California winemakers need your help.

Northern California wine country is reeling from the combined effects of the COVID pandemic and the historic wild fires raging thorough their vineyards, neighborhoods, and communities.  Some of these small family owned and operated wineriesmay not even be able to make wine from the 2020 harvest.

This isn’t just “rich people” sitting back and collecting on fire insurance.  These are working class winemakers that have invested all of their savings into their passion for making great wines.  A missed harvest is devastating for the them, their families, the vineyard workers, the cellar staff, the other small businesses that support them, and the list goes on.  There are wineries that won’t survive this combination of catastrophes. 

Donate directly:

Here are some charities that are supporting those affected:

Napa Valley Community Foundation

North Valley Community Foundation

Community Foundation of Mendocino County

Center for Volunteer & Nonprofit leadership

World Central Kitchen

There are many more and I encourage you to share links to the organizations that you feel are best at getting relief to those that need it.  If you have an specific ones, email us and we will add it to this list.

 

What winelovers from the USVI can do.

You can buy wine directly from these small winemakers.  Instead of buying wine from some corporate conglomerate that makes wine all over the world, support the small, family operated winemakers that are literally picking the grapes, making the wine, designing the wine labels, packing your wine into the shipping boxes, and every step in between.  

Buying wine direct also means that you are putting your dollars directly into the hands of the winemakers.  If you’re buying a bottle of wine in a store, that purchase is mostly benefiting the retailer and the distributor that put it there.  Only a tiny fraction gets back to the winemakers and anything you’re buying in a store today has been bought by a distributor long, long ago so none of that is actually getting to the winemakers NOW, when they need it.

 

What Caribbean Wine Club can do.

We can get that wine directly from the wineries and bring it down to the USVI and now through 9/12/2020 we are going to be offering a special rate of $100/case (12x750ml).  Orders must be placed directly with the wineries.  Please make sure the shipping address appears as “Jane Doe C/O Caribbean Wine Club” and advise them that we will be making arrangements to pick up your wine.

Contact us with any questions or comments.

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The Terrace, St. John, USVI

Wineschool3 logo

Win some FREE education!

If tourism is the lifeblood of the Virgin Islands economy then the service industry has to be considered the HEART that keeps that lifeblood pumping. We recognize this fact and understand that our friends in the local service industry have been especially hard hit after the Hurricanes. Restaurants were destroyed, hotels and resorts were destroyed, bars closed down and slow business has caused many employers to have to trim down staff.

We want to recognize the important part that these service industry professionals play in making the US Virgin Islands an internationally known and loved vacation destination. They are the ambassadors of the territory and we couldn’t be the USVI we know and love without them. They are the smiling faces that visitors will remember and the first people they look for when they return.

In May 2018, we will be sponsoring a series of courses by the Wine & Spirits Educational Trust (WSET). Full details can be found below or click here.
Caribbean Wine Club is proud to be donating free tuition to one lucky student per class for all three classes!

Entry rules:
  • To enter, each person must submit an essay explaining why they believe that this type of course would help them advance their careers and simultaneously enrich the experiences of visitors to the US Virgin Islands. There are no specific requirements regarding the content of the essay. You can write about prior experiences, future plans, your thoughts on how service can be improved, a funny travel story, or whatever else you feel is relevant. Remember that the essay still needs to show how you are the best candidate for the free tuition so your narrative should reflect that.
  • This contest is not exclusive to “career” service professionals. You might be a high school student with plans on going to law school but see this as a way to improve yourself while you work at a restaurant and save money for college. No restrictions.
  • No minimums or maximums on length of essays.
  • Must be 18 years of age or older.
  • An individual is free to submit an essay for any or all of the three courses if they so desire. However, all submissions must be unique. You may not submit the same essay three times.
  • Essays can be in any format but must be emailed to info@caribbeanwineclub.com for consideration.
  • This offer is for free tuition to the course but does not include any other costs associated with attendance. We welcome submissions from entrants anywhere but they will be personally responsible for transportation, room and board and any other costs.

If you have any questions regarding the contest, please post them in our Facebook post so we can share the answer with any others that may have the same questions. (If you would rather ask a question privately please email us.)


What you can do to help:

Restaurants/Bars/Hotels/Resorts:
  • We are urging restaurants, bars, and resorts to consider SPONSORING their own staff members to attend these educational courses. The skills they learn will be immediately be put to use in their current jobs and will make them a far more valuable member of your teams!
Charitable organizations:
  • We would also encourage any local charities that wish to sponsor additional students to contact us. There are many charities engaged in the rebuilding effort and this is an opportunity to directly assist a needy individual that may benefit from this course but doesn’t have the financial means to pay the tuition.
Everyone else:
  • Share this with your friends and spread the word. Free tuition is free tuition and you can never tell who might be interested in the opportunity.
Help someone in need:
  • Do you know someone who would love to attend one of these courses but isn’t financially in a position to pay for the course? We would love to help you surprise them with a sponsored tuition! Email us your plans and we will assist in whatever way we can. Want to make it anonymous? We will help you with that as well.
-Cheers!!

 

 

 

Questions? Contact us.

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The Terrace, St. John, USVI

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Wine & Spirit Education Trust

Wine and Spirits Education Series

May 2018 in St. John, U.S. Virgin Islands

 

We are proud to be able to co-host three fun and educational training courses on St. John in May 2018.  This is a great opportunity to receive world class training and an internationally recognized certification right here in the US Virgin Islands.

All classes will be held at The Terrace Restaurant on St. John.

The Level 1 courses are great introductory courses that even a novice can enjoy while the Level 2 Wine Certification is recommended for industry professionals or true wine aficionados that want to increase their knowledge of wine.

The Scholarship

The tourism industry in the USVI is recovering and we want to be a be a positive force in keeping that moving forward.  That is why we are going to be offering a full scholarship to a service industry professional in an effort to help someone in our most vital industry continue to improve their skills and hopefully advance their career in food and wine.  Details will be posted on our Facebook page including how you can nominate a candidate.

Information on the three courses offered can be found by following these links to the Wine and Spirits Education Trust (WSET) website.

WSET Level 1 Award in Wines
A beginner level introduction to wine suitable for those starting a wine career or pursuing an interest in wine.

WSET Level 1 Award in Spirits
For individuals new to the subject, this qualification offers a hands-on introduction to the world of spirits. You’ll explore the main styles and types of spirits through sight, smell, and taste to develop an understanding of the key factors affecting flavours and aromas.

WSET Level 2 Award in Wines and Spirits
For individuals seeking a core understanding of wines, this qualification explores the major grape varieties and important wine regions in which they are grown. You’ll learn about the styles of wines produced from these grapes as well as key classifications and labelling terminology. A basic overview of the key categories of spirits and liqueurs will also be provided. Upon successful completion you will receive a WSET certificate and lapel pin, and will be able to use the associated WSET certified logo.

The Terrace, St. John, USVI

First Wine Pairing Dinner of 2018

Saturday, February 3rd, 2018

St. John, U.S. Virgin Islands

Featuring:

White Rock Vineyards

Gundlach Bundschu

DuMol

Please join us on Saturday, February 3rd 2018 at The Terrace in Cruz Bay, St. John as we enjoy some fantastic California wines perfectly paired with Chef Erica Miner’s delicious cuisine.  Please call 340-626-9151 or email info@theterracestjohn.com to make a reservation.

Not your typical wine dinner.

How many times have you attended a wine pairing and been disappointed that all the wines being offered were the same wines you see everyday on your supermarket shelves and have had about a hundred times?

We know the feeling.  That is why all the wines offered at the dinner are wines that have NO distribution in the US Virgin Islands.  You can’t buy them in any local stores!  To make things even more special, some of the vintages being offered are sold out altogether and are only found on the secondary market or in collector’s cellars.  Fortunately, we were able to bring some of these wines to The Terrace for this exclusive event!

 

Come and enjoy some top-tier, small producer wines from Napa and Sonoma.  We will have information available regarding all of the winery’s respective wine clubs and how you can start receiving these wines here in the US Virgin Islands.  Stop limiting yourself to the same old wines that are available at the supermarket and start exploring new and previously unavailable wines. Your palate will thank you!

 

Questions? Contact us.  

Share with your friends!

 

SOLD OUT! Future offerings available through our mailing list. Sign up here.


SOLD OUT! Future offerings available through our mailing list. 

Sign up here.

DuMOL

Have you heard of DuMOL?  Probably not if you live in the Caribbean but in the wine industry DuMOL is a rock star! Their wines have had the honor of being poured for visiting heads of state at the White House for years.  DuMOL keeps their production at about 15000 cases a year comprised of both whites and reds sourced from Sonoma and Napa vineyards. 15000 cases may sound like a lot but it hardly meets the demand for these fantastic wines. Their 2014 Russian River Syrah clocks in at #24 in Wine Spectator’s list of Top 100 wines for 2016.

As you would imagine, we don’t get any DuMOL here in the Caribbean.  The majority of their wine is sold through their already oversubscribed pre-release program.  If you have a bottle of DuMOL down here then you brought it down yourself or we brought it down for you!  

We recommend you put your name on that wait list immediately!   The best part of the DuMOL prerelease program is that while you are waiting to become a full fledged wine club member, you will still be receiving semi-annual shipments.  Full membership gives you access to the entire library of DuMOL wines but as a prerelease member, you’ll still receive TWO shipments a year!  A spring shipment of more ready-to-drink wines and then a vineyard designate shipment in the fall which is more suitable for cellaring.  While they do not offer shipping to the USVI, they do offer a pick-up service which means we can collect the wine for you as they become available. 

In the notes section of the application specify that Caribbean Wine Club will be arranging to pick up your allocation.  Forward us your confirmation and we will follow up with the shipping manager.

For such amazing and well regarded California wines, you could probably expect to be paying over $100 for these bottles but DuMOL has done an admirable job of keeping their wines affordable.  In the last release, the shipment included a 2014 RRV Chardonnay, a 2014 RRV Pinot Noir and the aforementioned 2014 RRV Syrah priced at $50, $63 and $54, respectively.

I don’t care how many years it takes to get in, I’m subscribed and waiting for my DuMOL!

 

Sign up today!

Send us your invoice and we’ll pick it up!

Tell your friends! Give us a like!

 

Hartford Old Vine Zinfandel 2014

Top 10 wines of 2016

Wine Spectator has just released the list of its Top 10 wines for 2016.  The full list of Top 100 wines is due out on December 5th, 2016.

 

We’d like to call your attention to #10 on the list.  A fantastic California Zinfandel fromHartford Family Winery.  This is an excellent example of this varietal at a great price point.  Rated 90+ points across the board.  We’ve had it and absolutely loved it.  I wish we could buy it in the USVI but Hartford only produces between 150-500 cases of their Old Vine Zinfandel every year.  There’s no way we get a piece of that tiny allocation in the Virgin Islands.

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Fortunately, you can order it directly from Hartford Family and we can get it down to you here on St. Thomas or St. John!  They are limiting sales to 6 bottles per customer.  Price is already great at $40 per bottle but if you join their wine club you will get 15% off of that!  That means you can have this wine down here for just around $50!  That’s ridiculous!

If you’re a Founders Club member then it’s even CHEAPER!

 

 

Order today!

Send us your invoice and we’ll pick it up!

Tell your friends! Give us a like!