How to start a wine club? Glad you asked. All you need are willing friends who want to get together, drink wine and learn something. That’s it!
It helps if your friends have an inquisitive palate, open mind and enough room in their home for at least twelve people at a time. I find six couples as the core of the group is perfect. They each take turns hosting the tasting twice per year at their homes, or where ever they choose. The hosting couple picks a theme for the wines. Then each couple brings a representation of that theme, a back up bottle, and an appetizer that would pair nicely with the wines they bring.
Most people have at least 12 real wine glasses, but if your group can accommodate more people, that’s great. Some hosts might be able to have 20 people at a time while others can hold 50, but 12 is doable for most. You choose what works for your group.
Collect people for a substitution list. Your group can either have a shared sub list or each hosting couple can invite another couple(s) to fill in when one or two of the core group are not available. This is a good way to meet other wine lovers in your area that have been vetted by your friends. You won’t have any trouble finding people that want to be on that list, trust me.
When starting a wine club, it’s a good rule of thumb to have a dollar limit for the wines. We don’t want anyone to feel pressured financially when it’s time for Wine Club. I find that $12-$20 is a good range. There are plenty of good wines in those price points to represent the theme for the month. But splurge at least once a year – maybe for Christmas.
Food and wine pairing is another fun part of starting a Wine Club. The goal is for everyone to research the themed wines and try to find great flavor profile matches. Research the country or varietal for the month and what food products are grown in that area. “What grows together, goes together.” Let your imagination run wild.
Basic Wine Club Rules:
- find six to eight couples that understand the commitment and want to participate
- the couple hosting that month chooses a wine theme, be it a country, a varietal or a style; provides the space and the wine glasses; provides subs if needed
- each couple brings a representation of the theme and an appetizer that will pair well with the wines they bring
- determine a price range for the group to stay within
- each couple picks either one month for every six months, or two months for the year that’s put on a calendar for all the members, so they can plan ahead
- each couple can decide how they want the wines presented and tasted; don’t forget to take pics of the wines and keep a file for reference.
And that’s how to start a Wine Club. Nothing fancy, unless your group decides to be. It’s easier and more fun if the couple hosting doesn’t have to stress out when it’s their turn. And you’ll be glad that’s the case when it’s your turn.
Until next time,
Happy Tasting!
Christia
