Less swirling, more vibing: These NYC wine clubs are rewriting the rules

Time Out

07-05-2025

Summer's almost here, which means it's time to bop around the city's best wine bars, sip chilled reds al fresco, and maybe—just maybe—learn something about vino along the way. But something deeper is uncorking in NYC's wine scene. The industry's loosening its corkscrew-tight grip on tradition, and a new generation is swirling in. According to Wine Enthusiast, the hottest trend in wine right now isn't cellaring—it's collecting experiences. And honestly? It's about time.
Across New York, a wave of wine clubs are popping up in apartments, galleries and neighborhood bars, focused less on flexing tasting notes and more on creating connection. These aren't your rich uncle's dusty Bordeaux nights. They're intimate, welcoming and often run by women and members of the Queer community who are reclaiming wine culture—making it feel unpretentious, inclusive and actually fun.
Whether it's blind tastings with prizes, sommelier-led deep dives or come-as-you-are hangs with really good pours, these clubs and events are proving that wine is for everyone.
Wine For Me
How it started: For Joan, wine wasn't just something to study—it was something to share. Though she earned her WSET certification, her real education happened outside the classroom, on stoops in Bed-Stuy, surrounded by friends and bottles. 'The traditional ways to engage with wine didn't feel exciting or welcoming enough,' she says. 'It didn't reflect who I was.' The wine world she encountered—one often shaped by and for older white men—felt disconnected from her lived experience. So in 2021, she created Wine For Me: a monthly intersectional wine party centering a new kind of wine consumer, with natural wine, curated DJs and a dance floor just as integral as the tasting notes.
How it's going: Wine For Me has blossomed into one of NYC's most revolutionary wine gatherings and nightlife scenes—except that it's more of a wine day party (held during a reasonable 3pm-8pm window) where adulting meets unpretentious fun. 'I don't know if I can say 'grown and sexy' in this interview,' says Joan. 'But that's exactly our crowd.' Guests show up for the wine—and stay for the dancing, the conversations and the chance to meet someone new. Unlike traditional tastings led by a wine educator, Joan curates each lineup to be a jumping-off point for connection, whether you're sipping at the bar or moving to the beat.
The vibe: 'Wine can feel exclusive, even intimidating—especially when it's surrounded by technical language or luxury price points,' says Joan. Wine For Me flips that script by expanding access, joy and knowledge through a lens of cultural relevance, inclusivity, community and joy. And the crowd? Many return month after month—some even leaving with new best friends. 'People are craving alternative wine spaces where they can find connections, not barriers to wine.' There's no gatekeeping—just guides and good grooves.
Up next: The next Wine For Me party is June 7. Follow along on Instagram for updates. Past events have included custom wine glasses, curated DJ sets and of course, plenty of skin-contact sips.
Vin Dealer
How it started: Vin Dealer was born out of chaos—in the best possible way. After years working as a casting director, Amari found herself post-COVID, post-industry strike and mid-existential spiral. 'The only other thing I knew how to do was wine,' she says. Her dad, a first-level sommelier, raised her with a 'great nose and confidence' that came from casually calling out tasting notes like 'gasoline' or 'mom's fart'—and always being told she was right. That fearless, deeply intuitive approach evolved into a side hustle flipping bottles and hosting wine tastings with a twist: 'I wanted people to view wine like beer … something fun that makes you feel a bit silly and more comfortable letting go.'
How it's going: These days, Amari is hosting buzzy tastings out of her apartment. Her crowd? Mostly 'black sheep women in their late 20s through 40s who want to feel seen, nurtured and excited to be around others of like-mind.' Her audience has grown fast—especially on social media—thanks to her refreshingly unpretentious tone, smart humor and dance moves during her swirl and sip rituals. 'IDGAF and I think that shows in my videos,' she says. If you're not already following her on Instagram or TikTok, do it now.
The vibe: Approachable. Authentic. Fun. There's always a moment—usually a few pours in—when strangers start bonding and everything just clicks. 'That's when I know I've made it,' Amari says. 'I've reached my highest form of consciousness.'
Up next: Vin Dealer's next tasting is June 7 (tickets to drop via Partiful soon). 'There may be a performance from one of my many talented friends? IDK ;)' Just bring your curiosity—and maybe a pair of walk-up-friendly shoes. Sooner than that, CutLoose BK is hosting a Wine Twirl event on May 23 where Amari will walk guests through a tasting of six wines against a backdrop of DJ beats.
Chardonngay
How it started: On any given week in New York, there's a niche club for nearly everything—but when passionate wine lover Megan Utter moved here from Chicago, she realized something was missing. 'I was walking by a wine bar in my neighborhood and thought, 'Is there a Queer wine club in this city?'' After doing some research, she discovered there weren't many.
How it's going: Enter Chardonngay, the wine club that's grown from a posting on Lex (a Queer-owned and operated social app) into a thriving community where over 600 people have clinked glasses, swapped notes on pét-nats and formed real friendships. 'After our first event, I knew this needed to continue. Thirty-five people showed up, and nearly everyone mentioned they had always wanted to explore and learn more about wine but felt intimidated by the classist nature of the wine world,' Utter says. 'That's when I realized—I didn't just want to create a space to hang out. I wanted to make wine approachable, easy and exciting.'
The vibe? Chardonngay isn't your stiff swirl-and-sniff affair. 'It's more of a social club than a formal tasting,' Utter explains, with an 'inviting, fun, and friendly' vibe. Think open-house-style events at Queer-friendly wine bars, casual convos and zero pressure to know what tannins are. Whether you're a Chenin Blanc devotee or still figuring out your favorite varietal, there's room for you.
With a focus on connection over expertise and a welcoming atmosphere that centers the FLINTA crowd (Female, Lesbian, Intersex, Non-binary, Trans and Agender individuals), Chardonngay is reshaping what wine culture looks like. 'People are craving authentic, offline connection,' Utter says. 'That's why we've created a space where we're stripping away the jargon, encouraging curiosity and focusing on how wine makes you feel rather than what you think you're supposed to taste.'
Up next: On May 16, Chardonngay is teaming up with Wine & Pine for A Desirous Reading Series, where Queer authors will read excerpts from their books. Later in the month, they're collaborating with Sun Moon Rising and Met Through Friends for Star Crossed, a dating event that pairs guests based on their astrology elements while also exploring astrology-themed wines. They also have a stacked lineup of Pride events coming up in June. All event details are posted first on their Eventbrite page and then shared on Instagram.
Sun Moon Rising
How it started: After years working in Michelin-starred restaurants in New York City and earning her WSET sommelier certification, Kate Webb, Co-Founder and CEO of Sun Moon Rising, wanted to create a new kind of wine experience—one where identity, astrology and wine aligned. 'Our Monthly Zodiac Series was a natural extension of Sun Moon Rising,' she says. 'We wanted to build events where wine, astrology and community come together, giving our audience an elevated and meaningful way to connect with our brand's spirit.' The idea clicked early on: 'Soon after launching Sun Moon Rising, we noticed how excited people were to learn about their zodiac sign's wine. We thought—why not take it even further?'
How it's going: Sun Moon Rising's Monthly Zodiac Series is now one of the city's most immersive, no-snobbery wine events. Each month, guests gather to sip through the brand's full twelve-bottle zodiac wine collection while engaging in experiences tailored to the current astrological season—think birth chart readings, manifest stations, zodiac-inspired cocktails and, yes, even flash tattoos for the current sign. 'Each event embodies the current zodiac season, with activations curated to reflect that sign's characteristics,' Webb says. 'Just like no two wines are the same, no two events are either.'
The vibe? Celestial, experiential, elevated. The crowd? Inclusive, diverse and astrology-curious—especially women, LGBTQ+ folks, BIPOC, and wine-loving men, mostly in their twenties and thirties. 'People crave real-world experiences, places to gather, celebrate, and be seen,' says Webb. 'Wine and astrology are two languages that naturally bring people together.
BABE Wine Bar
How it started: For Ren Peir and trent, BABE was born out of a desire to sip, sit and socialize—without the thumping bass. 'We've seen a lack of Queer spaces outside of a club or party scene,' the duo explains. 'We wanted to create that safe space for Queers like us to still want to find community and also be able to take a seat.'
With Peir deep in her WSET diploma training and Trent a seasoned creative and wine educator, the two fused their talents to start a wine salon prioritizing joy and conversation—especially for Queer folks of color. The first Instagram post announcing BABE triggered an immediate and overwhelming response. 'We knew we were onto something special—something our community both wanted and needed.'
How it's going: Since then, BABE has built a devoted following of 'cuties' (their affectionate nickname for guests), many of whom have attended every event. Each gathering features a curated lineup of low-intervention wines—"a balance between complex and chuggable'—selected by Peir and trent through direct tastings with distributors. The wines are poured by top-tier Queer sommeliers of color, flipping the script on what wine culture traditionally looks and feels like. 'We're challenging the notion that fine wine should be for only a certain type of person,' says the duo. 'And that it should only be curated and served by a certain type of person too.'
The vibe? Vibey, sexy, joyful, and catering to women, trans and nonbinary Queer folks of color seeking connection, comfort and conversation. 'As we evolve as beings, so do our desires and tastes,' they both explain. 'We still want to be outside, we still want to gather, we still want to have a good time—and we want back support (seats), elevated sips and a conversation with the person across from us.'
Up next: BABE returns May 12 to the Ace Hotel Brooklyn with their signature lineup of thoughtfully made wines—and the warm, come-as-you-are energy that keeps the cuties coming back. Non-alcoholic options are also available. Tickets are sold out, but keep an eye on Instagram and BABE's website for the upcoming lineup.
On Cloud Wine
How it started: When Mira Hobbs moved to New York City in 2021, her social calendar was bursting—but something was missing. 'I had a lot of individual friends, but I didn't have a community,' she says. So in 2023, she merged two personal missions—branching out from her longtime love of rosé to deepen her wine knowledge (earning her WSET Level 2 certification) and building meaningful connections—with one idea: a wine club hosted in her apartment. Each month, guests would bring a bottle, prepare a mini presentation and gather to taste, rank and connect. It was low-stakes, high-vibe and surprisingly nourishing. Soon, Hobbs opened applications to the public—and discovered just how many others in NYC were craving the same kind of experience.
How it's going: On Cloud Wine NYC has grown into a beloved, ever-expanding community of wine lovers in their 20s and early 30s who want more than just a buzz—they want belonging. 'Everyone joins for their interest in and love of wine, but they stay for the friendships,' Hobbs says. The events are intimate and deeply welcoming—held everywhere from members' backyards to restaurants and wine bars across the city. Whether it's a casual tasting, a plated dinner or a Focaccia Art & Wine night in a Williamsburg garden, Hobbs' events prioritize good vibes and zero pretension. 'Whether you're a certified sommelier or you strictly drink Barefoot Moscato, all wine levels are welcome.'
The vibe: Warm, friendly, inclusive, genuine. It's less about terroir talk, more about thoughtful connection—and a little healthy competition (someone always leaves crowned the winner of wine club).
Up next: Follow On Cloud Wine NYC on Instagram to snag your spot for wholesome and intimate apartment-hosted events. On May 13, On Cloud Wine is teaming up with Cecily Wine School for an in-depth and educational tasting of obscure U.S. wines. Tickets are $70 and include five glasses of wine and snacks.
No Wine Left Behind
How it started: Like many of the best ideas of late, No Wine Left Behind began during lockdown. Fallon Schlossman was staying with her mom in Long Beach Island when she hosted a socially-distanced blind wine tasting for her birthday—complete with 'a crown, bragging rights and (friendly) arguments.' It was part game night, part wine education, all good vibes. Post-COVID, those gatherings followed her back to NYC. What began as eight friends guessing flavor notes turned into 60 people crammed into an Upper East Side gallery for a bubbles tasting. 'It was pretty clear this was scratching an itch,' she says.
How it's going: Now, with Schlossman's WSET Level 2 certification and with creative director Louisa Alter onboard, NWLB is part curated wine tasting, part trivia night—accessible, community-forward and delightfully competitive. 'It's a game night for wine lovers and a wine night for game lovers,' they say. Guests sip blind flights and answer trivia on their phones. Winners walk away with bottles or merch. One past champion? A 21-year-old college student who beat out industry pros.
The vibe: Inclusive. Irreverent. Unforgettable. 'We love those moments when total strangers high-five because they both guessed 'green bell pepper' as a flavor note.'
Up next: Expect day trips, multi-day wine retreats and their 'Tournament of Champions' in June. They're also planning a fall getaway to Austin—'four to five days of amazing food and drink (all celiac-safe),' plus vineyard visits and community hangs. Until then, keep an eye on their Instagram and Eventbrite for happenings, and as always: no wine left behind.
Vin Collective
How it started: Vin Collective began with a craving—for connection, curiosity and conversation. After dipping into a few wine clubs around New York, Madison Geist realized none quite hit the sweet spot. 'Each one had its strengths, but I kept thinking, 'What if there was a space that was both relaxed and educational—without the pressure?'' A producer by trade and wine lover by nature, Geist finally stopped asking, 'Who am I to start a wine club?' and started building the thing she wished existed.
How it's going: Now, Vin Collective is quietly cultivating a loyal following of wine-curious New Yorkers. Think: a mix of thoughtful, eager-to-learn folks who want to drink something interesting and talk about it—without feeling like they need a degree to participate. 'I love opening the door for people who want to know more about wine,' Geist, who is a WSET Level 1, says. 'It warms my heart to see that spark of excitement.' Each tasting comes with a theme, discussion prompts and approachable info sheets that make the night feel like a fun, smart dinner party you didn't know you needed.
The vibe: Curious. Inviting. Unpretentious. The energy is warm and collaborative, with everyone encouraged to ask questions, share impressions and take up space—even if they're just learning the ropes. 'It's not about expertise,' Geist says. 'It's about exploring together.'