DIRECT PRESS | FAQ

Direct Press — a monthly wine subscription from Vanderbilt Avenue Wine Merchants.

Explore the wide world of wine with monthly selections curated by Vanderbilt Avenue's experienced team, who have been buyers at some of the top restaurants and wine retailers in New York. You get to drink great wine while learning about all the people and the stories behind the bottles. Direct Press is a perfect gift, too, and you can subscribe friends and loved ones for as many months as you choose. 

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

How much does it cost?

The current subscription rate is $80/month. 

How many wines do I get?
You can choose from either 4 bottles/month (Direct Press 4) or 2 bottles/month (Direct Press 2). The monthly price is the same, but the value of the bottles in Direct Press 2 is about twice as much as in Direct 4.

What if I can't pick my wines up right away?

Due to spatial constraints, we ask that members pick up their orders within 30 days. After 30 days, we cannot guarantee all original selections will be available, at which time we will gladly offer you a substitution at no additional cost.

If I like a wine can I get more?

Yes! Members receive 10% off any wine club wines for as long as they are in stock. We do our best to keep the Direct Press selections on the shelves, but they are small-production wines and quantities are limited.

Can I customize my subscription?

For Direct Press 4, you can choose from three options:

1. A mix of 2 reds and 2 whites (the most popular option)
2. 4 reds
3. 4 whites 

You can change this option at any time.

For Direct Press 2, there are no options. Sometimes it's two reds, sometimes it's two whites, sometimes it's a mix, and there are even months with rose and bubbles!
Given the size of the club, we cannot accommodate any further customization, but we are always happy to hear your feedback on the selections!

Can I pause or suspend my subscription?

Yes! We make it easy to temporarily suspend your subscription, just email us. 
You can also create a profile on our website and manage your account there.

When are my wines available?

If you sign up today, we will email you to coordinate delivery or shipping asap. If you sign up in person, you can take your wines home when you sign up.
Going forward, your card will be processed on the 1st day of each month. If you are picking up your wines, they will be available on the 1st.

Do you deliver?

Yes. Picking up is the easiest and fastest way to receive your Direct Press wines. We will deliver for free within a 1/2 mile radius of the shop. 
Anywhere else in NYC is just $15 to deliver.
For NYC deliveries:

Do you ship outside of New York City?

Absolutely! We use a common carrier and rates are calculated at checkout.
We currently do not ship to the following states: AL, AR, CO, DE, GA, HI, IA, KS, KY, NC, MD, MS, MT, OK, PA, SD, UT, VT, WI. As statutory laws are constantly changing, please note that this list is updated frequently, and acceptance of an order does not guarantee that we will ultimately be able to ship wine to you.

What if I'm not home on the monthly delivery day?

It's no problem to send your wines on another day, but please email us in advance so we can reschedule. We keep the delivery days the same every month so you can plan accordingly. If we don't hear you and can't complete the delivery, you can pick up your wines at the shop or we will send them with the following month's delivery. If you want them sooner we just have to charge you for redelivery.

Can I gift a wine club to someone?

Yes, Direct Press is a fantastic gift! Just tell us how many months you'd like to gift, and when that time period is over we'll reach out and ask the recipient if they'd like to continue on their own.

Are all of the Direct Press wines 'natural' wines?

The term 'natural wine' is pretty vague, like 'wellness,' so we like to be a little more specific. We will go a step further and actually tell you the details of the farming practices (organic, Biodynamic) and the winemaking (sulfur, oak) so you can be better informed. Not only that, we will try and tell you the reasoning of the winemaker in each case. We want to create as much of a direct line as possible from the winemaker to you to let them tell their story. The last thing we want is to make wines into a faceless product: we want to tell you as much as we can about the people, the labor, and the land behind the wines. We'd rather choose a winemaker who uses sulfur but employs great farming practices over one who never uses sulfur but is not transparent about their grape sources; their farming; their labor practices.
As the 'natural wine' trend continues to grow, we will continue to scrutinize what is actually behind the marketing. There are more and more brands claiming to sell natural wine for its health benefits while not being very transparent about the source of the wine. We are skeptical about such marketing. 

Will the wines taste funky?

As far as funky wines go, we'll be sure to tell you how funky the selections are each month, too! With a wine club of this size, we are always going to make sure there is something for everyone to enjoy, and we know that everyone has different tolerances for 'funk,' so we will try not to get too freaky. There's never a shortage of really wild zero/zero wines on our shelves if you didn't get your fill in the club for a month.

Are all the wines zero added sulfur?

No, but the vast majority are made using minimal sulfur additions, usually less then 40ppm. 

Are all the wines organic?

Generally, yes, all the wines are using organic practices at a minimum, and if they aren't we will tell you why! We are looking for wines made from grapes using the best farming practices. Healthy soils make for healthy grapes and better wines, and we know that using synthetic pesticides, fungicides, and herbicides are not healthy for the long-term health of ecosystems or the humans who are exposed to them. Organic and Biodynamic certifications are very useful, but they don't always tell the whole story. Sometimes winemakers eschew certification for cost reasons or frustration with bureaucracy. Sometimes the certifications don't transfer from the EU to the US. There's also Regenerative Farming. Not to mention a growing demand for fair labor practices. With Direct Press we'll tell you the whole story.

Other Questions? Email us at orders@vwm.wine