Category: curated wines

Discover The Wine Atlas Collective: A New Wine Club Experience

A new approach to wine clubs and wine education.

The Wine Atlas Collective is the name of a new wine club that every wine lover should know about. Even if you have never ever been interested in wine club membership, this one might be a game changer.

Over the last 2-3 years, along with the decline in overall sales and wine tourism, wine clubs have suffered some setbacks. A recent report from Sovos ShipCompliant and WineBusiness Analytics confirms that in 2025 there was a significant drop in new club sign ups.The report noted that wine clubs are “the backbone of DTC (direct to consumer sales), accounting for about 75% of total revenue.”

As  stories continue to surface in 2026 about winery tasting rooms being closed and staff layoffs, many wineries are looking at ways to reinvent and reinvigorate their clubs.

While wineries are adding an event or changing the membership categories, The Wine Atlas Collective came up with a different concept of a wine club.    

Established in 2025, it is an association of eight independently operated, family-owned wineries from 5 states. Yes, you heard right: 8 wineries from 5 states. Coast to coast…buckle up.

The Wine Atlas Collective has a very simple underlying core: reciprocity. If you are a member of one club, you are automatically an equal member of all others. When you visit in person or online, show your membership ID in any of them and enjoy full membership perks at all eight. Like complementary tastings, discounts, special events and members’ only wines. And yes, merch is included.

Here are a few other things that define this wine collective. Their stated shared goal is “to bring our wine club member communities together and give them a passport to explore the diversity of American wine regions, varieties, and styles.”

Sharing and a sense of community, not competition, is what sets this club apart from the mainstream. The eight wineries are also “united by a shared commitment to sustainable farming, innovative winemaking, and authentic hospitality.” 

Introducing The Team

Here they are:

Blenheim Vineyards, Virginia

Brooks Estate, Willamette Valley, Oregon

William Chris Vineyards, High PlainsTexas

Frog’s Leap, Napa Valley

L’Ecole #41, Washington

Ridge Vineyards, Santa Cruz

Tablas Creek, Paso Robles

Red Tail Ridge Winery, Finger Lakes, New York

When looking over this odd team, several thoughts come to mind. Is it possible for sharing and a sense of community to unite California and Texas in anything?  And why would Frog’s Leap and Ridge, both Zinfandel driven, want to share members?

Jason Hass of Tablas Creek, who turned me on to this collective, suggested that he was approached by Jen Cossey of Brooks Estate about sharing membership. That would unite Oregon’s Brooks of Riesling and Pinot Noir fame with Paso’s Tablas Creek, which produces everything but Riesling and Pinot Noir.

Not only do these two combine to offer a great range of wines, but they also happen to have very successful  wine clubs on their own.  Not familiar with Brooks Estate? Check out its website to learn about its wine club program at brookswine.com 

When you look a little closer at the entire team, you realize each brings a lot to the group. Each winery is located in a historically important wine region. The wineries are all well-established with a solid track record and over the last three or four decades have had an impact on the history and reputation of wine within their respective area. 

More importantly, each remains a key player on the wine stage today. 

To return to my opening paragraph referencing people who aren’t wine club prospects, what really sets this “club” apart from the crowd is the sheer variety of wines offered. When you factor in regional styles with numerous varietals and blends, then the fun and educational opportunities multiply. 

Are We Having Fun Yet?

Let’s start with Ridge Vineyards of Zinfandel and Monte Bello Cabernet fame: it currently offers 56 wines to club members. The lineup includes a Falanghia, Grenache Blanc, and a “Historic” white wine. That one is made from 52% Palomino, 41% Muscadelle, 3% Semillon, 2% Chenin Blanc, 2% Burger. To that I say,”sign me up.”

Tablas Creek also lists over 50 wines. Its members have access to a dozen or so rare varietals from Bourboulenc to Vaccarèse. BTW: Both were highly rated at http://www.winereviewonline.com

And Brooks Estate, to cite another example, currently offers 12 different Rieslings and 12 or more Pinot Noirs. William Chris from Texas is definitely in the game offering close to 50 wines, including several styles of Mourvedre and Tannat.

 Interested in Chenin Blanc? Well, L’Ecole #41 offers three different bottlings. Frog’s Leap offers two styles of Sauvignon Blanc. Or compare those with Blenheim’s no oak Sauvignon Blanc from Virginia.

If, as I’ve heard, one of the main reasons why wine lovers drop out of wine clubs is that boredom sets in after a year or two, that’s not gonna happen with this club.  

My best guess is that it offers 300 or so different wines made from at least 50 different varieties. Members get to try small batch experimental wines along with the prime time players. There should also be many new wines offered to members every new vintage.  

How It Works

It all begins with tasting eight samples in your own home. The bottles are shipped in small boxes, each looking like a book and labeled A Book of Wine. The subtitle is “stories you can drink.” That may seem way out there, but it gets the educational message across. The fee was $120 which included shipping. For more info, check them out at www.wineatlascollective.com

Key to The Wine Atlas Collective and other programs are these wine kits, samples of the wines in mini-bottles, not like the stuff offered by airlines. Each bottle holds 180ml, better known to many of us as about 6 oz. That’s handy for 2 tasting pours, for those who like to share.  

I recently participated in the 2026 Spring Release. It began with Rieslings from New York’s Finger Lakes and the Willamette Valley and concluded with a Mourvedre from Texas. The flight consisted of eight wines and a date was set for a live webinar during which each wine was to be presented by the winemaker and/or owner. 

This tasting webinar and discussions were lively and well-paced, finishing about 90 minutes later. The presentations were relaxed and informative, and the audience participation was lively. 

Limeng Stroh, who moderated the tasting, is from Silicon Valley and she has worked on a special production method for these mini-bottles.The bottles fit snugly inside shipping packages that are so environmentally friendly.

Wine Atlas Collective is part of Master the World which offers several wine education programs. Master the World was developed in 2017 by EO Limeng Stroh and Master Sommelier Evan Goldstein.

You can learn more about Master the World and these special bottles at MTWwines.com

A Deep Dive Inside the Spring Tasting Webinar

There were three flights, so let’s look at them one at a time.

Fight #1 

2024 Red Tail Ridge Dry Riesling, Finger Lakes, NY $22.97

2024 Brooks Estate Vineyard Riesling, Eola-Amity Hills, Willamette Valley $40

Nancy Irelan of Red Tail, co-owner and winemaker for some 35 vintages, talked about the history of the Finger Lakes District and why Riesling performs so well there. Jen Cossey with Brooks Estate went into the winery’s fascination with Riesling (it makes 14, including a sparkler) and explained how acidity is so crucial to Riesling.

Both winemakers answered questions about alcohol levels and the typical descriptors of Riesling.They also exchanged thoughts about “stone fruit” and “petrol” as descriptors often used for Riesling. 

A great start with excellent comments. 

Flight #2

2024 Frog’s Leap, Napa Valley Sauvignon Blanc $20

2024 L’Ecole #41, Washington Semillon  $25

2024 Blenheim Vineyards, Virginia Painted White $26

After 46 vintages in Napa, John Williams of Frog’s Leap shared a lot about the early years when there were 28 Napa wineries and then explained why he went with Sauvignon Blanc as the signature wine. Toward the end, he emphasized that “no wine should smell of oak.” 

With 37 vintages under his belt, Marty Clubb provides the inside story of the Stillwater Creek Vineyard and L’Ecole 41’s focus on barrel-fermented Semillon. If you ever want the inside story about Walla Walla, start with L’Ecole. 

Blenheim’s Tracy Love is part of the all-female winery in historic Virginia. She led the group discussion on ABV in today’s wines. Her blended white was surprisingly elegant and fresh, a subtle blend of Chardonnay, Viognier, Roussanne and 9% Pinot Noir. The later grape rarely develops color there.

More super wines and inside stories

Flight #3

2025 Ridge Vineyards, Gamay Noir, Ponzo Vineyard  Russian River Valley $39

2023 Tablas Creek, “En Gobelet” Adelaida District $65

2024 William Chris Vineyards, Mourvedre Texas High Plains $54 

Gamay Noir seemed like a strange choice but we soon learned it was typical of Ridge in many ways. From 40 year old vines in a vineyard neighboring the famous Zinfandel Lytton Springs Vineyard, the wine was all stainless and made with minimal intervention. As lively and fascinating as this wine was, the discussion led by Shauna Rosenblum went off the charts. At least to me. 

Her personal journey from growing up in a  winemaker family (Rosenblum Cellars), venturing out on her own and returning to Sonoma as Ridge’s winemaker was spell-binding. The background story of the wine, the First Napa Gamay from Ridge, led to thoughts and comments around climate change.

Not too surprising, with Tablas Creek it all begins with vines, farming, and viticultural practices.  The winery’s 2023 “En Gobelet” is a unique blend of five estate-grown varietals, selected from head-trained, dry-farmed sections of  its certified organic vineyard. It is a blend of wines from head pruned Grenache, Syrah, Mourvedre,Counoise, and Tannat. 

Winemaker and vineyard manager, Neil Collins, who was there from the winery’s beginning working in the vine nursery, developing vineyards, and monitoring vineyard experiments and wine blends, led the discussion. 

Great stories, unpretentious, but fascinating.

Compared to other GSM blends from Tablas, the wine was different in subtle ways with its lively, elegant style. Lesson learned: farming does make an impact on wine style for sure. 

Reece Johnson gave some background about the Texas High Plains region and went on to talk about the winery’s focus on making varietals from single vineyards. With Mourvedre, as a participant remarked, the color is not  very deep and dark for the varietal.  Part of the reason for that, he suggested, might be that the fruit is machine harvested. But his Mourvedre is different in other ways, leaning more toward the aromatic, less meaty, earthy side. It is typical of the La Pradera Vineyard which he favors for Mourvedre.

To me, it offered lots of cranberry and plum aromatics and was round and rich with light tannin. Youthful but will age well. A different, enjoyable take on Mourvedre.

I also found the “story” made me want to learn more about wines from Texas.

Overall, the educational presentations were excellent. Attention to detail is apparent everywhere in the Wine Atlas Collective program.  The basic printed material for the wine flights has a QR code to order full bottles of each wine. And it is valid for the entire year.  How cool is that?

OTHER PROGRAMS 

The Wine Atlas Collective, as mentioned earlier, is part of Master the World which offers several different wine education programs. Limeng Stroh collaborates today with a diverse group of Master Sommeliers, Masters of Wine, and Wine Experts to select  MasterThe World’s wine kits and programs. 

In addition to Goldstein,Tim Gaiser and Madeline Triffon offer special programs. Paul Wagner, head of the Napa Valley College Wine programs, works with Gaiser to offer a class on wine history. 

There is also a WSET certification program complete with tasting kits and webinars. So there’s something for everyone into wine.

 A Super Sale and the Latest Happenings in Online Wine Clubs

 

cawineclub.com 

A Harvest Sale with 30% off all wines was an upbeat headliner coming from the California Wine Club. Based in California, this is one of the oldest and most reliable wine clubs around.

The website went through a redesign and upgrade earlier this year and is not only more attractive but also much easier to use.

As for the wines offered, what is most appealing is that the wineries are real, not custom labels, and the wines are not the typical fare or your pretend cult wine.

As I’ve mentioned before, when you see a $100 or so bottle of wine reduced by 50-60% in a flash sale or a daily offering, it was overpriced to begin with. Regardless of the hype, it is being dumped.

With the current wines offered by the California Wine Club, here are a few of the wines  that have great appeal at 30% and are seldom offered online. 

Heading my list are these:

2020 Handley Cellars Pinot Noir

2021 Testarossa Pinot Noir and also its Chardonnay

2020 Dragonette Syrah from Santa Ynez

2019 Keller Estate Syrah

2020 Wrath Pinot Noir

2020 Jeff Cohn Zinfandel

2022 Onesta Rose of Cinsault

The sale is on until September 30th Code: HARVEST

Other Breaking News!!

Vinesse

Vinesse, once a big and active wine club, is part of Vintage Wine Estates’ portfolio.  Last month, that company filed for bankruptcy and over the last few weeks some brands have been sold at auction. 

Vinesse was recently the target of a bid from the Full Glass company, a specialist in direct to consumer wines. 

Full Glass already owns three wine clubs: Winc, Bright Cellars, and Wine Insiders. So Vinesse seems destined to join this group. 

Vintage Wine Estates was a mix of wineries such as Clos Pegase, Kunde, Swanson, Girard  and brands without the winery like Qupe. It also has custom labels like Bar Dog which must be a woofer.

Since those wineries and brands have been auctioned off to multiple buyers,  Vinesse will likely not have access to them. 

Members may want to stock up on their favorite wines before they disappear.

nakedwines.com

Don’t know what to make of it, if anything, but a few wines from nakedwines.com are showing up in discount stores at drastically reduced prices.

As one example, wines from Rick Boyer, a well-known winemaker, were spotted at several stores. The 2021 Rick Boyer Syrah caught my attention at the $6.99 bottle price. 

Another winemaker in the nakedwine stable is Benjamin Darnault whose wines I’ve liked in the past.

His 2020 La Cote Doree has also been seen on several store shelves for $6.99.

Maybe these winemakers have dropped out of the program. 

Or maybe the particular wine has been discontinued.

Or whatever!!

Savvy Wine Shoppers: Start Your Engines

Exciting online wine deals and steals are really happening.  They are not the typical, over-hyped discounted wines that have been offered over the last year or two.  It strikes me as a new beginning, a fresh start to Spring. 

The real deal door began to swing open around April 1st and by the day of the eclipse, it was no illusion, no April Fool’s prank.

 And the wines that signaled this change  were excellent, time-proven Cabernets, Pinot Noirs,  Chardonnays, a few imports and, well, many others. What was different was the appearance of so many authentic wines from real producers instead of made up private labels and brands. And often, new vintages, newly released wines, not leftovers.

Before getting to the reasons behind this development, let me lists those deals offered online  that caught my attention:

2021 Peju Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley, regularly $70, offered at $26 

2021 Daou Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon, Paso Robles $65 to $39.99

2018 Whitehall Lane Estate Cabernet, Napa Valley $90 to $59

2020 Beringer Vineyards Knights Valley Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon $32 to $23.99

2019 Handley Cellars Anderson Valley Pinot Noir, $37 to $19.

2018 Ketcham Estate Pinot Noir, Russian River Valley $45 to $19.95

2022 Long Meadow Ranch Rose of Pinot Noir, Anderson Valley $32 to $12

2022 Caymus Vineyards, California Cabernet Sauvignon, $75 to $49

These are top names and the reason the last two are cited is to reinforce the fact that new vintages, not old stuff getting dusty in warehouses, are showing up as real deals! That’s a spanking brand new release from Caymus and I’ve not seen any Peju wine so deeply discounted until now. Clos du Val just released its new Cabernet Sauvignon vintage to an online retailer at 20%, not enough to make my list but good support for the trend.

Just now winespies.com announced a 30% off deal on an absolutely great California Chardonnay, one of the top 3-4 made and never ever discounted, until now. It is the 2021 Wayfarer ‘The Estate’ Fort Ross-Seaview Chardonnay 30% off. 

Then I’m seeing a few unknowns and  newbies to the Napa Cabernet scene resorting to the online discounters to help their launch. The garigiste.com site announced the sale of  Rockmere Estate Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley from 2018 for $59.71 a bottle, with the winery price being $95.

So why now, you ask? Well, it has to do with supply and demand. Over the last several months, business stories have focused on the global surplus of wine, and here at home, both Napa and Washington State wine folks are trying to deal with the present surplus of wine and the need to start removing vineyards in big numbers for future stability. Talk about pulling up vines let’s you know this is not a blip.

Meanwhile, retailers are staring at big inventories in their stores and warehouses. I’ve noticed much more exciting offerings from vivino.com so far in 2024. This online site works directly with retailer partners across the country. Sales are slow in brick & mortar places across the country.

Who’s to blame? Well, the easy way out is to point fingers (the middle one?) at the Gen Zers.

Apparently, recent surveys indicate a lack of interest in wine. That’s a demographic representing 18% of the population and it is more interested in energy boosting drinks. Is “Liquid Death” an energy drink? Just asking. 

The brains behind Drizly analyzed the alcohol beverage market and came up with this conclusion: “When it comes to trying new bev alc brands, Drizly’s 2023 Consumer Trend Report found that pricing was the top factor that influences Gen Z “

The  high price of wine is a big deal these days. Recent surveys show that the average bottle price of a Napa Valley Cabernet is $108. An article in The Wall Street Journal  surveyed restaurants and came up with the belief that $25 is the new restaurant normal for a glass of wine. And, yes, the prices for many consumer items are now high. But wine is non-essential, a choice, not on the same level of importance as eggs and fuel. 

Driving the prices of wine up and Gen Zers away is that wine is perceived as a luxury enjoyed by those who equate price with quality. Snobs! Yes, those who buy what others can’t afford and those who associate inexpensive wine as “cheap stuff.” And the big corporations have not helped by their push to create so-called “luxury brands.” 

But right now it is the online wine retailers, the flash sale types, that are driving the discount wine deals.  A report from the Silicon Valley Bank made this observation:

“Wholesalers are full up, as far as they can go,”  which is making them “more picky” in what they buy from wine producers. Wholesalers “are more afraid of being stuck with inventory that they may have to discount.” 

It concluded with a prediction that “flash sales and increased discounts” are likely in the offing in the near future.”

5 Real Deal Dealers

That future is now. Flash sales, meaning limited time offerings are leading the way. For those  interested in checking out the best wine deals offered online, here are my top 5 best sites for non-snobbery, savvy shopping wine drinkers:

www.reversewinesnob.com  This site was finding super wines at great prices before the glut, and so far in 2024 has earned my top spot for its selection of wines from California and the Northwest. It works directly with small, family owned wineries. Begin here.

www.winespies.com  Off to a great month of April with exceptional finds such as the 2020 Caymus California Cabernet and the Wayfarer Chardonnay. Also, super price for a Flying Goat Pinot Noir. Special deals on Lake County Cabernets are frequent.

www.lastbottleswines.com

 Still the best flash sale site, and is keeping up by finding wines never offered before the glut. A great offer for Handley Cellars 2019 Pinot Noir at $19. It also has marathon wine sales, and recently offered dozens of wines as “under $26 deals and steals.”    

www.vivino.com 

These are the people who have a huge database and encourage subscribers to offer reviews, But its main strength is its partnerships with retailers around the country. Here I found the 2020 Beringer Knights Valley Cabernet at 30% off. The new 2022 Caymus “California” Cabernet was first offered by vivino.

http://www.wtso.com

WTSO was one of the first, if not the first site for flash sales. It offers many wines, but I found it is a great resource for imports, especially Spanish and Italian wines. Here are three examples of excellent deals:

2021 Resalte Ribera del Duero Vendimia Seleccionada for $19.99 (50%)

2018 Famiglia Castellani Chianti Classico Riserva  DOCG $14.99

2019 Luca Bosio Barolo  $24.99

Pinot Noir Deal of the Day

Deal of the Day!

Just noticed one of my favorite Pinot Noirs is being offered at an amazing price of $22.

The offer comes from www.wineaccess.com.

Here’s what they have to say:

“Solena Grande Cuvée is the Pinot that led us to rethink the term “quality-to-price ratio” and start saying “quality-to-price disparity” instead. The 2021, from a landmark year, has it all: balance, deep red fruit, cleansing acidity, and a personality that makes it hard to put that cork back in.”

Better yet, here’s my recent review from http://www.winereviewonline.com

Soléna Estate, Willamette Valley (Oregon) Pinot Noir “Grand Cuvée” 2021 ($28):

This may well be today’s best value in Oregon Pinot Noir.  Made from a selection of the family’s vineyards in the Yamhill and McMinnville AVAs, this Cuvee offers a lovely aroma that is at once complex and compelling.  A subtle melange of raspberry, and truffles with hints of earthiness define both the aroma and flavors.  On the palate it is medium bodied with bright raspberry / blackberry flavors that gain in intensity with airing and take you to a big, rich finish.  With light tannins, it can be enjoyed now or cellared a few more years.  It bears repeating: an excellent value.       

94 Norm Roby Mar 21, 2023

3 Reasons to Shop Last Bottle

When it comes to rating the top online wine sellers today, the last word is Last Bottle.

I’ve been following it and another two dozen sites for several years now and, yes, I faithfully look at everyone’s daily deals, special offers, clearance sales and whatever else. 

Most sites are hyping the same wines after covid and are so predictable.

But not Last Bottle.

Wine.com is great in many ways, but it doesn’t list many of the small, hidden gems that Last Bottle uncovers.

I also think highly of winespies.com, reversewinesnob.com and wineaccess.com.

Last Bottle, however, is best at 3 key things:

  1. Big, real discounts!! Often over 50%.
  2.  Great selection, ever changing, not the usual fare.
  3.  Exciting, informative, and fun to read website and wine comments.

All of this along with a proven track record and yet there’s no personality behind it, no person by name.

And therefore no ego in evidence. No sommelier or wine expert showing off.

It is all done by teamwork, by wine competence, and by a crazy, noisy, got you by the throat style.

The question remains: who the heck are the people behind Last Bottle? 

I asked that and several other questions and was surprised at the quick and  informative response.

But I still don’t know that much about the people. The best I have is this photo:

What sets their sales approach apart from the others are the unusual and energized wine descriptions. Here’s a typical introduction to a featured Shiraz:

“Quick poll…who’s seen the video where the guy rescues his dog from the headlock of a big ol’ kangaroo and then squares off (you might want to Google it)!? Man, those Aussies are just the best. Speaking of BEST, how about 94 POINTS and THIRTEEN American dollars (that’s 18.60 Aussie dollars, by the by)??!! Mount Langi Ghiran SHIRAZ!!! Pure craziness.”

Or this one about a Barbaresco:

“WOOHOO!!! If you could make Burgundy with nebbiolo, this just might be it. Fine, elegant texture, no heaviness, but STACKED, simply soaring with beautifully fresh and dried roses, red cherry, orange pekoe tea, a dash of allspice and cinnamon, freshly turned earth, and shaved truffles, some toasted hazelnuts…my, oh my! SO GOOD! This will age like a champ, too – so get a few extra to save. We get all contemplative and nostalgic whenever we drink Rivetti. This is complex, thoughtful, fine, focused, and distinctly reaching for a higher level.”

These atypical wine comments keep on coming and may strike some as silly and irreverent, but their descriptions are clever, creative, and so unlike the mechanical writeups encountered elsewhere.  And the wines are top quality.

To learn more about these folks, see my article posted at http://www.winereviewonline.com

Here’s one question I asked that’s sure to tease you:

Q: You say your team tastes 40,000 wines a year, or roughly 800 a week. Really? Is that true or hype?

A: This is 100% true. When the tasting bar becomes too packed with bottles we set them on the floor, and have to carve little paths to get through. It can seem ridiculous, but it speaks to our commitment to assessing every wine to find the gems that make it into a daily offer. 

Here they are hard at work: the Chateau Les Feet of wine sellers:

More on Labor Day Wine Sales

 Labor Day Wine Shopping

As predicted the deals are heating up. 

Just was notified that the 2013 Alexander’s Crown Rodney Strong Cabernet is a special

Holiday offer direct from the winery for $80.

Given the hyper online wine world, $80 seems sane.

Back to that world, here are my top 7 websites and the reasons for their high ratings.

#1 lastbottlewines.com

Based in Napa and having an importer’s license, these folks somehow manage to secure a wide range of wines in all price brackets. 

Discounts are some of the deepest. 50% off is common.

Their strength is California wine, but also amazingly strong in France and Italy.

They also source often hard to find wines.

They don’t solely rely on critics’ scores, and their comments are often amusing.

Frequent all day marathon sales are great buying opportunities.

Best recent offer: Luna Sangiovese Reserve, Napa  2019  $20 (normally $62)

#2 napacabs.com

A major retailer, this site offers much more than Napa Cabs and often comes up with unbeatable case prices on Fridays. 

The wine selection is large and includes all types and all regions. 

But the place to look is its list for free shipping by the case and also by 6 bottles. 

The list of 90+ point wines now exceeds 1000. 

Excellent deals on wines for everyday enjoyment, especially Chile’s and Argentina’s favorite producers.

Free shipping on case orders.

Often the lowest prices online for major brands.

Recent deals: 6 bottles of 2018 Silver Oak Cab Alexander Valley

Sean Minor Pinot Noir, Sonoma Coast 2019 $19.97

2018 D.V. Catena Tinto Historico  $15.97

#3 invino.com

“Curated” is overused by so many others, but it applies perfectly to the wines at this site. Based in the town of Napa, it lists around 100 wines at any one time. But they reflect excellent choices that are not available elsewhere. 

Strengths are in wines from Spain, France, and Argentina with frequent surprises from California.

No crazy BS write ups about the latest cult wine from rockstar winemakers

And, best of all, discounts of 50%-60% 

Shipping rates are usually free for orders of 6 or more. Free for 3 on pricey wines. 

Best Recent Super Deal: Campo alle Comete Bolgheri Stupore 2016 $24.95 (50% off)

#4 winelibrary.com

Headquartered in New Jersey, winelibrary is a major wine retailer. Its current inventory is around 2,000 wines, with 500 selling for under $20 a bottle. It offers online daily wine deals on its cinderellawine.com website. Gary Vee, a techie revered by  some people, is part of the team and works with the monthly wine club program. He also rates wines for the site.

Excellent range of good values: My go-to Bubbly, Segura Viudas is only $9.09 here.

Heavy into French wines, especially Rhone and Southern France.

Free shipping on orders of 3 or more.

Best Recent Deals:

2017 Crystal Basin Cellars Reserve Zinfandel, El Dorado $19.99

2018 Molino Della Suga Rosso Di Montalcino $15.44

#5 reversewinesnob.com

Each day brings a new deal accompanied by a detailed, informative background.

Discounts are attractive (30%-50%) and the overall quality of the wines is high.

The way it works is to order a minimum of 6 bottles, but for the six there is a flat shipping fee of $5. 

3-bottle packs are sometimes offered. 

The offerings truly are for the non-snob. The site also reviews wines from Costco and Trader Joe’s.

Mostly West Coast wines are presented  but even the imports are often unusual in that few other sites have access to them. 

Best Recent Deal: 

Two Jakes 2017 Petite Sirah, Lake County $18.00

Scott Harvey Zinfandel Amador County 2019 $17.

#6 wineaccess.com

Wines direct from the source” is the slogan.  

The mantra is that fine wines are made in small quantities.

To shop for the best deals, we suggest going to the “Under $30” list, or see what the daily deal is.  The deals are available for 3 days or until the wine is sold out.

Shipping is free for 6 bottles or orders of $120.

Strong in Napa wines, its lists include Vermillion, Vine Cliff, Grgich Hills, Dalla Valle and Bevan Cellars.  From other places, there is Foxen Pinot Noir, Bedrock Zinfandel, Meyer Family Syrah, and County Line Rose from Anderson Valley.

Best recent Deal: 2019 Chad Merlot Incline 18 Sonoma Mountain $23.95

#7 wiredforwine.com

A recent end of summer sale of white and rose wines clinched it for me. The 172 whites offered with an additional 10% discount were a wide range of quality imports and US wines.

The website lists unusual and many of the best-known, proven brands at discounts ranging from 12% to 25%. 

Excellent selection of Sauvignon Blancs from around the globe.

80 Cabernets start at $15 and show careful curation

Free shipping of 6 bottle orders.

Best recent examples: 

Talley Estate Pinot Noir 2019 $34.99

Mulderbosch Sauvignon Blanc 2020 $16.99

Best Websites for Savvy Wine Shoppers in 2022

Let the Countdown Begin

Now that Spring has arrived and we can look back on all those wild sales from Thanksgiving to St. Patrick’s Day, this an ideal time to review what has happened over the last year in the fast-changing world of online wine sellers. 

It’s also Academy Awards time, with its ongoing chatter and debate about the best of this and that sets the tone for this post. I’ll be shining the spotlight on several wine webites that stood out and performed well over the last year.

As most of you know, I’m not a fan of subscription boxes since you can find better wines at better prices if you do a little research. Nakedwine, Vinesse, and Firstleaf seem to make many people content. But those are not my kind of  wine-loving people.

Much like the selections for best movies, actors, and whatever, selecting the best sites for serious wine shopping also has to be broken down into categories. 

For one stop shopping, the big retail guys like wine.com, wineExpress.com and cinderellawines.com maintained their positions over the last year as reliable and only occasionally exciting. 

Taking our cue from the Oscars, we are spotlighting the best websites in specific categories.

In the Best of “Curated Selection” category, the nomination for the best website for red wines is invino.com. Since the present partners took over in 2019, it is often my go to place for red wines. 

www.invino.com 

“Curated” is overused by so many others, but it applies perfectly to the wines offered at this site. Based in the town of Napa, it lists around 100 wines at any one time. But they reflect excellent choices that are not available elsewhere.  

If you prefer red wines, then this is the site for you. It is particularly good with Napa reds and carries such proven Cabernet wineries as Luna, Von Strasser, and Clark-Claudon. From Bordeaux, it now has very attractive red Graves for around $20 and a lovely 2018 Bordeaux for $9.95. Then there’s the rarely seen red wines from Betz Family, Ken Wright and School House Vineyard. The selections from Argentina, Spain, and Italy are also inviting and unusual.

An exciting list of red blends confirm these guys work hard to offer values, and many good deals are priced below $25 a bottle. A highly rated Dolum Estate Napa Cabernet was offered recently at 60% off and a Sonoma Coast Pinot for $23.95.  

If you buy wines based on ratings, then even here you can look over a collection of 94+ rated wines under $40. Many exciting wines and several are deeply discounted, such as a first rate 2016 Chateauneuf-du-Pape and 2016 Pomerol Château Croix-des-Rouzes. 

While a few other sites have recently offered Frisson Napa Cabernet, invino.com came up with a special deal on Frisson magnums at 50% off and free shipping on orders of 2 or more.

Pros:

Authentic wines, not custom made, private labels

Strengths are in wines from Napa, Spain, France, and Argentina with frequent surprises from other California regions..

No crazy BS write ups about the latest cult wine from icons and  rockstar winemakers

And, best of all, discounts of 50%-60%

 Shipping rates vary but always seem fair and based upon sales price.

Cons:

Not really a negative, but it is somewhat limited by appealing primarily to serious, well-informed, and somewhat adventurous wine lovers.

WALLA WALLA: Recent Notes & Updates

Walla Walla is unusual in many, many ways. First it is a rare AVA falling within two states, Washington and Oregon. About 60% is within Washington. Defined by the Blue Mountains to the southeast, the Palouse to the north, and the Columbia River to the west, Walla Walla is said to be the size of Napa but contains only 3,000 vineyard acres. 

But, for surprise #2,  there now are about 120 wineries calling Walla Walla home. Nothing much happened vineyard-wise after Repeal as the region expanded its orchards and wheat growing. Then In 1974, Gary Figgins planted a small vineyard and by 1978 his Leonetti Cellars was the first new winery. Figgins who was interested in Italian reds like Sangiovese made a 1978 Cabernet that by the early 1980s won so many awards and earned so many high ratings that it was being talked about as a cult wine. Walla Walla had awakened with a bang.

As its reputation spread, Figgins responded to his new found success and high demand by announcing release dates for subsequent vintages. The wines sold out quickly over a weekend in May.

Leonetti’s success, it is fair to say, kick-started Walla Walla as a special wine region which until then was better known for its onions, apples, and wheat. Selling wine to visitors from out of town caught the attention of Marty Clubb, who founded the nearby family winery, L’Ecole No 41 in 1984. Clubb was soon offering his attention-getting Merlot, Semillon and Cabernet on the same day Leonetti scheduled its open house. Not surprising, there were traffic jams caused by wine lovers coming from Portland and Seattle.  Adding to the evolving wine scene, Rick Small who planted a vineyard in the late 70s converted a machine shop into a winery in 1981. His Woodward Canyon Winery was yet another reason to hit the road to Walla Walla.

To be frank, Walla Walla is in the proverbial middle of nowhere. Portland is 250 miles west, Seattle around 275 miles away, and otherwise, nothing but farmlands and magnificent rock formations. The area is beautiful and the town of Walla Walla with its brick buildings is absolutely charming, home to Whitman College and more bike trails than you thought existed.

My first visit to Walla Walla was in 1996 and during that time I was welcomed by the owners of Leonetti, L’Ecole, and Woodward Canyon. Two wineries had tasting rooms downtown, Seven Hills and Canoe Ridge. My hosts were the owners of a new vineyard named Pepper Bridge who were at the time also major apple growers shipping their product worldwide. All three wineries remain family owned and Pepper Bridge, owned by Ginnie and Norm McKibben, is now both a winery and a major grower selling to dozens of  wineries.

But to return to my list of what makes Walla Walla unusual, #3 is the fact that in the little town there are presently 32 winery tasting rooms open to the public and to wine club members. That’s almost a third which is amazing. As I was packing up to leave on the most recent trip, a local stopped to ask what I thought of Walla Walla. After mentioning I first visited years ago, she noted,  “Yes, the wineries saved the town and brought it back to life.”

But what really sets Walla Walla apart from most AVA is that 95% of the grapes grown are red. Cabernet, Merlot and Syrah combine for 70% of the total. On the Oregon side, The Rocks District sub-appellation, approved in 2015 and known for its distinctive gravel, cobblestone soil,  Syrah edges out Cabernet and Merlot is a distant third.

While it is fairly clear that Syrah is the rockstar of The Rocks, Cabernet faces some stiff competition from Merlot and Bordeaux blends as the signature wine of Walla Walla Valley. And Syrah is gaining some steam with new wineries like Valdemar Estate raising the bar. 

From the revisit, I left with the belief that Walla Walla is just gaining momentum and is on track to become a leading voice for many red wines. Currently, there are excellent Cabs and Merlots but it is easy to get excited about the Bordeaux blends, especially those with a good dose of Cabernet Franc. 

5 Best Representatives: All have wine clubs

Northstar Winery “Red Blend,” Walla Walla Valley 2016 $60

Pepper Bridge Winery Merlot, Walla Walla Valley 2018 $55

Amavi Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon, Walla Walla Valley 2018 $36.00

Valdemar Estate Syrah, Walla Walla Valley  2019 $65

Saviah Cellars 2018 Cabernet Franc Walla Walla Valley, 2018 $35

Merlot

L’Ecole No 41 remains a leader with both its regular and Estate Merlot. Northstar has 14 acres planted to Merlot but uses the Columbia Valley AVA.  Northstar’s 2013 Merlot, with 23% Cabernet, is a gorgeous, concentrated berry-infused, lightly oaked version for $41. Northstar’s limited production 2017 Premier Merlot, is as big and beautiful as Merlot gets. Loaded with flavors, It only needs cellaring. The retail price is $100.

Pepper Bridge Winery Merlot, Walla Walla Valley 2018 $55

With 13% Cab Franc, this Merlot made from Seven Hills and the estate vineyard, this is a perfect example of what Walla Walla offers. It displays ripe cherry, raspberry and light herbal aromas with a touch of oak spice. On the palace it is medium-full bodied with ripe fruit, an earthy streak and good acidity to accompany the tannins. Concentrated, textured, and balanced, it begs to be cellared 3-5 years. While owning both Pepper Bridge and Seven Hills Vineyard, the winery produces only 8,000 cases a year. Dozens of wineries buy grapes from Pepper Bridge, including Leonetti which bottles a vineyard designated Cabernet. All Pepper Bridge wines were excellent. One reason why the winery is not better known is that it sells almost all direct to wine club members. But if there were one club I would join , this would be it.

Cabernet Sauvignon

A recent taste of a 2002 Leonetti Cabernet confirmed that this winery remains in the forefront with its signature balance and longevity. Woodward Canyon with its Estate Reserve Cab also remains in top form. The 2016 Northstar Walla Walla Cab ($60) offered beautiful aromas with light tannin and was presented in an attractive elegant style. Offered through its wine club,the 2016 Pepper Bridge Cabernet ($56), blended with the four other Bordeaux grapes, is a classic, ripe, structured version with bright fruit and rich tannin that will drink beautifully for many years.

Amavi Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon, Walla Walla Valley 2018 $36.00

A vintage that was warm in July and threatened by smoke, 2018 turned out to be fine thanks to the ultra-long growing season that is a hallmark of the region. The last Cab was picked in mid-October. Made from 76% Cabernet and equal portions of the usual suspects, it was aged primarily in neutral French oak. With cherry, sweet spices and black currant fruit, it is medium bodied, nicely balanced with hints of anise and dusty tannins. As an estate wine that is sustainably grown, Amavi’s Cabernet has been consistent over recent vintages and is attractively priced. A little over 5,000 cases were made in 2018.

Bordeaux Blends

Here as elsewhere, what to label traditional Bordeaux blends remains a problem. Meritage never caught on as a useful moniker. One of the early proponents of Bordeaux blends in Walla Walla, Reininger which began in 1997 finally decided by the 2017 vintage to label the wine “BDX Red Wine.” A relative newcomer to the scene, Va Piano labeled its attractive blend, “Uniti.”  “Trine” is a name newly adopted for Pepper Bridge’s Bordeaux blend.  “Night Owl” is used by Amaurice Cellars for its red blend.  Oh well, one that stood out was Northstar’s “Red Blend.”

Northstar Winery “Red Blend,” Walla Walla Valley 2016 $60

Northstar’s first vintage was in 1994 and the state-of-the-art winery was built in 2002.

In its earliest years, Northstar was guided by  California’s well-known winemaker, Jed Steele. It is part of the Ste. Michelle portfolio which was recently sold. The 2028 Red Blend is made from 51% Merlot, 47% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 2% Cabernet Franc. The barrel regime consisted of 100% French oak with 38% new barrels for 18 months. It is definitely not shy with wide open aromas of herbs and ripe dark cherries, and is rich and silky smooth on the palate. Beautifully textured, it finishes long with sweet, toasty oak notes. It does throw some sediment, so decanting is recommended.

Another standout Bordeaux blend:

Va Piano Vineyards, Walla Walla Valley “Uniti”, Estate Grown 2018 ($85): 

Born and raised in Walla Walla, winemaker/owner Justin Wylie started Va Piano in 2003.  A year in Florence encouraged the “va piano” name from an Italian proverb that means go slow and take it one step at a time.  For a wide range of red wines led by Cabernet and Syrah, he relies on grapes from his 20-acres in mid-Walla Walla and the high elevation Octave Vineyard on the Oregon side.  A top-of-the line blend, the 2018 Uniti is 30% Cabernet, 30% Cab Franc, 28% Merlot and 12% Malbec.  The winery has a tasting room in Bend.

Syrah

Although I didn’t taste many Syrah on this trip, one caught my attention: 2019 Valdemar Estates from Walla Walla. This new winery is simply amazing! Founded by the 6th generation Bujuda family who also own Bodegas Valdemar in Rioja.  It is both a restaurant, featuring tapas, and a state of the art winery. To date, the investment is said to be well over $10 million. It is run by Jesus Bujuda who attended the University of Washington and fell in love with Walla Walla on a visit. The mantra heard in the tasting room is that “we are here to help put Walla Walla on the international wine map.” An attractive lineup of Rioja wines are also offered in the tasting room and are for sale. The 2012 Conde Valdemar Reserva is delightful for $30 and there’s a selection of older library vintages going back to 1985. As good as the Grenache was, the Walla Walla Syrah was a standout.

Valdemar Estate Syrah, Walla Walla Valley  2019 $65

A little under 200 cases were made, and the fruit was sourced from Stoney Vine Vineyard located south of Walla Walla with its rocky terroir. The Syrah is the old style head-training method for vine management. Blended with 5% Grenache, the wine was aged 16 months in 25% new and 75% 2-year-old, French oak. It’s dark and vibrant, loaded with dark blackberry fruit, anise, and a slight earthy streak. The flavors are ripe and concentrated but are under control with light tannin leading to a balanced finish.

Cabernet Franc:

As another writer finding more to like these days with Cabernet Franc, I was happy to see several wineries offering a varietal version. Saviah’s is a splendid example.

Saviah Cellars, Walla Walla Valley Cabernet Franc 2016 ($35): 

Founded in 2000, Saviah Cellars offers an extremely wide range of limited production wines including the only Barbera from Walla Walla, an attractive Nebbiolo, and this extremely well-made Cabernet Franc.  It was sourced from three vineyards: Watermill Vineyard which is located in The Rocks District, Dugger Creek Vineyard and the Summit View Vineyard.  It is a textbook example of the varietal with aromas of ripe berry, spice, tobacco and anise.  Medium bodied, it has similar flavors with highlights of dried herbs and raspberry fruit.  It has a slightly fleshy palate feel and no rough edges as it finishes long and smooth.

The 2021 Marathon Wine Sale is On

August 26 and 27th

9:00 am Napa Time

At www.lastbottlewines.com

Plus, FREE GROUND SHIPPING on ALL ORDERS (contiguous states)! TRUE, UTTER MADNESS. Yup, you read it right — FREE SHIPPING ON EVERY AND ALL ORDERS, regardless of # of bottles.

That’s it – madness it is, and all first come, first served!!

This year is different & This is Awesome!!

This 2021 marathon is all about TEACHERS, supplies, and support. We’re donating $1 per order (last one was 83,000) to the Napa Valley Education Foundation to directly benefit teachers’ needs for nearly every school in Napa County, many of which are strained to the maximum post-Covid.

A Little Background

I have bought from this site, and never had a problem.

I also still enjoy the crazy, super-paced descriptions.

Based upon the flash sale model, lastbottlewines is headquartered in Napa Valley and has been gaining momentum and clients since its humble beginning in 2011. Its Three partners (Cory Wagner, Stefan Blicker and Brent Pierce) have good connections in the wine world.

If you order too late, you get an empty wine case image with the not so subtle snooze you lose message. If you happen to buy the last bottle, they give you a $25 credit. 

The comments are obviously aimed at millennials with an overuse of CAPS, preponderance of buzz words from awesome, bang, boom, wow, and references to a killer Vintage or “Rockstar winemaker.  Then you usually encounter more exclamation marks and 3 dots than your English teacher ever thought possible in one paragraph.

So many ROCKSTARS, so little time. The 2018 Ridge Lytton Springs quickly sold out.

The 2016 Luna Cabernet Sauvignon, Rutherford was an out and out steal.

Other recent examples of wines offered that’ll rock your world are excellent Brunello and Barolo. Recently a 2016 Douro was tempting as was a Malbec from Cahors. Yes, they have an importer’s license and can offer super discounts on imports. Sorry I missed out on a super St. Emilion, the 2016 Château Haut-Sarpe, the real deal from St. Emilion.

 I couldn’t resist the 2019 Sauvignon Blanc from  Matahiwi Estate, NZ, for $10. The 2018 Rivetto Langhe Nebbiolo for $18 was so tempting. And so on and on…

Best New Wine Clubs of 2021

With wineries now beginning to open up, this is a good time to explore new and exciting wine clubs. The best are those that first of all offer truly exciting, high quality wines not normally available in the marketplace.

Special events, first dibs on small production wines, and other perks to membership are second in importance.

Introducing Ashes & Diamonds, Napa

http://www.ashesdiamonds.com

Recently featured in my post at www.winereviewonline.com Ashes & Diamonds is new, the wines are super, the tasting room is bright, lively and the charming owner, who was there when I dropped in, is often on the scene.

The winery and visitor’s center are not typical Napa. In fact, they are the opposite of the chateau wannabes dotting the landscape. The main building is a stark white rectangle with an odd, zig-zag roof and port-hole windows, which Vogue noted it looks more like a silicon Valley start-up than a winery. It seems to be trying to attract a young crowd by being open longer hours (7:00 pm closing) and by hiring a young chef who helped put Scribe Cellars on the millennial radar.

And there is some instagram-like freshness in the winery’s motto: “Ashes & Diamonds Winery is a love letter to Napa as it was when it first took the world stage in the 1960s.”

There are 3 different membership levels. Here are a few of the perks:

The winery Picnic is complimentary for all members.

The A&D Wines + Cheese experience ($75 for non-members) is $35 for 3 & 6-Bottle members. Complimentary for 12-Bottle members.

The A&D Grand Cuvée Flight ($75 for non-members) is $35 for 3 & 6-Bottle members. Complimentary for 12-Bottle members.

The A&D Wines + Food experience ($125 for non-members) is $60 for 6 & 12-Bottle Members only.

Act fast if you want to join.

After joining, check out my favorite which was rated 95 points:

Ashes & Diamonds Napa Valley, Mt Veeder, (Saffron Vineyard Mountain Cuvee #2)  2017 ($75)

From a high elevation, dry-farmed site planted in 2000,  this wine consists of 55% Merlot, 20% Cabernet, and 25% Cab Franc.  After a cold-soaking encouraged a native fermentation, the wine was blended and aged for 19th months is French and American oak, 30% new.  Dark, youthful in appearance, the wine shows vibrant herbal and plum aromas with a touch of cocoa. On the palate it seems light and bright with refined delicate berry/fruit flavors, rounded by ultra soft tannins. It has a delightful long finish. The oak remains in the background but should come into play with cellaring. Mt  Veeder is one of Napa’s coolest sites for Bordeaux varieties. Overall, a charming, refined wine reminiscent of a Margaux. 321 case produced.

Dont hesitate. You can thank me later.