I like wine.  And it’s not rare for me to enjoy a glass or two at least a couple times a week.  However, I’m not your stereotypical swirling, sniffing, sipping wine drinker.  Wino?  Maybe.  Wine snob?  Not so much.  In fact, I really don’t know much about wine at all.  Sweet, dry, oaky, earthy – it could be aged for two weeks in a plastic Gatorade cooler and I couldn’t care less as long as it tastes ok and provides a slight, relaxing buzz.

Needless to say, my wine tasting palette is less than refined, and I’m ok with that.  But while I’m not necessarily picky about what I drink, I do like to learn about the different varieties of wine, what kinds of food they go well with, and proper tasting techniques (although I may not care enough to employ them).  Most of all, I’m a big fan of having the opportunity to sample many different kinds of wine on a consistent basis with friends and other fellow wine drinkers.  That’s why, when I discovered there was such a thing as a “wine club” where just this sort of activity takes place, my immediate reaction was “sign me up!”

As a matter of fact, there are several wine clubs in the St. Louis area, as well as tasting events and classes that take place on almost a daily basis.  Here are descriptions of just a few:

Saint Louis Cellars Wine Club

This is the wine club that I belong to, and therefore the one I know the most about.  Near the intersection of Big Bend and Manchester Road in Richmond Heights, Saint Louis Cellars Food & Wine is a great neighborhood wine specialty store that recently expanded to include gourmet carry-out food and catering services.  For $35/month, wine club members receive two bottles of wine and can attend a monthly wine tasting event at the store.  The wine tastings are pretty casual and usually feature 6-8 varieties of wine and small appetizers.  Members are allowed to bring friends to the event for free and also receive special discounts on all wine purchases from the store.  These wine club tastings are more about socializing and hanging out with other wine drinkers than actually discussing the wines.  If you’re looking to really learn about what you’re drinking, the next few clubs might be more your style.

Big Sky Cafe Wednesday Wine Club

Big Sky Café in Webster Groves has a wine club that meets one Wednesday each month.  This wine club focuses more on wine and food pairings, as members are able to sample three food courses along with the featured wines of the month.  The cost is $37 for the first meeting you attend, and $32 for each subsequent meeting.  Members also receive discounts on wines purchased the night of the meeting.

St. Louis Wine Club

The St. Louis Wine Club operates a little differently.  Members meet twice monthly in various locations in the St. Louis metro area (usually one of the members’ homes).  Each person brings a bottle of wine for the group to taste and discuss.  Membership is $30 for the first year, with a $15 annual renewal fee and includes perks such as gift cards and discounts at local restaurants and wine bars.  You can still attend the meetings even if you’re not a member for a $5 fee per meeting.  This seems like a great option if you really want to learn a lot about wine and share and compare your favorites with others.

Metropolis St. Louis Wine Club

The Metropolis St. Louis civic organization runs a wine club that meets on the fourth Tuesday of each month.  Meetings are either held at a participant’s home, in which case members bring their own bottles of wine to taste and discuss, or at a restaurant where the wine is provided.  This might be the most economical wine club option, as it seems (according to their website) that meetings are free with the exception of a nominal fee charged for the events held at local establishments.

These clubs are a lot of fun and a great way to meet new people and learn about wine at the same time.  However, if you’re interested in experiencing different wines and pairings but don’t want the monthly commitment, there are other options.  The Wine Merchant in Clayton offers tastings and classes four days a week.  The Wine & Cheese Place, with three locations throughout the St. Louis area, also offers similar classes.

For a unique and personal wine tasting experience, check out STLwinegirl, Angela Ortmann.  Trained in San Francisco, she shares her expertise in both food and wine through in-home tastings that can be tailored to your tastes and preferences.  This could be a great option for upcoming holiday get-togethers or corporate events.

St. Louis is definitely a great city for wine lovers, and I’m sure there are many more great classes and opportunities to socialize and drink wine that I haven’t even mentioned here.  If you’re a member or know of any other fun wine clubs or classes, let us know about them in the comments section.  Happy tasting!

Carlie is the Food and Drink Editor for Girls Guide. By day she is an educational textbook editor, and she moonlights as a foodie and barfly. You can email her at carlie [at] girlsguidetothegalaxy [dot] com, and you can follow her on Twitter – @carbirwin.