Gold Medal Wine Club vs Wine Access
Gold Medal Wine Club
Wine AccessWe may earn a commission from links on this page, at no extra cost to you. It never changes our picks. How we make money.
Quick verdict
Wine Access edges it overall, winning 4 of 4 rating categories. Gold Medal Wine Club is cheaper to start ($49 vs $120).
Choose Gold Medal Wine Club if…
You’re gift-givers and fans of award-winning California wines. A tiered club of competition-winning wines from small California producers, from the entry Gold Series (two bottles) up to limited-membership collector tiers.
See current offerChoose Wine Access if…
You’re wine lovers who want genuinely interesting bottles, four times a year. A serious, critic-friendly retailer running seven quarterly clubs, from the $120 Sunset Wine Club (West Coast) to collector-level boxes. Every club ships free.
See current offerSide by side
| Gold Medal Wine Club | Wine Access | |
|---|---|---|
| Our rating | 3.6/5 | 4.1/5 |
| Value | 3.6/5 | 4.1/5 |
| Wine quality | 4.1/5 | 4.7/5 |
| Choice & personalization | 3.2/5 | 3.6/5 |
| Flexibility | 3.6/5 | 3.9/5 |
| Starting price | $49 | $120 |
| Approx. per bottle | $24.50 | $20 |
| Bottles per shipment | 2 to 12 depending on series | 1-6 depending on club |
| How often | Monthly, every 2 months or quarterly | 4 times a year (The Waitlist: 5) |
| Shipping | Extra; varies by state | Free on all club shipments |
| Intro offer | - | - |
| Guarantee | Satisfaction guarantee | Satisfaction guarantee |
| Skip / cancel | Change or cancel by phone | Skip or cancel through member services |
| What you can choose | Several series from everyday to collector (93+ point) wines | Seven clubs: Sunset (West Coast), Discovery, Connoisseurs, Collector’s, Champagne, Decanter, The Waitlist |
| Ships to | Most US states | Most US states |
| Best for | Gift-givers and fans of award-winning California wines | Wine lovers who want genuinely interesting bottles, four times a year |
Gold Medal Wine Club: pros & cons
- Award-winning small-production wines
- Good range of tiers for gifting
- Detailed tasting notes and winery profiles
- Shipping is extra
- Top tiers get expensive fast
- Not much personalization
Wine Access: pros & cons
- Wine quality is a clear step up from budget clubs
- Free shipping on every club
- A dedicated Champagne Club and a Collector’s Club
- Detailed tasting notes and producer stories
- Quarterly only, not for weekly drinkers
- Prices start at $120 a shipment
- Little personalization; the buyers choose