Club W is a wine subscription box that re-imagines the traditional wine club. They offer a regularly changing selection of unique, small production wines that are sourced directly from vineyards and winemakers.
When you sign up to join Club W, you take a short, fun “palate profile” quiz that helps determine your taste in wine. Based on your answers, Club W makes bottle recommendations for you every month. You can go along with their recommendations or choose your own bottles from their regularly changing selection.
If you don’t login to make your monthly bottle selection, your recommended wines will be sent by default. You can skip a month at any time.
My Subscription Addiction pays for this subscription. (Check out the review process post to learn more about how we review boxes.)
The Subscription Box: Club W
The Cost: 3 bottles per month start at $39 + $6 flat rate shipping. (Shipping is free on orders of 6 or more bottles.)
Or, for a limited time, you can use their Black Friday deal and get your first month for $13 + $6 shipping with coupon BESTDEAL15
The Products: Small-lot wines sourced directly from vineyards and wine makers.
Ships to: All US states EXCEPT: AK, AL, AR, DE, HI, KY, MS, OK, PA, RI, DS, and UT
Check out our previous Club W Reviews or visit the Drink Subscription Box Directory for more boozy boxes!
Club W includes a tasting card for each of the wines in your shipment. Each card includes a description of the wine, tasting notes, and information about the flavor profile. Printed on the back of each tasting card is a suggested recipe pairing.
Club W’s 2014 Funk Zone White Blend is a mix of Sauvignon Blanc, Chenin Blanc, and Gewürztraminer. They point out that, while it’s unusual to see a blend of these grapes, this wine was made with purpose and a desire to push the envelope. “Gewurz and Chenin Blanc provide floral aromatics and a smooth texture, while Sauvignon Blanc injects a whole lotta freshness and zip.” Frankly, while the wine sounded great, I ordered this bottle because of the label! It was designed by LA-based street artist KFiSH, an up and coming talent who was recently commissioned to create a piece for Google’s new headquarters. I really like how he mixes patterning with graphic imagery- like in this rock and roll-inspired piece. If you want to check out the mural that became the label for this bottle, you can check out this video.
Tempranillo is one of my go-to red wines, so I was excited to see one offered this month! Tempranillo is a Spanish wine, but this “copycat” is made in California. While I usually try to sample the wines in my Club W shipment, I have to admit that I’m setting this one aside for gift giving. I have a few cat-loving friends that would absolutely love this bottle’s label art!
2014 Capuchon "Fifille" Grenache Blanc
I’m not all that familiar with Grenache Blanc, so I was curious to give this bottle a try! According to Club W, Grenache Blanc is a Rhone variety that’s most often used in blends; however, they assure that it’s perfectly capable to standing alone. I have to agree! I like the minerality and aromatics of this bottle, and I think it has a nice balance of smoothness and acidity.
2014 Pas Ordinaire Saint-Chinian Blend
Pas Ordinaire hails from the Rhone Valley, and is made using eco-friendly techniques. It’s aged in concrete tanks and has “invigorating aromas of pepper and spice” followed by “a velvety texture and medium-plus body.”
2014 Chanchito Cabernet Sauvignon
When I drink Cabernet Sauvignon, which is fairly frequently, I usually pick bottles from California because I know a little bit about the region and can pretty easily pick out bottles I know I’ll like. Even though this wine is made from the same grape, the Chilean environment and winemaking style produce a very different wine. Instead of the fruit-forward flavors I’m used to in Napa Cabs, this Chilean version is more earthy and spicy. It’s a nice departure, and it’s made me consider branching out more in the future when I’m hunting for Cabernet.
2014 Pacificana Cabernet Sauvignon
The Pacificana, on the other hand, is a Cabernet Sauvignon more like the ones I pick regularly for myself. I’ve actually tried the Pacificana before, and I enjoyed it so much that I picked it out again. It’s very easy to drink, and Club W suggests pairing it with classic BBQ fare, pizza, and cheese.
Roasted Tomato Tapenade Tart
Each month, I look forward to trying one of the Club W recipe pairings. This month, I decided to make a Roasted Tomato Tapenade Tart, Club W’s pairing suggestion for the 2014 Pas Ordinaire.
I began by making the tart crust. In my food processor, I combined almond flour, fresh thyme, garlic, salt, olive oil, and an egg. The dough smelled garlicky, herby, and delicious! I pressed it into a tart pan and par baked it for 7 minutes at 350.
While the crust baked, I made the tapenade. I wiped out the bowl of my food processor and added Kalamata olives, capers, anchovy fillets, garlic, thyme, cumin, coriander, red pepper flakes, and olive oil. I pulsed this mixture until it was nice and smooth, and, when the tart shell was ready, I spread it evenly in the crust.
I then arranged tomatoes on top of the tapenade and brushed them with olive oil.
I returned the tart to the oven, where I allowed it to bake for another 35 minutes- until the tomatoes started to blister and pop.
This tart turned out beautifully! I was so excited when I pulled it out of the oven, and I couldn’t wait to surprise my husband with such a beautiful dinner… and then I tried to remove it from the pan. Sadly, the crust adhered to the tart pan like glue. Even though I’d oiled the pan, there was no way to release it without damaging the tart. I managed to get about 1/4 of the tart out in one piece, but the rest of it came out in small chunks. This was a big disappointment, but we still enjoyed the tart- even if it wasn’t the showpiece I’d hoped.
Verdict: It’s always so much fun to try wines through Club W. One of my favorite things about the subscription is their fun and quirky approach to label art. I think it adds a whimsical element to their boxes, and I think it’s very cool that they paired up with KFiSH to design the label for the 2014 Funk Zone White Blend. I don’t often keep wine bottles after I’ve consumed the wine, but I think it’ll be difficult for me to throw this one away!
Do you subscribe to Club W? Which bottles did you pick this month?
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