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Before long, if you have been taking an interest in wine, you’ll find that you start to notice that some wines are listed as blended wines, while others are listed as varietal wines. If you are curious about what goes into a fine glass of wine, or if you are simply interested in knowing a little bit more about the vintage that you are drinking, you’ll find that learning about blended wines can help you fully appreciate the experience a little more.

Blended wines are composed of a variety of grape types, while varietal wine is created from a single type. Both types of wine have been in existence for centuries, and given the fact that better methods of transport and storage have been invented, the variety of blended wines have exploded in recent years.

When you go shopping for wines, you should be aware of what can be considered a varietal as opposed to being a blended wine. For example, as you examine a label, you’ll discover that a wine classified as a varietal may contain 15% of different varieties of grapes. But, if a wine is listed as blended, the predominant varietal will be listed first. This may help you choose a new blended wine that you are not familiar with, for example, if Cabernet is a favorite of yours be on the alert for a Cabernet Merlot. You may discover that your favorite wines are actually blends of more than one variety. Bordeaux is one fine example of blended wine.

Whether a wine is varietal or blended is insignificant as long as it is pleasing to your palate. Blending wines does not produce a sub-par product, many of the most outstanding vintages in wine history have, in fact, been blends. Some of the most popular red wines are blends. If you would like to learn more about some grapes, you can use blended wines to test them without having to make a complete commitment.

Some people are experts on wine and some know nothing about how to pick a good wine. Talk to people around you and have them give you some advice on wine blends and how to pick a good one. Another great way to try various blends is to join a wine club. There are many types of online monthly wine clubs to choose from that offer very fine wines including some exceptional blended wines delivered right to your home.

Winery Tours

One of the best parts of joining a wine club is that they go to all the wineries for you to find the best wines. However, taking a winery tour is one of those rare joys for a true wine enthusiast. Come on, you know you wish you could have your own vineyard.

If visiting a vineyard and going on a winery tour is something that sounds like fun to you, there are a few steps that you will need to take before you go. First, you should be aware that there are thousands of different wineries in different wine regions around the world, and many of them are open to visitors. Of all the different wine regions that you can choose from for your winery tour here are a few that are sure to interest you.

Find Out What Your Wine Options Are

The first step, if you want to go on a winery tour, is for you to find out what your options are. Sure, the Napa Valley California wine country offers many winery tours that are very popular because it is such a well known region, but there are many other California winery tours that you may also be interested in. Within a short drive of Napa Valley you’ll also find Sonoma, Russian River and Petaluma. All of these areas have vineyards that are open to the public and many have winery tours on offer. The Benziger Family Winery at Glen Ellen, not far from the Sonoma Valley, offers an outstanding tour of their biodynamic vineyard and winery. Be sure to check out the California Wine Club for some amazing Cali wines!

It is also worthwhile seeing if there are any wineries in your local area, or, if you are traveling, you can check to see which wineries are located in that specific area. When traveling in Europe it should be noted that many Italian and French vineyards and wineries are not generally open to the public but if you call in advance they may be very happy to welcome you.

The most important thing is that you find a winery that allows visitors and that offers the types of wines that you enjoy or that you are interested in learning more about.

Do Your Winery Research

Next you will need to do your research on any winery tour that you may be considering. You will, for instance, need to find out which days of the week and at what times the winery tours are offered, so you can choose the one that is convenient for you. It is quite frustrating to travel to a winery only to find it is closed that day for tours.

For many winery tours you can just find out what time they are conducted and then show up, but for other winery tours you will have to call in advance and book a spot on the vineyard tour. It is always worthwhile calling in advance to make sure that you can get on to the tour without having to wait too long.

Going on a winery tour is something that most people will enjoy. Even if you are not an enthusiastic wine lover, you may still enjoy learning about wine growing, the long history of wine, and about the different types of wine available and what makes each style unique and sets one apart from another.

Britain now imports more wine than any other country on the planet. As a nation we imported a grand total of 1.6 billion bottles in 2007, equating to 35 standard bottles for every adult in the country which is absolutely staggering figure. The average British adult now drinks 12% more wine than they did just five years ago and forecasts predict our consumption will continue to grow far beyond that figure. Global wine consumption is on the rise in past years and also forecast to grow considerably. The US are predicted to eventually become the world’s biggest consumer by 2012. The UK is 13th in the world, in terms of consumption per adult and despite Britain being a massive importer, the amount we drink is dwarfed by other neighbouring European countries including France.

Red wine and white wine are on the increase as well as champagne and cognacs. The British public consumed seven hundred and twenty million bottles of red wine and 764 million bottles of white wine in 2008 and that figure is expected to grow for 2009. However red wine is rapidly falling in popularity, as white wine and rose wine take larger shares of the increasing wine industry.

Wine merchants have been incredibly busy for another year in 2008. Additionally, reports have indicated that many wine accessories such as tableware and dinnerware have been selling extremely fast as a natural accompaniment to wine. The thirst for wine is set to deepen in emerging economies such as China and Russia, whose consumption levels are soon expected to overtake that of Spain which is another nation historically associated with wine. It predicted that the financial and economic crisis affecting many wine consumer countries worldwide would only have ‘limited’ consequences for the growth of the wine sector. The report forecast growth for the coming four years roughly in line with pre-crisis trends. Either way it is a very terrifying thought.

A great wine club located in Great Britain is the Sunday Times Wine Club.

To complement a good dinner you need fantastic wine to go with it. For discerning curry aficionados, it could soon be the habitual final flourish to millions of orders from around the world. When having a smart slap up meal the waiter would ask you what you would like to drink to which you would answer, “A bottle of your finest Nashik region sauvignon blanc or an original Maharastran Shiraz”. Like any good meal there are some essentials that you need, for example, tableware, food, wine and general service.
Indian wine is desperately trying to emulate the success of the sub-continents beer (Cobra) and food (Curry). However India’s oldest winery only dates back to early1982 so the industry is still really in the starting phases. India as a nation are trying to increase their revenue stream as much as possible by broadening their own horizons. Exporting wine as well as beer and food will be a great move for Indian commerce as a nation as this will un-doubtedly help their relation and profit prospects.
White wine and red wine go well with any meal and normally you would go for a wine that has been brewed and made in France or Italy for example but Indian wine could change all of that. Sales have grown by a massive 30% to 35% in India every year since as early 2002 and although only 2% of the population drinks wine, that still accounts for a staggering 20 million people. Last year alone the Indian wine market accounted for 1.two million cases of wine being sold, representing a doubling of domestic consumption in only just five years. Compared to global players in the wine industry – America last year produced 270 million cases – India remains a viticultural minnow but now producers believe they have spotted a receptive export for the globe and an avenue to make plenty of money.

The Sunday Times Wine Club- UK’s most popular wine club!

One of the most popular wine clubs in the world is the Sunday Times Wine Club. The Times Wine Club is a UK based company, headed by Hugh Johnson, author of The World Atlas of Wine, Wine Companion and Hugh Johnson’s Pocket Wine Book. Published exclusively for Club Members twice a year, the Wine Times is the largest circulation wine magazine in the UK. This club holds various events for their members. Practically every month there is at least one event and often more.

While most clubs send you 2 bottles a month, which often leaves you wanting for more, the Sunday Times wine club sends you a whole case of wine, hand selected and delivered to your doorstep so you can enjoy all the wine you can handle for the month. Don’t worry, you can always put the rest in your wine cellar. (You DO have one of those don’t you?) The site offers food pairing recommendations, accessories, and a broad catalogue. This is a very high quality wine club, and a very popular one as well.

They offer 3 kinds of memberships-

1- 4 Seasons- After the introductory 15 bottle case for $45, you will receive a 12-bottle case for £69.99 (plus £6.99 delivery) every quarter and Christmas.

2- Australia Direct- After the introductory 15 bottle case for $45, you will receive a12-bottle case for £74.99 (plus £6.99 delivery) every quarter and Christmas.

3- Taste of Spain- After the introductory 15 bottle case for $45, you will receive a12-bottle case for £69.99 (plus £6.99 delivery) every quarter and Christmas.

With all three options, you can preview the season’s selections and make changes or even pass on certain cases. They also promise a free refund on any bottle you are not satisfied with. Customer service has received high marks all across the board. Various vouchers are available on the net that can discount these even further. For the bottom line by bottle price, this is a excellent deal, if you live in the UK.

Today’s wine club review is the wine club offered by Wine.com.

Wine.com is great all around wine club. They offer something for everybody, whether you are new to the world of wine, or have been around the block a few times. They work similar to most wine clubs, sending you two bottles of hand selected premium wine a month. They include a small newsletter with information on the wines and suggestions for pairing and tasting. The wine club membership options at wine.com are among the best value we have seen, and the quality remains quite good.

The wine clubs at wine.com come in three flavors:

Discovery Tour Wine Club- $20/month for 2 hand selected great value and interesting wines selected from around the world are sent to you each month. These wines are a great value and an excellent way to enter the wine club world at a good price. This will be attractive to those who have a love of wine, but haven’t had a chance to truly broaden out in their perspectives. You don’t get any “2 buck chuck” here.

Wine Clubs Of The World- Around $40 a month, this tier sends you two higher quality wines each month. You have the options of mixing and matching reds and whites so you can get just what you want each month. This is a great wine club if you want to further your experience in the field, but don’t have the money to shell out for a premium membership.

90 Point Rated Wine Club- $70+ a month, this is the premium membership option at wine.com. The wines sent are only red wines, designed for aging and enjoying in the years to come. These are very fine wines with tons of personality and potential to become very valuable. If you have your own custom wine cellar, then this club is likely the club for you.

All of the tiers get the same service: hand selected wines from around the world, informational packets on each bottle with tips, ideas, education, and recipes, and personal attention to any of your concerns that need addressing. In addition to fine wines every month, you get some incredible discounts on buying wine in bulk if you find a vintage that you just love.  Wine.com is a great option for the wine lover on a budget, at any tier. It’s premium membership is one of the best deals out there!

You can’t go wrong if you are looking into a Wine.com membership.

Our review for today is of perhaps one of the biggest wine clubs on the internet, at the very least they offer the most variety of memberships and wine clubs to join. Cellar’s Wine Club is a great club with 8 membership tiers all offering total control over the wines you receive. You get to tell them what kinds of wine you want, reds, whites, blends, a mixture, or leave it up to the professionals. Each month they unfailingly bring a little excitement and joy to your doorstep.

Cellars Wine Club offers a wide array of clubs:

1. There is the Premium Wine Club-  $30/month, which will send you two bottles of wine a month, you choose either 2 reds, or 1 red and 1 white. You also receive the newsletter and tasting notes. The wines are specially selected and shipped regularly and on time. A good idea if you are new to the world of wine and looking to broaden your horizons.

2. The International Wine Club- $40/month, is more focused on international red wines. They send the you red wines from Spain, Argentina, Chile, Australia, and many more locations around the world. A fun adventure in international wines.

3. The West Coast Wine Club- $40/month, a wine club focusing on California wines, Oregon wines, and Washington wines. Taste the best the West coast has to offer each month with this club.

4. The Platinum Wine Club- $60/month, is made with a more discriminating audience in mind. With this package you receive international boutique wines, limited production vintages, and very high quality wines that are both rare and delicious. You won’t find these wines anywhere else, they take the work out of getting a great bottle.

5. 90+ Point Wine Club- $80/month, one of the highest tiers offered by Cellars Wine Club. This package sends you the very best of the best wines in the world, two highly rated bottles a month. The newsletter will explain everything you need and want to know about these valuable wines to add to your collection.

6. Cellars Wine Club- $150/month, is focused on people with home wine cellars and custom wine cellars. You receive wines that have a very high potential to age gracefully and become extraordinary wines given a few years. Great to build up your wine cellar collection!

7. The Champagne Club- $50/month, is made for those who have a taste for the bubbly. You get two sparkling wines delivered each month, only the finest champagnes from around the world. The party can really get started as soon as you sign up for this club!

8. The Case Club- $300/month is a great way to build up your collection of wines and stock your wine cellar with some awesome vintages. You receive all 12 wines from the six packages above. Very good for truly exploring your wine horizons. Two packages are offered, standard and platinum which is tailored for the wine connoisseur and maintains its focus on international red wines.

Cellars Wine Club has a dizzying array of choices, and they offer them at reasonable rates. Whatever package you sign up for, you can be sure that you are getting the very best in quality.

The California Wine Club

You can hardly throw a rock without knocking over a wine club nowadays. They are popping up everywhere with the advent of the internet. Many are not exactly what they are cracked up to be. A fresh of breath air is the California Wine Club. They’ve got a reported 18 years of experience and are reputable members of the BBB. Founded by a husband wife team Bruce and Pam Boring. Don’t let the last name fool you this club is anything but. The truly focus on the smaller wineries and the Boutique wineries of Calfornia. This club could rightly be called a Boutique winery club, and they send you some of the most original and exciting wines that California has to offer!

What California Wine Club Offers

The California wine club brings you the some absolutely amazing wines every month. With over 16,000 members ranging from seasoned wine aficionados to beginner wine lovers, the Borings have taken on a big responsibility in keeping all their customers happy. They have done a terrific job judging from their BBB reviews. When you sign up to their wine club, you receive 2 bottles of premium wine a month. Each shipment comes with an issue of their newsletter called “Uncorked” which features articles on the wineries these vintages were found in, recipes for amazing dishes that compliment the wines, tips and suggestions, and good funny stories. Reading each issue of Uncorked is almost as much fun as drinking the wines for a true wine lover.

The biggest benefit to joining a wine club is that the organizers do all the foot work for you. They research and find the best wines, they put in the work so that you don’t have to. It’s a lot of work to scour the California boutique wineries from Mendocino to Santa Rosa, but every month they faithfully deliver some astounding bottles to your doorstep. This is great for everybody as you get to try out boutique rare wines that you would never have found on your own, and these small boutique wineries get international exposure.

California Wine Club Membership Options and Prices

There is no “membership setup fee”, or minimum contract to sign when you join the California Wine Club. In fact, they are so confident in their service that they offer a 100% money back guarantee. So signing up for their wine club is a no brainer! You get wines from boutique vineyards at a great price, and with no risk.

They offer three different wine club memberships: The California Wine Premier Club Membership for $35/month includes two award-winning wines an issue of Uncorked at your doorstep every month. The Signature Series is the higher level membership for $150+ a month. This membership includes 4 bottles of wine on your doorstep, hand selected, super high quality, limited production wines that by themselves retail for up to $100 a bottle. You get detailed notes from the winemakers included with each bottle as well. Finally the International Selection Series allows you to get boutique wines from around the world, 2 a month, with an informative educational newsletter included. Price is around $80.

We can’t say enough how much we love the boutique wines that the California Wine Club offers. The owners have put a lot of work into this company, and it really shows!

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