From First Visit to Member: What Happens After Your Tasting
A tasting at Gary Farrell Winery tends to do something to people. The views settle in, a glass of single-vineyard Pinot Noir arrives, and somewhere during the afternoon, the question comes up: “How do we keep this going?”
We hear it often, and the answer is straightforward. We offer two distinct paths for staying connected to the wines you tasted here: our traditional Wine Clubs and our Sonoma Selection Subscription. Both deliver Russian River Valley Pinot Noir and Chardonnay to your door. The right one depends on how deeply you want to engage.
This post walks through what each option includes, who each is built for, and how to take the next step after your visit.
Why Joining After a Tasting Makes Sense
Our tasting experiences are designed to be exploratory, not transactional. During a Discovery Tasting Flight or a Behind the Cellar Door Private Tour & Tasting, you move through our single-vineyard lineup, ask questions, and develop a feel for what the Russian River Valley produces across different vineyard sites. Membership builds directly on that foundation.
Instead of tracking down specific bottles after the fact, or waiting for your next visit to try something new, our club and subscription options keep curated selections arriving at a frequency you choose. There is also a practical reason to sign up soon after your visit: as a member, you gain access to wines that are not available through retail channels, including small-lot single-vineyard releases that move quickly.
Not Ready for a Full Club Commitment? Start with the Sonoma Selection
If you loved your time here but want to ease in before committing to a full wine club tier, our Sonoma Selection Subscription is the right place to start. It is our most approachable membership option, and it was designed specifically for guests at exactly this moment.
For $150 per shipment, you receive four handpicked bottles of our finest appellation wines, including Russian River Valley Pinot Noir and Chardonnay crafted for everyday enjoyment and effortless sharing. You choose the delivery frequency: every 2, 4, or 6 months. There is no minimum commitment, and you can skip or cancel any shipment at any time.
Members also have the option to enhance any shipment by selecting from an exclusive list of our single-vineyard wines, so the door to exploring deeper into our lineup stays open as your interest grows.
What the Sonoma Selection Includes
- $150 per shipment, four bottles of our finest appellation wines
- Flexible delivery frequency: every 2, 4, or 6 months
- Option to add exclusive single-vineyard wines to any shipment
- No sign-up fee and no minimum commitment
- Skip or cancel any shipment at any time
Who the Sonoma Selection Is For
This subscription suits three kinds of wine lovers particularly well:
The casual host. You want great bottles on hand for dinner parties, gifts, and weekend gatherings without managing a release calendar.
The gift buyer. A Sonoma Selection Subscription makes a thoughful, personal gift for a wine lover who does not already have a club membership.
The curious first-timer. You recently visited us on Westside Road, loved what you tasted, and want to continue the experience at home without committing to a full club tier right away.
Think of the Sonoma Selection as the on-ramp. The wines are excellent, the commitment is minimal, and if you decide you want deeper access over time, upgrading to one of our Wine Club tiers is a natural next step. Learn more and join at garyfarrellwinery.com/sonoma-selection.
The Wine Club: Three Tiers Built Around Access and In-Person Perks
Our Wine Club operates on a three-release-per-year schedule (Winter, Spring, and Fall) and offers something the Sonoma Selection does not: complimentary tastings at the winery, deeper savings, and first access to our most limited wines at the Collector level.
All three tiers include the ability to customize your selections before each release, and all require a minimum of one full release cycle before cancellation. There are no cancellation fees after that point. Three tiers are available:
Enthusiast Club
The Enthusiast tier is the entry point into our full Wine Club experience. It is a strong fit for members who want consistent access to our single-vineyard lineup and the ability to visit the winery with a guest or partner.
- 4 bottles per release (Winter, Spring, Fall)
- 10% savings on all wine purchases
- Complimentary tastings for up to 2 guests with advance reservation
- Ability to customize your selection before each release
- Average shipment price: $275-$325 per release
Connoisseur Club
The Connoisseur tier increases bottle volume and savings, with the addition of flat-rate shipping on every club shipment. It is well suited to couples and small groups who visit together regularly, or to members who want more flexibility when restocking favorites.
- 6 bottles per release (Winter, Spring, Fall)
- 15% savings on all wine purchases
- Flat-rate shipping of $30 on club shipments
- Complimentary tastings for up to 4 guests with advance reservation
- Ability to customize your selection before each release
- Average shipment price: $400-$450 per release
Collector Club
The Collector tier provides our deepest access and the best pricing available to members. It is designed for serious Pinot Noir and Chardonnay enthusiasts who want priority access to our most limited wines and who visit with larger parties.
- 12 bottles per release (Winter, Spring, Fall)
- Exclusive first access to limited small-lot, library, and inspiration wines
- 20% savings on all wine purchases
- Flat-rate shipping of $10 on club shipments
- Complimentary tours and tastings for up to 6 guests with advance reservation
- Ability to customize your selection before each release
- Average shipment price: $750-$800 per release
Full details for each tier, including shipment timing, customization windows, and guest policies, are available at garyfarrellwinery.com/wine-clubs.
What Happens When You Join
Signing up for either option takes only a few minutes. Here is the general process:
- Choose your membership. Select the Wine Club tier or Sonoma Selection subscription that fits your goals and budget.
- Set your preferences. For Wine Club members, indicate whether you prefer all Pinot Noir, all Chardonnay, or a mixed selection. You can adjust this before each release.
- Receive your confirmation. You will hear from us with membership details, your first shipment window, and instructions for accessing your customization portal.
- Manage everything online. Log in to your account at any time to update your shipping address, payment details, selections, or shipment timing.
- Use your membership tasting benefits. Your complimentary tastings and guest allowances are ready to book as soon as your membership is active. Reserve through Tock.
If you have questions about any part of the process, our concierge team is the best resource. Reach them at concierge@garyfarrellwinery.com or by phone at 707-473-2909.
Three Common Scenarios: Find Your Fit
“I want great wine without the calendar management.”
The Sonoma Selection was built for this. Choose your delivery frequency, receive four curated bottles, and add single-vineyard wines if you want to go deeper in a given shipment. There is no release schedule to track, no minimum commitment, and no cancellation fee.
“We visit the winery a few times a year and want it to feel special.”
The Enthusiast or Connoisseur Club is the right match. Both tiers include complimentary tastings and the ability to bring guests, turning each visit into a member experience rather than a standard reservation. If you visit regularly with a group of four, the Connoisseur level makes the most sense on a per-visit basis.
“I collect Pinot Noir seriously and want the best access possible.”
The Collector Club provides first access to library and small-lot selections that are not widely available, along with our deepest discount and the lowest flat-rate shipping of any tier. For wine lovers building a cellar around Russian River Valley Pinot Noir and Chardonnay, this is the most direct path.
Ready to Stay Connected?
Whether you are beginning with our no-commitment Sonoma Selection Subscription or stepping into one of our Wine Club tiers, every membership brings the Russian River Valley a little closer to home.
Questions about which option fits your situation? Our concierge team is here to help at concierge@garyfarrellwinery.com or 707-473-2909. You can also make a tasting reservation and ask us in person. Our tasting room is open daily from 10:30 AM to 4:00 PM at 10701 Westside Road, Healdsburg, CA.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Can I sign up the same day as my tasting? Yes. Many guests sign up on the day of their visit or within a few days. If you have questions about which option suits you, our team at the tasting room is happy to help before you leave.
- What if my wine preferences change after I join? All memberships allow you to customize your selections before each release. If your tastes shift toward more Chardonnay or you want to explore a different vineyard site, you can update your preferences ahead of the next shipment.
- How many guests can I bring on my complimentary tastings? Your guest allowance depends on your membership tier: up to 2 guests for Enthusiast, up to 4 for Connoisseur, and up to 6 for Collector. Reservations are required in advance.
- What is the minimum commitment for the Wine Club? We ask that Wine Club members complete one full release cycle (Winter, Spring, and Fall) before canceling. There are no cancellation fees after that point. The Sonoma Selection has no minimum commitment at all.
- Do Wine Club members get preferred pricing on events? Yes. Members receive preferred pricing on events at the winery and select off-site events. The Fall FĂȘte, for example, includes two complimentary tickets for members with advance RSVP.