If you love wine but are tired of paying high prices for it, there’s an easy solution.
Place an order with Interveston Wine Club in Birmingham and get the wines you love at great prices — far less than you’ll pay at most retail stores.
The club was opened in April by owner, Elaine Beiersdoerfer, and is managed by her husband, veteran wine merchant, Werner Beiersdoerfer. Beiersdoerfer and Dan Meadows co-owned and operated The Wine Cellar in Vestavia Hills for several years.
But Interveston Wine Club is not a retail or online store or even a traditional wine club.
Instead, wine lovers pay a one-time, lifetime membership fee of $25, then contact the club to inquire about the price of any wine they wish to order. If they like the price the club offers, Intervestston places their order. The club requires a minimum order of six bottles.
“Give me a shot,” Beiersdoerfer says. “Tell me your favorite wine, and let me price it for you.”
Beiersdoerfer saw a need for the club due to sharply rising wine prices.
When he operated The Wine Cellar, the markup for wine ranged from 30-50%. Today, many retailers price their wines at two to three times wholesale. This makes it almost impossible for many wine enthusiasts ro buy quality products.
Before the Beiersdoerfers opened Interveston Wine Club, they noticed high prices for wine even at some discount retailers.
“They’re selling wine for well over wholesale price," Beiersdoerfer says. “The profit margins seem to have increased over the years.”
That's the reason the Beiersdoerfers started Interveston — to bring the cost of wine down to where it was years ago.
“If you compare our prices to those at any store, you will become a real wine fan,” Beiersdoerfer says. “I don’t know of anyone else in Alabama or the Southeast is offering this.”
Interveston Wine Club is not selling wine by the bottle or pushing any particular product.
“The wine enthusiasts who are attracted to our club are the people who know exactly what they like,” Beiersdoerfer says. “They know exactly what they’ve been paying in a retail store. And they want to know what we’re selling it for.”
Beiersdoerfer also uses his deep knowledge of wines to turn customers onto new brands
Based on a customer’s current favorite Cabernet, for example, Beiersdoerfer may turn them onto a similar wine that’s just as good but less expensive.
“Some people think that the more expensive the wine the better it tastes, but that’s not true,” Beiersdoerfer says. “If you like Silver Oak from Napa Valley, you’ll probably like Austin Hope, which is less expensive.”
Beiersdoerfer also suggests that buyers check out the featured wines on the Interveston website.
“I’ve had every one of them, and they're all great,” he says.
People can always find something in their price range, as well.
“The price range goes from $135 all the way down to $12.95,” Beiersdoerfer says.
For more information or to place an order call 205-283-2680 or go to intervestonwineclub.com.
