Since 2002, I’ve been reviewing wine subscription services here at WineClubs.net, and I’m always intrigued when a club with serious longevity reaches out. The Original Wine of the Month Club has been family-owned and operating since 1994—that’s three decades of curating wines, which caught my attention immediately.
When they contacted me to sample wines from their different club tiers, I agreed. No strings attached, just an honest assessment of what they’re offering. Full transparency: this review contains affiliate links, meaning I earn a small commission if you purchase through them. That said, my opinions here are entirely my own.
About the Wine of the Month Club
The Wine of the Month Club has deep roots in the wine club industry. While there are several “Wine of the Month” clubs, this particular club has been operating since 1994 and is led by wine educator and author Don Lahey, who oversees a comprehensive two-tiered tasting process used to select wines for each of their club offerings.
It’s worth noting that the wine club industry itself has fascinating origins. The original Wine of the Month Club concept dates back to 1972, when Paul Kalemkiarian Sr. founded what would become the model for wine subscription services. Kalemkiarian Sr., who had emigrated from Egypt and earned degrees in Pharmacognosy at the University of Cairo and later a Master’s degree at USC, operated pharmacies throughout Southern California. When he purchased Palos Verdes Drugstore and its adjoining liquor store in the early 1970s, he transformed what had been primarily an ice, cigarettes, and liquor shop into Palos Verdes Wines and Spirits—one of the most prominent wine shops in the Los Angeles area.
Kalemkiarian began selecting monthly wine offerings—one red and one white—to help customers looking for quality wines on a budget. He held weekly tastings in a makeshift loft at the back of his shop, inviting knowledgeable customers and physicians to help select the wines. When customers requested home delivery, his son Paul Kalemkiarian Jr. made the first deliveries the day he received his driver’s license. That grassroots delivery service eventually grew into the mail-order wine club model that inspired an entire industry. In 1989, Paul Jr. took over the business, which today is part of Gold Medal Wine Group.
The Wine of the Month Club operates as a separate entity with its own selection process and philosophy, but they share the same commitment to delivering quality wines at exceptional value that has defined the wine club industry for over five decades.
Visit the Wine of the Month Club at https://wineofthemonthclub.com/
How the Club Operates
The Wine of the Month Club offers a straightforward structure: you select from four distinct membership tiers, each delivering two bottles per shipment.
Here’s how you customize your experience:
Choose your tier – Select from Premier Series, Bold Reds, Masters Series, or Collectors Series
Select your wines – Pick two reds, two whites, or one of each (varies by tier)
Set your cadence – Receive shipments monthly, every other month, or quarterly
Each delivery arrives with comprehensive tasting notes and winery background information, giving you context about the producers, regions, and what to expect when you uncork each bottle. First-time members also receive a complimentary wine gift bag.
The Four Membership Tiers
Premier Series Wine Club
This is their flagship offering and their most popular subscription. You’ll receive estate-bottled, small-production wines from boutique wineries across the globe. The focus here is on exceptional quality at a strong value proposition.
What sets this tier apart is the international scope—wines arrive from acclaimed regions worldwide, giving you a diverse tasting journey without leaving your home. The flexibility to choose your red-to-white ratio makes this accessible for different preferences.
Bold Reds Wine Club
Exactly what it sounds like: two powerful red wines per shipment, each showcasing concentrated fruit, structured tannins, and oak influence from barrel aging. Expect full-throttle California Cabernets, single-vineyard Zinfandels, Châteauneuf-du-Pape from the Rhône, Carmenères, and Cabernet-Malbec blends.
This tier is designed for red wine enthusiasts who gravitate toward bigger, bolder expressions. Each selection comes from different prestigious producers, ensuring variety within the powerful red wine category.
Masters Series Wine Club
This hybrid tier delivers one bottle from the Collectors Series and one from the Premier Series in each shipment. It’s an interesting middle ground—you get the cellar-worthy, premium bottles alongside approachable boutique wines.
For collectors who want to build their cellars but also enjoy wines ready to drink now, this tier offers the best of both approaches. You can choose two reds or split between red and white.
Collectors Series Wine Club
The premium tier for serious collectors. These are extremely limited-production wines with significant aging potential. They’re crafted to be enjoyed immediately but truly designed for cellaring, where they’ll develop greater complexity over time.
These selections often come from the oldest vines, made with the finest vintage grapes and extended barrel aging. The craftsmanship is meticulous, and the resulting wines are exceptional expressions of their regions.
Shipments include two estate-bottled wines from distinguished producers, and you can customize between two reds or one red and one white. Each delivery includes winemaker profiles, detailed tasting notes, and food pairing recommendations.
What I Appreciated
Multiple price points – The four-tier structure lets you choose based on your budget and interest level
Delivery flexibility – Monthly, bi-monthly, or quarterly options accommodate different consumption rates
Customizable selections – Choose your red-to-white ratio based on your preferences
Custom club option – Design your own club for even more flexibility
Expert curation – Wine educator and author Don Lahey leads the selection process with a two-tiered tasting panel
International diversity – Wines from renowned regions worldwide
Detailed cellar notes – Comprehensive information accompanies each bottle
Gift-friendly – Multiple gifting options with flexible durations
Fixed-duration orders – Set up 2-12 shipment commitments if you don’t want ongoing subscription
Satisfaction guarantee – 100% guarantee with replacement or refund for wines you don’t enjoy
The Limitations
Restricted shipping – Not available in Alabama, Alaska, Hawaii, Massachusetts, Michigan, Mississippi, or Utah
Promotional commitments – Some offers may require minimum commitment periods before cancellation
Adult signature required – Someone 21+ must be home to accept delivery (standard legal requirement)
My Shipment Experience
My wines shipped from Illinois to North Carolina and arrived in excellent condition. The packaging was sturdy with proper bottle protection, and nothing was damaged.
The shipment included four sample bottles representing different club tiers, a welcome letter, and cellar notes for each wine. I was impressed by how thorough the tasting notes were—more detailed than what I’ve received from several other clubs I’ve reviewed.
The Wines I Tasted
Keep in mind selections rotate monthly, so you won’t necessarily receive these specific bottles. However, these four wines gave me a solid cross-section of what to expect across their club tiers.
Seigneur De Grezette Malbec
Found in: Premier Series and Masters Series
This Malbec displayed a rich plum-to-dark garnet color with pronounced legs indicating its 14% alcohol. The nose offered subtle sweetness, warm spice, and bright red berries.
The palate delivered ripe raspberry, juicy grape, and spice that added dimension without dominating. Tannins were finely woven and smooth. The finish lingered with red fruit character rather than tannic astringency.
My take: This is an easy-drinking, fruit-forward wine that’s incredibly versatile with food. It’s not particularly complex, but that’s not a criticism—it’s exactly what you want in an everyday wine. I let it breathe for about 20 minutes, which brought out more red fruit and softened the darker grape notes.
Food pairing: I served it with sautéed mushrooms, and it was excellent. It would pair beautifully with Asiago or blue cheese, and honestly, it’s hard to go wrong with food pairing here. The red fruit profile makes it adaptable.
Tait The Border Crossing McLaren Vale Shiraz
Found in: Premier Series and Bold Reds
This was my favorite of the four. The deep plum color and generous legs signaled its 15.5% alcohol content, yet the wine never felt hot or harsh.
The aromatics were captivating—smoky butter, dark ripe fruit, rich cocoa, and subtle spice. Despite the elevated alcohol, there was no burn on the nose.
The flavor profile was lush and indulgent: blueberry, mocha, and abundant dark fruit. The finish was long and luxurious, with fruit and mocha notes persisting well after each sip. Tannins were present but took a backseat to the bold flavors.
My take: Bold and decadent from start to finish. The smoky aromatics transition into lush, juicy flavors that coat your palate. Giving it some air time enhanced the cocoa and mocha elements, though a fresh pour really highlighted the blueberry character.
Food pairing: This is a fantastic sipper on its own, but it would be outstanding with a rich beef or venison burger.
Casa Silva Cabernet Sauvignon
Found in: Bold Reds
This 90+ point Cabernet from Chile’s Colchagua Valley showed a deep, inky appearance with slow-moving legs hinting at its richness.
The nose offered supple leather, ripe blackberry, and fragrant cedar with just a trace of alcohol presence that integrated seamlessly into the aromatic complexity.
The palate revealed dark blackberry intertwined with allspice and delicate red fruit. The tannins were vibrant and youthful, filling the mouth with refined texture. The finish was impressively long and balanced, with fruit and tannins working in harmony.
My take: This is a masterfully crafted Cabernet with depth and structure. After 20 minutes of air time, the tannins softened and the blackberry became more pronounced. I even detected a hint of unsweetened café mocha. If serving to guests, I’d recommend decanting.
Food pairing: Excellent with beef, duck, or lamb, though it’s equally enjoyable on its own. The bold blackberry flavors and balanced complexity make it adaptable to many dishes.
Viberti Langhe Nebbiolo
Found in: Collectors Series, Masters Series, and Bold Reds
This Nebbiolo presented a delicate garnet hue reminiscent of a mature Pinot Noir rather than a deeply colored red.
The aromatics were immediately appealing—fresh cherry, warm sandalwood, and soft floral notes creating an elegant profile.
The palate offered vibrant cherry, sweet marmalade, and ripe red plum, each flavor unfolding gracefully. Light, playful tannins provided structure without weight, carrying through to a long, satisfying finish with juicy texture.
My take: This is an elegant, effortlessly enjoyable Italian red. It’s approachable without being simple, offering both charm and refinement.
Food pairing: Start the evening with light cheeses, then move to tender pork loin. This wine suits a refined yet relaxed dining experience perfectly.
Final Assessment
After tasting these four wines and reviewing their program structure, I’m comfortable recommending the Wine of the Month Club to WineClubs.net readers.
The wine quality across all tiers impressed me. Each bottle showed careful selection and represented its region well. The tasting notes were genuinely comprehensive—more detailed than many clubs provide.
I appreciated the club’s simplicity. Four clear tiers without overwhelming options, straightforward customization, and flexible delivery schedules. They’ve clearly refined their approach over 30 years.
The gift options are well-executed if you’re considering this for someone else, and the satisfaction guarantee removes purchase risk.
For California natives like myself who’ve relocated to North Carolina and miss easy access to diverse wine selections, clubs like this deliver international variety without the hunt. Whether you’re building a cellar or simply exploring wines from different regions, the Wine of the Month Club offers a solid subscription experience backed by decades of wine club expertise.
