Joining a Wine Club

I am anything but a wine snob. I wouldn’t know a good pinot from a cabernet from a merlot. I know chardonay is white wine, right? I’m pretty sure chianti is Italian and I know that champagne comes from France. That’s the extent of my wine knowledge. I do, however, know what I like… and I really like the wines I’ve tried at a small wine tasting shop in Newhall, California. Pulchella Winery is unassuming. If you didn’t know it was there you would walk right by never bothering to give it a thought. Except that you would be missing out on something pretty great.

I first experienced Pulchella a few months ago when one of my book club friends suggested we hold our monthly dinner there. It was fabulous. The tasting room is across the street from one of the best restaurants in town, Newhall Refinery. From Pulchella, you can call over to the Refinery and order up your dinner. They will happily bring it to you (across the street) as well as the bill. You can have a great meal and enjoy a $10 wine flight.

I’ve been there twice now and the second time I decided that it would be fun to join their wine club. Me. Who knows nothing about wine.

It’s one of those things that just sounded really sophisticated: I joined a wine club. The club is free to join, but you have to commit to ordering a batch of wine (6 - 8 bottles with each batch) twice a year. Each order runs about $200… a little pricier than the wines I usually purchase, but then again… I’m usually happy with the cheap stuff at Trader Joe’s. Not the “really” cheap stuff… but the highest I usually go is about $10 - $12 a bottle. Of course, you do get what you pay for and I really did want to start expanding my wine horizons.

Their “City Slicker” wine was my favorite for the night. I love that they label all their wines with really fun names. The City Slicker is a blend… from 2012 (for those of you who know that year’s matter). It is 63% Golden Cloud Vineyard Zinfandel and 37% Mainini Vineyard Petite Sirah. I just know that it tastes really good. Definitely the kind of wine you want to relax with after an exhausting day with the kids. Not that I would know anything about that.

Some of the other varieties they currently have are the Deadbeat Pinot Noir, the Highs & Lows blend of Syrah and Grenache, Relentless Syrah, and Aftermath Black Muscat. You can get a wine flight that lets you sample all 5 varieties for only $10 at the tasting room. So well worth it!

Since it’s local to Santa Clarita, I am definitely down for popping in any night of the week if you want to go. Remember, I joined the wine club so I get my wine flights for free… as well as any guest I want to bring. Take me up on it.