Call me a dilettante; I don’t mind. I’m a dabbler, a proud self-professed amateur in a lot of things. That includes drinks, especially wine. I know my way around a French 75 and a thing or two about Cali cabs and Burgundian gamays. But my knowledge stops well short of true expertise.
Luckily for me, plenty of real pros in Detroit can help me expand my knowledge. I’m all in for a wine-tasting event like the ones hosted by Freya, MotorCity Wine, and Alpino. For a relatively small entry fee, I’ve discovered new grapes that quickly became favorites. My sister and I still swoon over the Alsatian Jacquère we tried at an Alpino tasting. On any given winter Wednesday, it’s a good bet that I’m swinging by The Royce to chat with the visiting winemakers and bringing home a bottle or two based on their recommendations.
But of course, tastings aren’t just about getting your hands on a case of new treasures. Thor Jones launched Hospitality Included in 2020 to bridge the gap between the city’s food and beverage professionals and consumers. Last June, he folded in the Hospitality Included Wine Club. It’s more of an in-bar residency than a traditional club. With the motto “Sip. Stay. Find your way,” the monthly event is a celebration of community and the love of the grape for beginners and professionals alike.
“A lot of people are still somewhat intimidated by wine and don’t know a ton about it,” Jones says. “It’s kind of hard to just jump into, so the idea was to take someone who’s influential in the wine world and pair them with somebody who’s an influential voice in the city that’s respected and has good taste [such as an artist or musician]. We connect them and let them collaboratively come up with a wine list.”
This April, the club kicked off the season at Ladder 4 in southwest Detroit, lauded for its food menu and wine list. The tastemaker and sommelier work together to create an of-the-moment, revelatory wine list, paired with food from local chefs like Imani Battle of Nourish Ramen.
The appeal of wine clubs is the personal touch. Jones’s events lean into the communal energy that social gatherings spark. “If you’re not familiar with the wine world,” he says, “it’s a lot easier to come in and try some wine [recommended by] an artist you like … as opposed to a sommelier you aren’t familiar with talking about terroir and all these other terms that you may not be familiar with. I think it’s a lower barrier of entry.”
Wine clubs give sommeliers a chance to share their enthusiasm for unusual or underestimated grapes. For guests like me, it’s all about letting the experts provide insider access.
Sign Up for Wine
Here’s what a few local wine clubs have to offer:
MotorCity Wine
Tastings on the second Saturday of each month from 5-7 p.m. for $20. motorcitywine.com.
The Royce
Complimentary wine tastings every Wednesday with winemakers from around the world and wine club memberships ranging from $55 per month for three bottles. theroycedetroit.com.
Alpino
Monthly wine club memberships from $52 to $135 and quarterly special event tastings. alpinodetroit.com.
Michigan by the Bottle
Michigan-only wine bundles for holidays and wine club memberships. michiganbythebottle.com.
This story originally appeared in the June 2026 issue of Hour Detroit magazine. To read more, pick up a copy of Hour Detroit at a local retail outlet. Click here to get our digital edition.
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