Would you like to join one of the top ten wine clubs in South Africa?

Do you want to join a wine club? We have put together a list of what we believe are the top ten wine clubs in South Africa. You are obviously a wine lover and have decided to join a club to receive many of the added benefits besides delightful wine at discounted prices. But where do you start. There are hundreds of wine farms. Many of them have wine  clubs. You not only want really great wine at affordable prices. You are looking for those specials too. Like limited release magnums or special intimate evenings with the winemaker over some good food. Lots of the farms offer discounts at their estate restaurants, which you won’t get if you join the Wine of the month club.

People have different price points, so we did not make this a criterion. We have clubs with good prices and others with higher prices. The choice is yours. All of these wine farms have really great wines. Many of them award winners. One of the  points we looked at is simplicity. How easy is it to sign up. Is the process quick easy and automated. Can I do it now online so there is no schlepp with faxing etc. In this day and age you would expect this to be a given. Strangely enough it isn’t and many of the farms are still using faxing or even posting. South Africa is blessed with glorious red and white wine and our MCC bubbles rival French champagne.

Here is our list. It is in alphabetical order so Alvi’s Drift is at the top but we would give this wine club five stars out of five and would place it at the top anyway.

We have done all the hard work for you and provided the links. So you don’t need to waste any time. Sign up and start sipping. Enjoy.

1. Alvi’s Wine Club

Alvi’s Drift wine produce some remarkable award winning wines at really reasonable prices. Their  AD Pinotage 2012  just won the RECM Best value  Pinotage award that measures quality and price. Neil Pendock valued it at R247 per bottle but it sells for only R44 per bottle. Their AD Chardonnay 2012 came second in The RECM Best value  Chardonnay award beating some well known names like Grahame Beck and La Motte.

1. Online sign up: Yes fully automated. Just purchase the wine club package you want. Fill in your details and you will be automatically signed up, online membership created and billed.
2. Price: R594-R670 every quarter for 12 bottles of wine. Depending on the package
3. Discounts: Yes 10% off future  online wine purchases
4. Added Benefits: exclusivity on Magnums, first option on special offers and further discounts
5. To join click on this link Alvi’s Wine Club

2. Backsberg Wine Club

Backsberg has been a favorite of red wine drinkers across South Africa for years. They are also producing some delightful brandy. So if you are a lover of both, this could be the farm for you.

1. Online sign up: No. You need to send an email to  wineclub@backsberg.co.za and wait for them to send the forms back or you can call 021 875 5141
2. Price: Purchase 36 bottles per anum. 12 bottles with first purchase to activate membership. Wines range from R35 per bottle to R117 per bottle
3. Discounts: Yes 10% off future wine purchase on presentation of membership card.
4. Added benefits: free wine tastings, access to limited releases, a tree planted in your family’s name after every year of membership.
5. To join send an email to wineclub@backsberg.co.za and wait for them to send the forms back or you can call 021 875 5141

3. Bon Courage Wine Club

This club does not really fit in with our criteria as you can’t join online and they don’t have an online shop for future discounted purchases. But we think that they still deserve to be here as they are producing some really great wines. We are not the only ones that think so, by all the awards they have recently won.

1. Online sign up: No. You need to send an email to wine@boncourage.co.za
2. Price: Purchase 24 bottles per year. Prices range from R38 to R150 per bottle
3. Discounts: Yes 20%
4. Added benefits: not really
5. For more information on the estate click here

4. Haute Cabriere Wine Club

This wine farm is situated in one of the most beautiful locations in Franschoek and the views from the cellar restaurant are sublime. Their Pinot Noir is highly recommended.

1. Online sign up: No. You need to download the forms . Then print them out and scan and fax back.
2. Price: Spend R1500 on initial wine purchase. Cellar Club is 12 bottles every 6  months Proprietors Club is 12 bottles every 3 months.Wines range from R85 per bottle to R180 per bottle.
3. Discounts: Yes 5% for cellars club and 10% for Proprietors Club.
4. Added benefits: 10% off at the Haute Cabriere Cellar restaurant, members only limited releases.
5. To join download the forms here and email them back to  wineclub@cabriere.co.za or Tel: 021 876 8500

5. Durbanville Hills Wine Club

1. Online sign up: Yes, the sign up is online and is easy. The payments are not automated and will vary on selection.
2. Price: You need to buy 24 to 48 bottles a year. Prices per bottle range from R47 to R115 per bottle.
3. Discounts: Yes 15% off future wine purchase and off your food at the restaurant.
4. Added benefits: annual complimentary cellar tour and tasting for 4 people and invite to the Sauvignon Wine festival
5. To join click here

6. Graham Beck Signature Wine Club

Grahame Beck is renowned for their MCC or Methode Cap Classique and their bubbles have been used to celebrate many a South African occasion. The wine tasting area is very grand and some superb wines are now being produced in the Robertson area that is renowned for its varied terroir.

1. Online sign up: Yes. Just fill in the online form. Payments are not automated. Very classy website.
2. Price: You need to purchase 24 bottles per year. Prices per bottle vary from R45 to R260 per bottle
3. Discounts: Yes 10% off future wine purchase.
4. Added benefits: up to 30% off on special offers available to club members only.
5. To join click here for more information click here 

7. Hermanuspietersfontein Wine Club

If you ever happen to be in the Hermanus area on a Saturday morning, then you have to attend the Hermanuspietersfontein food market. Delicious food from pancakes to home cured meats paired with some of the farms bubbles makes for a great Saturday morning. Or try some of the dim sum.

1. Online sign up: Yes. Online form submission and online payments. Members obtain their discount using an online voucher.
2. Price: Initial purchase of six bottles qualify you as a member. Prices range from R95 to R249 per bottle
3. Discounts: Yes 10% off
4. Added benefits: digital  personalized e-wine club card on your phone. First option on limited releases.
5. To join and for more information click here

 

8. Rhebokskloof Wine Club

This wine farm has some amazing facilities such as hiking, mountain biking and horse riding trails. It also has a restaurant on site. We have included Rhebokskloof as they recently hired Francois Naude to oversee their wine making. We have high expectations. So believe that this would be a good club to join.

1. Online sign up: Yes and an online store
2. Price: it does not state whether you need to make any minimum purchase. Wines range in price from R39 – R166 per bottle
3. Discounts: not clear
4. Added benefits: does not state
5. To sign up click here

 

 

9. Vrede en Lust Wine Club

VNL is an established wine club doing large volumes and they have been doing it for a while. So you will be in good hands and can expect few hiccups.

1. Online sign up. No but you can download the forms from the internet fill them out and fax back or scan and email
2. Price: two clubs Vintage is 12 bottles twice a year and Reserve is 12 bottles four times a year. Wines range from R40 – R150 per bottle
3. Discounts: Yes 15% for the Vintage level and 20% for Reserve Level
4. Added benefits: Yes 10 % off all breakfasts and lunches and 15%-20% discounts off accommodation on the farm.
5. For more information and to join click here

10. Warwick Wine Club

Warwick Estate make some delicious wine. So if you want to spoil yourself, this is the club for you. But be warned there wine is at the upper end of the market and would be considered by most to be pricey.

1. Online sign up: Yes. Choose your package and create your account at the same time.
2. Price: 12 or 24 bottles per year. Wines range from R75-R275 per bottle.
3. Discounts: Yes 20%
4. Members only annual garden party on the Estate, special releases and pr-release offers.
5. To join click here

 

I hope you have joined your wine club. If not then ask yourself “Why not”. You deserve it. I enjoyed putting this list together for you. Keep on sipping. Keep smiling. Remember DrinkWineBeMerry.

By John Merryweather