| There are a few similarities between Advance | | | | released. This list is generally serviced |
| Tasting Clubs, Winery Mailing Lists, and | | | | twice annually and the products that are on |
| Cellar Clubs, but the differences between | | | | offer are standard release wines at discount |
| these can be considerable. There are some | | | | prices. |
| winery cellar clubs that offer bonus | | | | |
| advantages and benefits to the members, while | | | | . Wine-of-the-Month Clubs: Most retailers |
| others are just a facade and a means by which | | | | offer special package deals wherein they look |
| the winery can dump all its odd lots. There | | | | for all those rare bargains and send you at |
| are different types of winery cellar clubs. | | | | least two bottles of wine each month at a |
| Here are a few of them: | | | | fixed rate. Yes, this type of subscription is |
| | | | real fun, but the bargain rarely appears to |
| . Mailing Lists: The winery will first send | | | | be good once the cost of shipment is added |
| you its promotional brochures on a consistent | | | | in. |
| basis, keeping you up-to-date about the up | | | | |
| and coming release dates, while offering you | | | | . Cellar Clubs: Cellar Clubs is a term that |
| the first grabs. Most of these wineries are | | | | is used to describe certain programs where |
| geared to ship specific wines to you, | | | | wineries send out two or more bottles of |
| provided that the law does not prohibit this. | | | | wines anywhere from one to three months. |
| Almost all of the wineries offer large | | | | Costs range anywhere from $25 to $75 for |
| discounts to their mailing list clientele. | | | | every shipment. The wines are given out at |
| | | | discounted rate, 20% being the standard |
| . Subscriber/Futures Lists: You have to agree | | | | discount offered. Discounts generally apply |
| beforehand to purchase a particular amount of | | | | to most short-term purchases, but sometimes |
| wine when the concerned winery releases it. | | | | it can apply to every purchase. |
| Futures prices are almost 30% less than the | | | | |
| actual retail price. For instance, the | | | | There are two categories of Cellar Clubs: |
| Brander Winery in Los Olivos provides | | | | Those that send out their regular release |
| reasonable prices to its futures clients and | | | | wines, and those that produce special bottles |
| the list is generally open to all new | | | | for their members. Maintaining an established |
| subscribers. These subscriber lists are used | | | | wine market for small amounts of trial wines |
| by smaller wineries, which produce limited | | | | allows the winemaker to try out new |
| amounts of good quality wine. However, once | | | | varietals, techniques, and blends with |
| you are part of the list, rest assured you | | | | greater flexibility and ease. The most |
| will be able to purchase all those special | | | | successful of these experiments often leads |
| wines. | | | | to new and regular wine releases. However, if |
| | | | you are wondering what the winemaker does |
| . Advance Tasting Clubs: You have to give the | | | | with all that Cabernet Franc, Merlot, and |
| winery your credit card number and request | | | | Syrah that are left over, then you should |
| them to ship at least 2-6 bottles of the wine | | | | know that all these are used to create |
| before it is released to the public. This | | | | special blends, which are only for the most |
| will give you the right of first refusal on | | | | loyal cellar club members. |
| those wines that may be hard to procure when | | | | |