Question For The Wine Drinking Gorillas

[mustang1]

I've recently begun to develop a taste for wine. I've been a long time beer and scotch drinker.

Surfing the interweb I have come across a couple of sites that offer a wine-of-the-month club.

My question is are these types of things worth it?

I joined a cigar-of-the-month club when I first started smoking but I ended up getting the same smokes over again before the year was out. I was inundated with Rp products and Gurkhas. Not that there is anything wrong with those. I just think it wasn't a fair sampling of what was out there so much as this vendor attempting to push some of its pricier wares.

Any advice for a wine newb?

[pro2625]

Id look around for places in your area that do wine tasting and spend my money there over a wine of the month club

[leasingthisspace]

Originally Posted by mustang1

I've recently begun to develop a taste for wine. I've been a long time beer and scotch drinker.

Surfing the interweb I have come across a couple of sites that offer a wine-of-the-month club.

My question is are these types of things worth it?

I joined a cigar-of-the-month club when I first started smoking but I ended up getting the same smokes over again before the year was out. I was inundated with Rp products and Gurkhas. Not that there is anything wrong with those. I just think it wasn't a fair sampling of what was out there so much as this vendor attempting to push some of its pricier wares.

Any advice for a wine newb?

I wouldn't do it. I would go to the local wine shop becuase alot of times they will have a group of monthly specials. Or even better just talk to the people that work there. Tell them what out of the wine you have enjoyed what you liked, and what out of the wine that you didn't what was bad. Alot of times just talking to those people you will find out what you like and dislike.
You can also try to go to a winebar or a winery. At those to places you can get a ton of information and wine to drink.
My wife has been pushing me down that slope for a couple of years. Tell me more of what you had that you liked and I can help you more if I can.

[lightning9191]

Like others say check out your local places. The local Kroger and the local wine shop do wine tastings at least one day a week. I think they do at least two a week at the wine shop.

[mustang1]

Thanks alot for the advice Gents. I will check out a couple local places.

[Jonesee]

I'll be the contrarian. My wife gave me a membership to the wine of the month club and frankly I was not excited. "Oh, thanks dear how thoughtful..."

However, I ended up LOVING IT!!!! Each month they sent a wine (my preference was red so all were reds) and with the wine they sent a sheet explaining more than I could ever remember about the wine, the vintner, the grapes, the region it was gorown in. etc.. Oh, and the history behind the wine. And how long it should age. Like I said I didn't expect much, but man I love it.

I've been to wine tasings and even toured the wine country in Calif. with my wife and another couple taking in who knows how many wineries and even more wines and tastings. Other than the trip itself I enjoyed the wines and info I received from the club every month more. I kept all the sheets for reference.

I thought they would send me any old wine they were clearing out. That wasn't the case. I was impressed with every single bottle. I got Spanish wines, Greek wines, Itallian wines etc... I was thrilled with every wine they sent.

For those that told you otherwise, I would be curious if they have tried a club.

I am not a wine connoissuer, but I know what I like and the wife and I drink far too much of it I am sure. My tastes run to Grgich Hills and Opus so I know what a fine tastes like. A quality cheap wine is good, a fine wine is religious experience kinda...

A quality red and a cigar are almost impossible to beat!!!

[Jonesee]

If you want to attend wine tastings to learn. I recommend small private wine shops. They typically have the most knowledgeable staff and will answer most questions. They are there because they enjoy and really know wines. Of the big package stores, Total Wine stands out because they bring in wine reps every weekend that have in depth knowledge of wines to handle the tastings. And the bonus there is Total Wine also has a humidor.

[lightning9191]

Hey Jonesee....where was your wine of the month club from?

[gvarsity]

I would not do a wine of the month club. Like others have saidI would find a local shop that directs you to wines you like as well as do as many tastings as you can. I used to work in wine retail and I had regulars that came in once a week for a new wine recommendation. The big differences is a local shop can be more responsive as your tastes develop. If you join a club you get whatever they send. For example if you discover that you like italian reds they can start directing you to different regions of italy whereas the club sends you an italian one week and you may never get another italian from them the rest of the year. Just my 2 cents.

[SmokinJoey]

I am taking this advice also, my taste has also turned to wine. Tried Some Penfolds Bin 389 (good) and Jip Jip Rocks (Good).

Both were good and I bought from a very knowledgeable staff at total wine in Columbia, SC. Also picked up a couple sticks. I still like to go in and ask for a new good wine, they have never steered me wrong.

[kwoody]

wine.woot.com

it is awesome a lot of wines you can only get from the wineries you can find on wine woot. great deals and once a week the selection changes. flat rate shipping on on their forum the wine company representative is almost always there in the discussion.

[mosesbotbol]

Wine-of-the-Month = Waste-of-your-money

Buy a book on wine to understand grape varieties and how the grapes have been planted around the world... Learn how wine is made and how wine labels written.

Start off with French wine, pref. Bordeaux and go from there. Buy wine at a local B&M that has a knowledgable staff and keep each pick in your price range. No commitments and better selection. Get a solid understanding for one region and then move to the next.

Terrior is what needs to be learned to really enjoy wine.