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This California native is one of the most influential wine figures in modern history, and his numerous wine clubs are some of the most popular clubs in the wine community.
To learn more about Lynch and how he and his wine club gained acclaim, keep reading.
Kermit Lynch is an American wine importer that rose to prominence by scouting and “discovering” local wine producers in France and Italy, whose wines were often overlooked by the large distribution importers because their production numbers were:
As a new-to-the-game, one-man show wine-importing machine, Lynch knew he couldn’t compete in the regions that were attracting the most attention, so. Instead, he started exploring lesser-known, at least at the time, places like Rhone, the Loire Valley, and Languedoc. It was his travels through these rustic wine regions that ultimately led Lynch to write what is now considered one of the greatest wine memoirs of all time, Adventures on the Wine Route. A book that was published all the way back in 1988 and remains one of the most popular wine books in print.
Lynch got his start in the wine business in 1972 when he opened a small wine shop in Berkeley. He opened his humble shop with just 35 cases of wine and a passion for French wine. If you’re wondering why Lynch wasn’t drawn to the wines of Napa or Sonoma, which were a stone’s throw from Berkeley, keep in mind that the American wine scene was still in shambles, thanks to Prohibition, so it only made sense that the young wine retailer, soon-to-be-importer, would look to Europe. There were less than 300 wineries in the United States (in the entire United States) in 1960, down from 2,500 pre-Prohibition.
When it comes to the wine-importing business, Lynch has been called a pioneer, a trailblazer, and a visionary. But importing isn’t the only segment of the wine business Lynch has influenced. He was also responsible for adding refrigerated containers to transatlantic shipping. In what now seems like a no-brainer, but, shockingly, wasn’t standard practice, or practiced at all, prior to Lynch pioneering the idea.
American wine drinkers have a lot to thank Kermit Lynch for. Kermit introduced the wider world to what is now considered legendary producers like Raveneau and Domaine Tempier Bandol. But how did Lynch select producers like this?
When asked about this at the beginning of his career, Lynch responded that the answer was easy: he looks where no one else is looking. But there was a little more to his magical equation than that. Lynch was also able to get a personal introduction to off-the-beaten-path producers through his friend, food writer Richard Olney. This one-on-one introduction helped
Lynch cultivate relationships with family-run vineyards that were focused on small production but quality wine and worked directly with the family to import them. A practice that continues to this day.
Kermit Lynch offers five distinct wine clubs for every type of sipper. Three of the five clubs introduce members to what Lynch calls “The best values from France and Italy as well as complex and cellar-worthy wines.”
They are:
The Adventures Club
A $39-a-month wine club that provides two bottles per month and typically includes a red and a white wine selection. This club is named after Kermit’s book, Adventures on the Wine Route. Wines are sourced from across all regions of France and Italy.
Club Bianco
Lynch’s Club Bianco is perfect for wine lovers who appreciate white wine. Shipments arrive monthly and also occasionally include sparkling wine. Club Bianco is $89 per month and may include Friulian blends or a Sylvaner from Alsace.
Club Rouge
As you may have guessed from the name, Club Rouge is a club that exclusively delivers red wines. For $69 a month, Club Rouge delivers two bottles of red wine to members that will include selections like Barbera from Piedmont or a Domaine Tempier Bandol.
Club Gourmand
Wine aficionados that really want to dig into the Kermit Lynch portfolio may be interested in Lynch’s Club Gourmand. This club offers an incredible selection of grape varieties, regions, and producers. Each 12-bottle shipment may include Pignoletto Frizzante (a delicate sparkling wine), Bourgogne Aligoté, Barbera d’Alba, Beaujolais, and an extra brut Spumante.
This curated selection includes six red wines, with the remaining wine in the shipment a mix of whites, rosés, and sparkling wines. Lynch will also occasionally throw in a dessert wine. Many of the wines are also available in Lynch’s wine shop, but the benefit to joining this club is that members receive their bottles at 20% off the retail price.
Members receive their shipments every other month at a cost of $250 to $299.
Club Chevalier
Club Chevalier is a nod to the French government naming Lynch, Chevalier de la Légion d’Honneur for his meaningful contributions to French wine culture. Launched in 2016, Club Chevalier is filled with Lynch’s “greatest hits” producers, so to speak, and extremely limited production wines. Each shipment is themed, meaning members will explore a specific region, style of winemaking, or terroir.
This might be the most in-demand wine club that Kermit Lynch offers. There is currently a waitlist to join. If you make it onto the list, expect shipments every other month at $249 per package.
From his vast contacts in the world of wine, Lynch built a reputation, and an enormous devoted following, that appreciates his ability to uncover hidden gems in France and Italy. We should put a caveat on that by adding these are hidden gems to consumers outside of France and Italy.
Lynch’s clubs are designed to introduce members to “off-the-beaten-path” selections from producers that craft quality wines that are also value-driven. But don’t let the term “value” dissuade you from trying one of Kermit Lynch’s wine clubs. Lynch has garnered a reputation as one of the top wine importers in the world for discovering local producers who have never had their wines exported or who have done so on a very limited basis to other neighboring European countries.
The discovery of these gems is the biggest benefit of signing up for a Kermit Lynch wine club membership. You can expand your palate, try burgeoning regions, and experience a range of styles from producers you may not otherwise have access to. It’s a win-win!
