VINsider News & Updates

Fall 2020 Vinsider Classic Shipment

Announcing the Fall 2020 VINsider Shipment

We are pleased to announce the Fall 2020 VINsider Club shipment, highlighted by the newest release of Esprit de Tablas and Esprit de Tablas Blanc. But there's a lot more to this fall's shipment than these two wines. We have a couple of (we think, really terrific) varietal wines, as well as two other smaller-production blends, one of which is our En Gobelet, made entirely from head-trained, dry-farmed vineyard blocks. The Classic Mix is below; information on the red-only and white-only shipments is on our club shipments page.

  • 1 bottle of Esprit de Tablas 2018 (Our flagship red blend, based on Mourvedre, from the vintage's best lots; 93-95 Vinous)
  • 1 bottle of Esprit de Tablas Blanc 2018 (Our flagship white blend, based on Roussanne; 93 Wine&Spirits; 94-95 Vinous)
  • 1 bottle of Grenache 2018 (Our small-production varietal bottling of the most important red grape from the southern Rhone; 92 Wine&Spirits)
  • 1 bottle of En Gobelet 2018 (Our blend sourced exclusively from dry-farmed, head-trained vineyard blocks; 93-95 Vinous, "impressively long")
  • 1 bottle of Grenache Blanc 2019 (Our varietal bottling of this lovely southern Rhone white grape that we introduced to California)
  • 1 bottle of Cotes de Tablas Blanc 2019 (Our showcase for Viognier's lushness, brightened by Marsanne & Grenache Blanc)
  • You can read full tasting and production notes on the Tablas Creek blog.

Now is the time to make any changes to your account. To update a new shipping address (an adult signature is required) or a new credit card you can email your changes to wineclub@tablascreek.com, call us at 805.237.1231 x239, or update your VINsider information online.

The shipment’s cost of $204, plus applicable shipping and taxes, reflects as always a 20% VINsider member savings off the retail prices of the wines in the shipment. Shipments will be sent out beginning the week of October 5th, unless you make other arrangements with us. Will-call shipments will be available at the winery for pickup beginning Friday, September 18th.

No Live Pickup Party -- But Three New Ways for You to Experience the Fall 2020 Shipment

As it has with so many facets of life, Covid means that we won't be hosting an in-person wine club pickup party this fall. But we think we've come up with some fun new ways for you to experience these wines.

  1. Shipment Tasting Flights. Beginning with the release of the shipment Friday, September 18th and continuing through the end of October, if you visit for a seated patio tasting you'll be able to choose as your flight the fall shipment classic (mixed), red-only, or white-only wines. Please note that you should plan to make your tasting appointments in advance. Because we're restricted to outdoor tasting by Covid regulations and our capacity is limited, we're booking up 2-3 weeks out on weekends.
  2. Virtual Pickup Party. On Friday evening, October 16th, join Jason, Neil and Chef Jeff Scott on Facebook Live at 5pm PDT for a virtual tasting of the wines in the shipment. Neil and Jason will discuss the shipment wines and how they were made, and Chef Jeff will present two food pairings, one for the Esprit red and one for the Esprit Blanc. We'll send out the recipes in advance if you want to make them at home, and will offer a special half-bottle two-pack of the new Eprits if you want to try the wines without having to open your shipment. We'll be sending out more information in coming weeks; for now, save the date.
  3. Chelsea & the Shepherd Fall Season. Like we did with this spring's shipments, Nathan and Chelsea will be diving into each of the fall shipment wines in the light-hearted way that only they can. We'll have an overview video ready when the shipment ships out, and then look for a new deep-dive into one wine each week this fall. If you missed any of the spring episodes, they're all on our YouTube channel. Subscribe and you won't miss an episode!
Neil And Jason At Pig Roast

Red-Only and White-Only Options

We are excited to offer, in addition to our classic mix of red and white wines (and the occasional dry rosé) in each shipment, options for VINsider club members who prefer red-only and white-only shipments. Like our classic mix, the red-only and white-only options are selected from small-production lots, special blends, and sneak previews.

Please note that due to the limited supplies of our library wines, we cannot offer red-only or white-only options for our fall Collector's Edition shipments, although Collector's Edition members are welcome to choose red-only or white-only for their spring shipments.

If you have any questions about our different color mix options, please contact us at wineclub@tablascreek.com or 805.237.1231 x239.