Cameron Hughes Wine Club Review

Important Update for 2024 and Forward

Below you’ll find my original review of the Cameron Hughes Wine Club.

However, I no longer recommend the Cameron Hughes Wine club.

Why I No Longer Recommend the Cameron Hughes Wine Club

A reader of my original review contacted me directly with feedback about this review and important feedback about their personal experience with this club.

The reader stated that since March 2024, their emails, chats and voice mails to the Cameron Hughes Wine Club were not being responded to. The reader was a long-time customer, as well.

Failure to respond to customers is reason alone to not recommend the club.

However, there appears to be a lot more going on behind the scenes as a bit of digging has revealed.

To start, the Cameron Hughes brand (along with other wine brands) has been owned by a company called Vintage Wine Estates (VWE).

VWE has been experiencing issues as a business, including debt issues, executive resignation, a rapidly declining stock price and more:

• In a quarterly report, speaking on their debt issues, VWE revealed that “If the Company is unable to cure the events of default or receive additional capital from its Lenders or third parties, the Company may not be able to fund its operations and will be forced to seek bankruptcy protection.”

• Additionally, Wine Searcher reported that “Cameron Hughes are among the wine brands that are apparently up for sale after an announcement that Vintage Wine Estates is cutting back its business.”

So, given the apparent instability of VWE and this club, I would recommend avoiding this club and seeking an alternative.

Bankruptcy Update (New)

In addition to the updates above, in July of 2024 the parent company of Cameron Hughes, Vintage Wine Estates, declared bankruptcy.

Hopefully someday Cameron Hughes and VWE will emerge in better shape and I can once again recommend this club.

With that said, below you’ll find two great alternatives to the Cameron Hughes wine club.

Alternatives

Here are my reviews of two alternatives to the Cameron Hughes Wine Club that still feature curated selections.

Wine Insiders – This club says they offer the simplest way to keep your wine rack stocked. Given their ability to source artisanal wines from all over the world, they are a great curated choice.

Wine Access – This club gives you access to multiple clubs with lots of options for delivery and types of wine.

Original Review

What follows is my original review of this club. Please note that with everything occurring with VWE, all of this is subject to change.

The Cameron Hughes Wine Club is (was?) a premium level club that sources luxury wine at a significant discount.

They do this as a wine trader through their established relationships with well-known, top vineyards and wineries. In the wine industry this is known as a négociant.

They make hidden, agreement-protected deals that allow them to purchase “Lots” of fine wines at large discounts to what the source normally charges. Sometimes it’s wine in barrels, other times it could be unlabeled bottles.

As an example, they may offer a Napa Cabernet that would normally go for over $100, for a third of that price.

This is what they had to say about their Lot 900, 2018 Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon that they price at $35.00:

Sourced from multiple pedigreed vineyards (Tenma, to Kalon, Wallis Vineyards to name a few) that are decorated with 95+ scores a mile long from the usual leading critics. We acquired this jewel of wine in barrel from a pedigreed program that will not sell a Cab for less than $150/bottle.

CH Wine

Many of the wines they sell have similar stories.

In this review, I’ll be covering how the Cameron Hughes Wine Club works, what it costs to be a member, its Pros and Cons and much more.

I’ll also be presenting you with a complete unboxing of the wine club sample I was sent for review purposes.

You’ll see inside-the-box pictures of everything I was sent.

And most importantly, I’ll share my personal review of each of the six wines I received along with my overall thoughts and opinions of this wine club.

How the Cameron Hughes Wine Club Works

The wine club consists of curated, high quality wine offerings that Cameron Hughes selects for you, based on season.

You start by choosing either a 6-bottle or 12-bottle count for your deliveries.

Following that, you choose either a monthly or quarterly (i.e., in March, June, September and December) delivery frequency.

And then finally, you choose whether you would like all reds, all whites or a mix of both.

As a wine club member, you’ll get 20% off your wine and wine club orders year round.

You also get early access to special releases and promotional offerings, plus additional discounts on special sales.

Cameron Hughes Wine Club Cost

The cost for their wine club is based on the bottle count and wine type ordered as follows (subject to change):

Red Wines Only:

• 6 Bottles: $80-$120, plus tax and $5.00 shipping.
• 12 Bottles: $170-$240, plus tax and $1.00 shipping.

White Wines Only:

• 6 Bottles: $60-$80, plus tax and $5.00 shipping.
• 12 Bottles: $120-$160, plus tax and $1.00 shipping.

Mixed Wines (Red and White):

• 6 Bottles: $80-$120, plus tax and $5.00 shipping.
• 12 Bottles: $140-$240, plus tax and $1.00 shipping.

As soon as you place your order, you will be charged $10.00 to verify your card details. However, the $10.00 immediately becomes store credit.

Billing then occurs once your wine is shipped from their warehouse.

Facts About the Cameron Hughes Wine Club

• Can opt out of the club at any time.
• Will hold shipments in their warehouse for up to two weeks.
• Can purchase their wine clubs, individual wines and also 6-bottle samplers.
• The company is owned by Vintage Wine Estates, who own over 30 well-known wine brands.

Pros

• High quality fine wines at discounted prices.
• Over 120 four and five star reviews on their site by verified purchasers of their wines.
• $5.00 in Reward Points credited to your account for each wine you review on their site.
• Discounted shipping on 12-bottle orders.
• Can earn a $25 credit through their Refer a Friend program.
• No fees to join the club.
• No fees to opt out of the club.

Cons

• Few imported wines.
• Costs can vary with each delivery.
• Unable to skip shipments.
• No Gift Cards.

How to Cancel

You can opt out of the wine club by contacting Customer Service at 800-805-1971.

There are no fees to cancel.

Cameron Hughes Wine Club Unboxing

To take the mystery out of what you actually get when you purchase the club, I thought it would be a good idea to unbox everything.

I know I like to see the same thing when I read reviews.

You should expect to receive something similar when you place your wine club order.

The Box that You Receive

Below is a picture of the box that was delivered to my door.

I was happy to see that the box was in good shape, with no damage.

Also, it was well sealed. Off to a good start!

Opening the Box

Opening the top of the box revealed strong packing material to protect the wines.

There were also a couple information cards, which I will cover in more detail below.

Next up, after removing the top packaging, were the first three of six wines I was sent.

Again, the wine bottles were well protected and separated from each other.

I took the first three out, along with their packaging base and that revealed the final three of six wines in my shipment.

They were packaged similarly and I liked how the packing material raised the bottles up from the bottom of the box.

Information Cards

Included with the wines were two information cards.

The first one explained that it’s a good idea to let your bottles rest for five to seven days to let the wine settle.

I’ve never seen that before with other wine clubs.

Great advice, if you ask me, given how much shipping carriers jostle packages around!

The first card also included instructions on reaching customer service if any of the wines had issues. I liked that they included a direct phone number along with an email address.

The second card was a thank you message for choosing Cameron Hughes Wine.

The card also let you know that you can earn $5.00 in Reward Points credits for each wine that you review.

Many wine clubs encourage rating their wines, however, few actually reward you for doing so.

A definite plus!

The Cameron Hughes Wines

With everything out of the box, here’s a look at everything I received in one picture.

Overall, a great unboxing experience! Sturdy packaging, clear messaging and no physical issues with any of the wines.

Reviews of Each Wine

While all the facts about any wine club are important, in the end it comes down to the quality of the wines.

So, I made sure to taste each wine so that I could share my honest opinions with you.

Below you’ll find my personal review of each of the wines I received.

My reviews follow the order of the wines pictured above, from left to right.

Cameron Hughes Lot 900 Cabernet Sauvignon

In the glass, this leggy 2018 Napa Valley Cabernet was dark garnet in color.

On the nose, I caught whiffs of bold black fruits, mocha and cherry pipe tobacco.

First sips revealed tastes of anise spice, ripe plum and black cherry. With a little air it mellowed a bit and allowed the darker fruits to come through even more.

Tannins were present, though quite refined, leading to a bit of a youthful finish. I bet it would age well!

Bold and delicious, this wine makes a great sipper on its own, or would do well paired with grilled meats.

They call this particular wine their “Annual centennial Cabernet Sauvignon – the best release of the year!” and it’s definitely a great wine that does not disappoint.

Cameron Hughes Lot 880 Chardonnay

This Arroyo Seco, Monterey County, California Chardonnay pours straw colored and quite leggy in the glass.

A quick whiff revealed subtle aromas of honeydew melon and florals.

On the palate, I was rewarded with a complex combination of lime zest and stone fruits. The more zippy flavor of the lime zest was predominant, but you didn’t have to look very far to note the stone fruit flavors.

With a medium finish and some nice acidity, I found this wine to be an enjoyable sipper on its own. I even noted a bit of “buttery-ness” in the finish as the wine had a chance to breathe.

Pair it with a scampi dish on a nice summer evening.

Very enjoyable!

Cameron Hughes Lot 2022 Cabernet Sauvignon

This dark garnet colored Cabernet opened with bold aromas of vanilla and cherry.

Next up were smooth and easy drinking flavors of raspberry (most dominant) and more vanilla.

Tannins were “oh so supple” and nicely complemented the wine’s long finish. And as a little surprise, I caught just a bit of tart cherry in the finish. Nice!

Overall, I loved this Cameron Hughes Wine Club exclusive Cab. It wasn’t overly dry and paired nicely with the grilled ribeye I enjoyed this wine with.

Cameron Hughes Lot 822 Sauvignon Blanc

The first thing I noticed about this lightly colored Napa Valley Sauvignon Blanc was its lovely aroma.

I noticed it as soon as I pulled out the cork and was greeted with notes of melon, pear and florals.

Tasting revealed flavors of honey, pear and a bit of minerality.

Its long and tasty finish continued the enjoyment, along with just the right amount of light acidity.

All said and done this is an elegant sipper and a good wine that anyone would be proud to bring to the party.

Cameron Hughes Lot 894 Merlot

This deep ruby colored Yakima Valley, Washington state Merlot started with aromas of chocolate raspberry and herbs.

Tastes of non-sweet red and black fruits followed, along with structured, though still a bit young, tannins and a long finish.

I immediately realized this wine is meant for cellaring and after checking the tasting notes online, found this 2020 vintage to be a holder through 2032!

While certainly drinkable now, I’m on board with treating this black label wine like a collectable and letting it age in your cellar for at least a few years.

If you get this one, I’d recommend doing that. I bet it will be a complete treat when you visit it in the future!

Cameron Hughes Lot 872 Cabernet Sauvignon

Pouring a lovely dark purple, with plenty of legs, this wine from Sonoma County is 100% Cabernet Sauvignon with no blend.

Its aroma was quite rich, with notes of clove and blueberry pie.

Its taste was primarily black cherry and raspberry. Though I did pick up some sort of earthy baking spices at the end of the flavor trajectory.

Mouthfeel was silky and tannins were ample.

The wine’s finish was long and fruit dominating.

Overall, I really loved this juicy and bold Cab and its tasty flavors.

I paired it with a grilled ribeye (Yep, I grilled up another one about a week later for this tasting!) and it made a perfect combination!

Also, I found that letting this wine breathe a bit softens up the tannins and lets the richer flavors shine just a little more in the finish.

Cameron Hughes Lot 863 Chardonnay

Shortly after I published this review in 2023, Cameron Hughes Wine got in touch and asked if I wanted to sample one of their Best Sellers.

So, I took them up on their offer and they sent me their Lot 863 Russian River Valley Chardonnay, now their seventh wine that I’ve tasted.

Following this picture of the bottle below, you’ll see my review.

In the glass, this Chardonnay is green-golden straw in color with slow to form, medium-wide legs.

On the nose, I picked up aromas of citrus, pear and some floral notes in there, as well.

Lovely aroma!

With a 60/40 balance of oak to stainless, the wine’s taste is complex. It starts with citrus at first, but then follows with a slight gumdrop spice note hidden in the mix.

It’s long finishing with a nice balance of the above mentioned flavors along with just the right amount of acidity.

Overall, unique and enjoyable.

Pair with grilled salmon and you have a great combination!

FAQ

Conclusion

Overall, I was pleased with what I received from the Cameron Hughes Wine Club.

I liked the very high quality of the wines. I also liked that they source high priced wines and then sell them at affordable prices.

I also liked the fact that each lot is numbered and that’s what the bottle label shows you. Many winemakers come up with fancy names for their wines. Most of this is just marketing and I actually prefer the logical numbering and them using their own label.

TLDR: In case you jumped to the bottom of this review, please be aware that I no longer recommend this club.

You’ll find more information as to why and also a list of alternative wine clubs at the top of this review.