One of the Original Wine-of-the-Month Clubs Shoots for Milestone
(Santa Barbara, CA)—After celebrating its first quarter century as one of the original wine of the month clubs, Gold Medal Wine Club has its eyes on its next benchmark: signing up its 500,000th member. Founders David and Linda Chesterfield have a plan to get there: Give wine lovers and gift-givers authentic value based on authentic, high-quality wine.
In the run-up to its 25th anniversary in 2017, Gold Medal Wine Club embraced its 400,000th member since its founding in 1992. The milestone, along with its anniversary, reinforced the Chesterfield’s belief that 25 years after its founding, a philosophy of highlighting real artisan wineries rather than cheap bulk wine is the key to success going into its next quarter century.
Emphasis Stays on Authentic Wine in Face of New Competition From Ultra Cheap Wine Clubs
“Despite lots of competition from new wine clubs offering low-end wines produced from bulk market juice, our philosophy will remain one that delivers our members the products of artisan winemakers who have a story to tell,” explains David Chesterfield. “We like to call this delivering authentic value wrapped in Discovery and our 400,000+ members have loved it just as we expect our 500,000th member will.”
Gold Medal Wine Club was one of the first wine of the month clubs in existence and remains as one of the oldest, most respected, independent wine clubs in the country. Over the years the Chesterfields have added new club levels to meet the demands of changing tastes and interests. Today, six different clubs are offered: Gold Club, Platinum Club, Diamond Club, International Club, Pinot Noir Club and the Garagiste Club. They range in price from $39 to $179 per two-bottle shipment and all of them feature wines produced by genuine artisan winemakers at significant discounts off their winery retail pricing.
Holiday Gifting Remains Huge Source of New Members for Gold Medal Wine Club
A large percentage of its members are the result of gifting, particularly during the holiday season when new memberships increase by nearly 1,000% over the rest of the year. The Chesterfield’s customer research has determined that those giving wine clubs as gifts are particularly attracted to presenting friends and family the opportunity to keep discovering new, high-quality wines long after the initial gifting.
The Chesterfield’s focus on discovering artisan wineries located up and down the West Coast has been the key to delivering over 8 million bottles to 400,000+ members over its first 25 years. Together, David and Linda have introduced their club members to hundreds of artisan winemakers including the likes of Keller Estate and Couloir from the Petaluma Gap region, Napa Valley’s Blackbird and Odette, Santa Barbara’s Press Gang Cellars and Cordon, and Anderson Valley’s Fulcrum and Philo Ridge wineries.
“It’s entirely possible we could reach our 500,000th member by offering ultra-cheap wines behind labels created by our marketing department,” notes David. “But where’s the discovery in that and where’s the excitement and fun in that when we can keep uncovering new and authentic artisans for our members?”
Wine lovers can learn more about Gold Medal Wine Club, the Chesterfields 25-year journey to find authentic value and see the wines that are delivered in club shipments by visiting www.goldmedalwineclub.com
