The Original Wine of the Month Club in a Nutshell

I had the pleasure of meeting the owner of Wine of the Month Club, Paul Kalemkiarian Jr.

WOTMC is one of the oldest, if not the original mail order wine delivering service establishments in the country.

Originally opened as a pharmacy and drugstore back in 1972, WOTMC didn’t start out as a wine supplier. Oddly enough, they hardly even carried wine until the mid 70s.

By then, the drugstore became Palos Verdes Wines and Spirits which notably became the place for wine in the Los Angeles area. Slowly, the wine inventory grew and so did business, but this idea was short lived.

In 1979, the owner, Paul Kalemkiarian Sr. grew tired of the retail business and sold his pharmacies including the wine business. It wasn’t until 1989 when the young Paul Kalemkiarian Jr. decided to make a drastic career change from sales in a completely different industry and bought back the wine business.

Today, the Wine of the Month Club has more than 12,000 different wines in stock and growing, with more customers than ever before, and thriving even during this tough economy.

Part of the success is their unparalleled diversity of wine selections and their wine club membership. Paul and a panel of extremely qualified critics taste and select each and every wine for the wine of the month. Each month, this panel taste in upwards of 200 wines every month. Once these wines are decided upon, Paul then creates a weekly videocast and newsletter for each membership series, so everyone gets a change to learn about what they are about to receive in the mail.

At WOFTMC there are three membership categories to choose from, the Classic Series, the Limited Series, and the Vintner Series. Each tier represents a class of wine which are determined by pricing. While all the selected vintages are of superiority for its class, no member is felt left out. Each month, a member will receive two bottles of exceptional wine. A member can choose to receive all red, all white, or a combination. And, each membership comes with a monthly newsletter written by the cellermaster himself which he details each vintage and its origin.

That is Wine of the Month Club in a nutshell. If you want to learn more about this exceptional service, check out their website or come by and visit Wine of the Month Club in person.

Contact information:
Wine of the Month Club®
Phone 1-800-949-WINE (1-800-949-9463) 8am-5pm PST M-F Fax (626) 303-2597907 S Magnolia Ave, Monrovia. CA 91016 Postal: P.O. Box 660220 Arcadia, CA 91066

Wine Picks for Fathers Day

Father’s day is just around the corner and you might be puzzled what to get him. Sometimes, the answer is right in front of your eyes. Maybe he’s a wine drinker and you’ve taken it for granted. It's possible it never crossed your mind to buy him a nice bottle or bottles of wine.

Picking out a wine for someone else can be a hassle or even a difficult task, because there are so many bad wines and it’s easy to choose the wrong vintage. Keep in mind that most men love a bold, hearty wine. Most Cabernet Sauvignon and Zinfandels are an easy picks, because these are common wines and they go well with red meats and pastas with zesty sauces.

To make the selection process easier for you, here are a few recommendations for the avid or even the inexperienced wine drinker.

2006 Hahn Estates Central Coast Cabernet Sauvignon
This Cabernet is both robust and hearty with ripe plum, blackberry, and French oak with hints of vanilla and licorice, makes this the perfect wine for nearly any grilled delicacy.
Price: $9 to $16

2007 Ravenswood Vintner’s Blend California Cabernet Sauvignon
This is a common wine that can be found in near any grocery chain. I chose this vintage for its simple but elegant flavors and aromas. On the palate it has a complex smoothness of black cherry and pepper, with a touch of leather and smoke. It has a lovely floral nose. If you can get your hands on a 2005 or 2006 vintage, by all means, snatch that up at once. Get one for yourself too. Price: $8 to $13

2007 Cline Ancient Vines Zinfandel
This vintage is one of the finest zinfandels under $20. Not only does this wine have delightful flavors of wild berries and vanilla oak, but lasts long after the first sip. Upon every sip, you crave more. Price: $12 to $19


2005 Bianchi Heritage Selection Zen Ranch Zinfandel
This vintage is the lap of luxury for wines. It’s heaven in a bottle. If you’ve never tasted a wine that felt alive, you haven’t lived until you’ve tried this vintage. This is a bold wine with cherry, raspberry, blackberry, and mocha chocolate with a note of spice and pepper.
Price: $12 to $26

If you want to get your father more than a bottle of wine, go to a local wine bar and get him a wine club membership. The typical price for a wine club membership will vary, but normally around $50.

Wine Lovers Love A Taste of Monterey

Do you love wine or want to discover wine for the first time? If you’re on the road and you end up at Cannery Row in Monterey, visit A Taste of Monterey. Here you can taste all the wines that the Monterey Valleys have to offer.

Monterey County is known for its predictable seasons, with long warm days and short frost seasons, makes this area perfect for growing wine grapes. In the late 1700’s, this land was fertile with wine grapes all across the lands, but when the Spaniards left this area, the wine grapes died short there after. It wasn’t until the 1960’s when wine production began its rebirth. For over 50 years, Monterey has been producing some of the best wines California has to offer.

Today, over 45,000 acres of Monterey County land is used for growing wine grapes, which makes this region one of the largest wine production areas in California. From this region, Chardonnay is one of the most popular grapes grown along with other white wines, including Pinot Noir, Riesling, and Pinot Blanc. Other notable grapes grown in Monterey County are the red wine grapes. These grapes are grown in the southern most regions for its warmer temperatures. Wines like Cabernet Sauvignon, Zinfandel, and Merlot are grown here.

To try all of these great wines, you can venture on your own wine tour and try to visit all 85 wineries or you can taste them all at one location – A Taste of Monterey.

A Taste of Monterey is in two locations. One is right on Cannery Row and another location in downtown Salinas. Here you can purchase by the bottle or purchase a tasting tour of reds, whites, or desert wines or all of the mentioned.

At the Monterey location, the store overlooks Monterey Bay for customers to enjoy the taste of Monterey’s best wines and enjoy the view of the ocean. You can watch the sea-lions and enjoy a glass of your favorite wine and relax. The attendants are knowledgeable of all their wines, so ask questions and you will learn about the different varieties of wines and where they come from. At the Salinas location, it is in the heart of downtown where you can go shopping and dine at the fine restaurants of Salinas. There you can begin at A Taste of Monterey or end an evening with a glass of your favorite wine.

For the more serious wine drinkers, you can join A Taste of Monterey wine club. Their wine club is very diverse. With the wine club, you’ll earn significant discounts on all their wines and discounts on their wine tasting events, plus you’ll get newsletters and updates. Depending on what membership plan you decide to purchase, you can get two, three, or four bottles of Monterey premium wine a month. You just choose the appellation or combination of wines. This is a great idea if wines that you prefer are not available in local stores.

For more information on the Taste of Monterey, click A Taste of Monterey or go visit them in person at:
700 Cannery Row, Ste. KK
Monterey, CA 93940

Phone: (831) 646-5446 or (888) 646-5446
Tasting Hours: Open Daily 11am to 6pm

Or in Salinas:

127 Main Street

Oldtown Salinas, CA 93901

Phone: : (831) 751-1980 or (888) 646-5446

Tasting Hours: Open Mon-Thurs 11am to 5pm, Fri and Sat 11 am to 6 pm, Sunday 11 am to 4pm