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Wine Club FAQs

What’s so special about these clubs?

For over fifty years now, Kermit Lynch Wine Merchant has been an importer and retailer of some of the finest wines from France and Italy. We purchase all the wine we sell direct from the winery, and all wines are shipped temperature-controlled from the cellar door to our Berkeley, CA warehouse. We value long-term relationships with our customers just as much as we value our relationships with the winemakers in Europe and consequently we are proud to offer wines that we’ve imported for more than thirty years.


How do I join a club?

To join one of our clubs, simply click here or give us a call at 510-524-1524.


Is there a minimum commitment?

No, you can close your membership at any time. There are no minimum time or order commitments, discount clawbacks, or hidden fees.


What kinds of wines can I expect in each club?

Adventures Club members receive our best values in red, white, rosé, and sparkling. Each package will contain at least one bottle of red. If you’re interested in discovering the wide range of regions and styles that France and Italy have to offer, this is the club for you.

Club Rouge members receive two reds each month. These complex, often cellar-worthy selections will expose you to the top appellations of France and Italy. Past selections include Châteauneuf-du-Pape, Barolo, Bandol, and Patrimonio.

Club Bianco members receive two white wines each month (and the occasional sparkler), hailing from France and Italy’s most pedigreed terroirs, as well as off-the-beaten-path gems.

Club Chevalier members receive six bottles every other month, mostly reds, with whites, rosé, and the occasional sparkling wine. From time to time members will also receive vintage selections that have been aged in the cellars of our producers in France and Italy. Each club package will have a theme, guiding members through a region, terroir, or concept. Club Chevalier ships every other month: January, March, May, July, September, November.

Club Gourmand members receive twelve bottles every other month, always six red wines plus a mix of whites, rosés, sparkling wines, and the occasional dessert wine or aperitif. The club will occasionally explore mini-themes—a few bottles that highlight a producer, variety, or region. Club Gourmand ships every other month: February, April, June, August, October, December.

If you can’t decide, you can always join multiple clubs! Many members opt to join the Adventures Club and Club Rouge and receive 4 bottles each month. Join all our clubs and you’ll receive a case of wine every month.

If you’d like to peruse our previous club selections, we have all of our previous club bulletins available in our Wine Club Bulletin Archive.


Are there membership benefits?

Yes! Active club members receive discounts, free shipping on qualifying club orders, and access to exclusive club-only offers.

  • Automatically receive 15% off all eligible, non-club purchases
  • Shipping included on wine club orders of $199+ or 12+ bottles
  • Exclusive access to club-only offers like samplers, early sale access, and anniversary discounts

What does the 15% club member discount apply to?

The 15% club member discount applies to any full-price, discount eligible items online and in our Berkeley shop, and is automatically applied when ordering from an account with an active club membership. This discount does not combine with any other discounts, such as case discounts or promo codes. When multiple discounts or promo codes are applied to an order, only the largest discount will be applied. Recipients of gift memberships are not eligible for this discount, but those purchasing gift memberships are.


What is the shipping policy?

Any club order whose subtotal is $199 or more, or contains 12 or more bottles will automatically ship for no charge. Ground shipping only, excludes AK & HI, and third-party shippers. Order minimums must be met on a single order to qualify—orders cannot be combined to receive free shipping. If an order is returned to our warehouse and needs to be reshipped, return shipping charges will apply.


My club order doesn't qualify for free shipping. What can I do?

Most months we offer club-exclusive, discounted Add-On packs that bill and ship together with your club order. Adding these to your club order will ensure it qualifies for no-charge shipping.


Can I add other wines to my wine club order to qualify for free shipping?

Currently, only Add-Ons can be added to club orders.


Are the club orders discounted?

The only club with a fixed discount is Club Gourmand, which is discounted 20%. The price range for Club Gourmand is between $250—$299 after the 20% discount has been applied. All our other clubs have a fixed price. The combined retail price of the bottles in these clubs will never be less than the club price, and may be quite a bit more. The “discount” for our fixed price clubs, e.g. the difference between the club price and the retail price of the bottles in the club, can be up to 15%.


Who writes the recipes that come with each package?

The recipes in our Adventures Club and Club Rouge bulletins are written by a rotating lineup of some of the San Francisco Bay Area’s most accomplished chefs, and also occasionally by our employees. Featured recipe writers include:

Georgeanne Brennan—The James Beard award–winning cookbook author Georgeanne Brennan is also the author of the best-selling food memoir A Pig in Provence. She continues to write about food and cooking from her longtime homes in Provence and in Northern California, where she co-owns an aperitif wine bar. You can find more of her recipes at www.georgeannebrennan.com.

Tanya Holland—Tanya Holland is the founder of the famed Brown Sugar Kitchen restaurant and author of Tanya Holland’s California Soul, Brown Sugar Kitchen, and New Soul Cooking cookbooks. She currently sits on the Board of Trustees of the James Beard Foundation and is the Chef/Chair of the Awards Committee. She holds a B.A. in Russian language and literature from the University of Virginia, and a Grand Diplôme from La Varenne École de Cuisine in Burgundy, France. Holland has had extensive experience tasting and serving wine throughout her career; she personally created the wine lists for all of her restaurants. https://www.tanyaholland.com/

Gary Podesto—Gary Podesto is a cook at Chez Panisse restaurant in Berkeley, California, and is the chief culinary collaborator for the Climate Farm School. His work aims to revitalize the ritual of gathering around the hearth and table while promoting the values of edible education and regenerative agriculture. Learn more at www.garypodesto.net.


When do you bill and when is my wine ready to be picked up or shipped?

We typically bill on the third, or occasionally the fourth, Friday of each month. 

If you pick up your wine in our Berkeley shop, you will receive an email when your wine is ready to be picked up (retail store hours are Tuesday through Saturday 11 am to 6 pm).

If you have your wine shipped, your receipt email will detail when your package will go out. Typically, the clubs ship  about a week after billing. We always ship on a Monday (provided that it is not a national holiday like Memorial or Labor Day) and our preferred method is with FedEx.

If you prefer another carrier, need to reschedule your shipment, or have any special delivery instructions, either send us an email at [email protected] or call us at 510-560-5064. We’re happy to accommodate your shipping needs and understand you’re not always available at the beginning of each month.


Does someone need to sign for my club when it is delivered?

Yes. Because we are shipping alcohol, an adult, 21 years or older, must be present for delivery and sign for the package. FedEx makes three attempts to deliver your shipment and should leave a note each time they attempt a delivery. Shipping to a business address is recommended. Or, if you prefer, we can ship your package directly to the nearest FedEx Office location and they will hold the package for you to pick up at your convenience.


What happens if I’m not available to receive delivery of my club?

In the event that you cannot receive delivery of your club, just respond to the shipping email you receive and let us know when we should ship it. If your package has already shipped and you are unavailable to sign for it, it is best to email [email protected] to remedy the situation.  Additional fees may apply for rerouting shipments already in transit. Our full shipping policy is available here.


How do you ship wine when temperatures are very hot or very cold?

We take the shipping of your wine very seriously and recommend postponing shipments during periods of very hot (highs of 85° or more) or very cold (highs of 25° or below) weather. Each month, we check the weather in your area and if we feel it is too hot or cold to ship, we let you know. We then hold the wine in our temperature-controlled warehouse until weather improves and accumulate your club shipments if needed. When weather improves, we adjust your shipping rate (saving you money) for the bundled clubs. If you feel that our prediction for weather in your area is not accurate and would like your wine shipped anyway, just let us know and we’ll send it along.


Where can I find archives of the bulletin?

We have all of our previous club bulletins available in our Wine Club Bulletin Archive.


How can I purchase more of my club wines?

We always have extra club wines available if you’re interested in purchasing more of a wine you just tasted—but act fast, most club selections sell out relatively soon after the club is released. To place an order, give us a call at 510-524-1524 and a salesperson will help you, or visit our club selections page and purchase online. We encourage you to develop a relationship with one of our salespeople so they can get to know your likes and dislikes and better guide you on your wine path. If you’d like to work with a salesperson, send us an email at [email protected].


I have a new credit card, how do I update my billing information?

To update your credit card, please log in to this website and click “Wine Club Shipping & Billing” in your account. This will lead you to options to update your credit card and shipping information. You may also call us at 510-524-1524 and let the salesperson who answers the phone know that you’re a club member and you have new billing information. They will transfer the information to our club staff.


I’m buying the club as a gift, can I include a note? Will the recipient receive an invoice?

You may absolutely include a gift note—before check-out, you’ll see a text box to write your note. Your recipient will never receive an invoice for their club.


How do I cancel my club?

We understand that sometimes people move on. To leave the club, send us an email at [email protected] or give us a call at 510-524-1524. When you cancel your club, you’ll receive a five-question exit survey. It takes about one minute to fill it out and greatly informs us on how we can improve the clubs.