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The Pour Edit: Why Social Wine Clubs Are Taking Off in Australia
A new wave of wine clubs, led by community and connection, are changing the way people learn about wine.
Welcome to The Pour Edit, a monthly dispatch from wine writer, critic and ex-sommelier Cyndal Petty on the people, bottles and drinking habits shaping Australian culture.
Traditional wine clubs, much like cellar doors and certain wine dinners, have a habit of making newcomers feel as though they should know more than they do, before handing over an order form and asking if they would like to sign up for a quarterly delivery.
You see, the reality is that, unfortunately, with greatness (a certain level of technical wine knowledge) comes great responsibility (jargon, obsession and the gradual loss of the ability to drink wine like normal people). The result is unintentional barriers that create unnecessary fear around getting into wine.
And somewhere along the way, the cultural reason for drinking wine in the first place, enjoying flavour and connecting with others, gets further and further away.
Lucky for us, we’re seeing a new generation of wine-curious drinkers take matters into their own hands. Across the country, social wine clubs are popping up, rejecting old-school hostility and putting the human side back into learning about wine.
Less concerned with proving what you know, or what you can afford, these clubs are built around conversation, communal spaces and belonging. The wine matters, but it’s not the only reason people come. It’s simply the conduit for conversation and shared curiosity.
Think of a book club. But with booze.
Some meet in bars and bottle shops. Others gather around kitchen tables or in backyards. There might be guided tastings, a theme, snacks or guest winemakers. And with inflation inflating, it’s becoming the modern equivalent of attending a wine dinner.
“Wine is the thing we are all connected by,” says Apartment 6 founder Megan Cruickshank. The Melbourne-based wine club began in her apartment and very quickly found itself needing a bigger space. At first, the group would listen to the Wine with Meg + Mel podcast, buy the wines and follow along with the episodes. Now it’s become a community of its own, but one thing will always stay the same. “It’s more about belonging than the wine,” says Cruickshank.
That same idea is driving wine clubs all over Australia. In Perth, Emma Farrelly, Director of Wine & Hospitality at the State Buildings, hosts a monthly wine club at Lawson Flats that’s open to anyone. It began with six people and now books out with 50. Fathers and sons use it to catch up. People arrive alone and leave knowing someone new. The approach is culture first, storytelling second and wine third.
These clubs let wine be whatever you want it to be. For some, that might mean the beginning of a lifelong obsession. For others, simply feeling more confident ordering from a wine list. Either way, there’s no test at the end.
And really, you don’t even need to venture out and join a club. Starting your own at home works just as well. Follow the same rules as a book club, except bring a wine to talk about, or bring both. At some point, someone’s sure to learn something.
5 Wines to Try at Your Own Wine Club
2025 Rieslingfreak No. 3 Clare Valley Riesling, $35
When in doubt (or if eating spicy food), go Riesling. It almost always overdelivers and will teach you about linear acidity and purity.
2025 L.A.S. Vino ‘Fuck Him’ Chardonnay, $70
The prince of Margaret River, Nic Peterkin, has a way of challenging perspectives, but never at the expense of quality. It might be a stretch for the wallet, but it’s well worth it. The bottle is also perfect for displaying once you’ve finished drinking it. Maybe don’t take it to your in-laws?
2025 Tillie J Pinot Noir, $45
Pinot Noir is a fickle little grape. Generally, the wines will either be ultra-complex and change your life, or they will not. This one is full of crunchy red fruit, spice and joy. Perfect for wine club.
2024 Wynns Black Label Cabernet Sauvignon, $45
Learning the classics is important, and not much is more classic than Wynns Black Label Cabernet Sauvignon. A great Australian wine that everyone should taste.
NV The Other Wine Co. Savagnin #4 375ml, $30
This is an adventurous style of wine. It’s salty, nutty and made in a style associated with France’s Jura region. In a half bottle, it gives you the chance to challenge your palate and deep-dive into an alternative style without committing.
If all this wine club talk has left you thirsty, check out these boutique drinkable gifts or go straight for these leading Australian gins.
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