I’ve always had a tough time with wine clubs over the years. On the one hand, there are so few wineries whose wines are so in tune with my palate and the styles that I like, that I don’t find it worthwhile to join their club and be forced into some wines that I don’t absolutely love. I’ve also joined many a wine club at a winery whose stable of vino changes over the years, so much so that I quit due to the change in my palate or their winemaker’s.
On the other hand, once I find that match, I love the convenience and thrill of getting that box of wine in the mail at my day job and knowing that I’ve just received some great wine that I’m going to be slurping in the future. That match occurs pretty rarely, more so as I expand my palate…there’s also the issue of boredom, in that you receive so many wines this way that you don’t get the chance to go out and shop for new wines that you’ve never tried.
One new wine site has changed that equation. WineQ.com has managed to come up with one of those ideas where you just have to hit your head and say “ACK! Why didn’t I think of that (and implement it really well)!?!”
While there are many non-winery specific wine clubs out there (and many that push dubious wines), Marshall Sontag (Twitter) and Brittany L. Dean (Twitter) the couple team behind WineQ have come up with a great hybrid wine club that focuses on the consumer and the wineries, in tandem.
Right from the start, there are 3 main things that you need to know to really appreciate WineQ.com (besides their neat blog!):
1. You queue up the wines that you want to drink from 25+ different wineries and place them in your WineQ (much like Netflix).
2. You choose the order size and frequency.
3. Shipping is free with any order over $35 dollars.
While there is a $4.95 membership fee with every order (after the first 3 free months), you’re saving much more than that with the free shipping (particularly by the case) and you also decide how often you pay that fee based on the frequency of shipments that you choose.
WineQ also has a lot of great social networking functions (such as the ability to form your own wine club and attract members) and is continuing to add more functionality to their site. There are currently wines available from 25 different wineries, many of whom are small boutique wineries and/or produce wines made from organic fruit. The wineries get a pretty good bargain out of the deal as well, with the limited risk that comes with working with WineQ.com and the ability to get instant feedback & buzz on the wines that they sell to the directly from engaged WineQers.
I’ve gotten quite a few shipments from my WineQ (Twitter) already and most of those reviews are listed below (I haven’t had a chance to drink my latest ones. Yay more wine!). One of my favorite wines that I’ve Q’d up is the ’06 Twisted Oak Alta Mesa Silvaspoons Vineyard Verdelho. It’s a wonderful expression of that Portuguese varietal and rather rare domestically, much less available from a single vineyard. I first tasted it from El Jefe himself, at the WineTwo Spring Fling. An outstanding substitute (or even replacement) for Sauvignon Blanc, with some outstanding zingy citrus and tropical fruit, including canteloupe.
Also, look for further integration between WineLog.net and WineQ.com in the future; we’re continuing to expand collaboration with our respective wine-related social networking fun factors!
Feel free to click on the links to the reviews of my WineQ orders below. They are also reposted on my Q Feed on my WineQ profile. All of these wines are tagged with “WineQ” for listing in your own WineLog. Enjoy!
Ceja Napa Valley Vino de Casa White 2006
Escafeld San Antonio Valley Petit Verdot 2004
Jeriko Estate Mendocino Estate Chardonnay 2005
Ceja Sonoma Coast Bella Rosa 2007
Ceja Sonoma Coast Sauvignon Blanc 2006
Bonneau Los Carneros Catherine’s Vineyard Estate Chardonnay 2004
Twisted Oak Alta Mesa Silvaspoons Vineyard Verdelho 2006
Lava Cap El Dorado County Estate Reserve Sauvignon Blanc 2005
Deerfield Ranch Sauvignon Blanc 2006
September 10, 2008
Excellent write-up! Thanks so much for your kind words. We will definitely have to get movin’ on the WineQ-Winelog integration very soon.
September 12, 2008
Thanks for the feedback, M. Looking forward to working with you guys!