Spectacular wine. Every time.

In 2007, on a family trip to California to a number of the local wineries, we were struck by:

  • the number of great wineries out there, new and old
  • the incredible range of available wines, in both quality and price
  • the number of people trying to find wines that meet their taste and budget

We lamented the many wine clubs we had belonged to over the years, which had produced such hit-and-miss (and expensive) results. And we agreed:

“There has to be a better way to find great wine.”a150tallcheesecrackers
Over the following months, I researched friends’ and family’s wine experiences from tasting events, grocery store purchases, and expert recommendations. Despite the promise of all the potentially great wines out there, folks were definitely having a hard time finding them — including me.

And that’s why this site exists: to share my discoveries with you and guarantee even leisurely wine enthusiasts an amazing new wine experience every time they lift the glass.

With all of the great new wines and wineries out there — 600 in Washington state alone! — life’s simply too short not to enjoy spectacular wine, every time.

Our Process
Each wine offered or featured on this site has been evaluated and confirmed as a Select Wine By Design, going through an extensive research and review process.

We consult the experts.
First, we meet with wine makers, sommeliers, restaurant owners, wholesalers, retailers, and valued friends who share our passion for great wines. We ask questions and identifying those wines that they just can’t live without. That gives us a good starting point to create a list of wineries that we want to get to know better.

We research the wineries.

  • What are critics and the industry saying about the winery?
  • Where do they get their fruit?
  • What is the philosophy or mission they stand behind?
  • How consistently do they produce spectacular wine?

We select only the best wines for our site.
Then the panel reviews and evaluates the wineries’ flagship wines for quality and value.

So far we have evaluated hundreds and hundreds of wines, and we have yet to get our “list” to the 100-bottle point yet — to give you an idea of our exceptionally high standards.

We have also passed on numerous 90+ rated wines. They were either marginally good or the panel discovered a significantly better wine at a similar or lower price point.

We love to research the expensive “best in class” wines for a particular varietal and then search for wines of equal or better quality, often from small yet-to-be-discovered wineries. Many of these have vineyards next door to the “rock star” wineries — sometimes even using the exact same grapes! We have discovered this is an excellent way to encounter amazing wines, at prices that are often 25 to 50 percent lower than their well-known counterparts.

Our Promise
You will never be embarrassed or disappointed by the selections we offer. We guarantee it.

You will never open a $30 dollar bottle and think you have been taken — again. You will open $18 bottles and smile — and come back for more. The wine you serve to your friends and family will dramatically improve — you’ll likely even get a reputation for “knowing wine.” You’ll find that when you pour the last glass, you’ll be relieved to you know where you can go to find more.

So join us in the adventure, and start enjoying bottle after bottle of amazing wine today. And kiss those disappointing random grocery store picks goodbye. There’s a better way to discover your new favorite wines: Select Wines By Design.

a175wineandrackBecome a member today — FREE

  • Let us do the work
  • Find wines that please your particular palette
  • Avoid disappointment
  • Get incredible deals
  • Discover new and unique wines
  • Demand nothing less than the best

I was tired of the hit-and-miss with the grocery store and other wine clubs. Having select wines meeting my preferences has made getting great wine easy, every time! — Elaine Wilson, Camano Island, WA

Select Wines by Design does the research to consistently deliver exceptional wine values — it’s all about beating the customer’s expectations. — Barry Masters , Seattle, WA

Select Wines has simply found a better way to consistently deliver great wine! — Amy Lazardi, Sammamish, WA