tastes. “Let the winery walk you through some wines,” she says. “You might experience something you didn’t think you liked or that you didn’t know about.”

Once you’ve decided to commit to a winery or two, ask questions and do research. Though most wine clubs offer similar benefits and have similar policies, there can be significant differences. Who pays for shipping, and how much is a typical delivery? What’s the cancellation policy? Do you have to accept a certain number of shipments per year? Can you skip a shipment if you need to? What happens if you get a bad bottle? As with any other relationship, the more you know, the more successful it will be.