Some of you might remember that Nina and I actively pursued membership in the Wine Century Club over the last year. In March this year, the wonderful 2007 Pirita finally brought me over the threshold of having had wines made from 100 different grapes, and shortly thereafter, Nina took the hurdle as well.
Just a short explainer: The Wine Century Club is an honors-system based club. The sole goal of the club is to encourage people to think outside of the box when buying or ordering wine. The “century” in the name refers to 100. You can only become a member, once you have tried 100 different grape varieties in wine. Membership is free and all it takes is mailing in a form (which you can find here), on which you tick off the grapes you have had. It is optional to provide the names of the wines you had the grapes in.
It took us a while to get our act together, but on June 19, 2013 did we finally send in our spreadsheets, filled with the grapes that we have consumed…and remembered. Then started a waiting period. There was no acknowledgement of receipt, and we had no idea how long it would take. I knew other friends who had also submitted their application and had not heard back by early October…I decided not to worry and wait and see. After all, the Wine Century Club is a hobby for those running it, and sometimes life just gets in the way of things.
And the wait paid off: Our membership certificates arrived, and oh man am I excited! I didn’t imagine that I would get this excited, but I definitely am. They even got the Umlaut (the two dots over my last name) right!!! The accompanying letter states that there are somewhere over 1,300 members worldwide. If they had as much fun as Nina and I did getting there, then there are 1,300 really happy folks out there!
Last week, Anatoli received his Quatro Membership certificate (for 400 grape varieties tried), so it seems like they are working on the stash of applications (and Julian and Stefano received theirs as well). But naturally, Anatoli is inspiring us to aim at least for the double membership as soon as we can! Why don’t you get into the game and try joining the club with us?
As an aside: I plan on writing from Germany as well, so there should be no significant lapses in blogging as you have seen all through October. Talk to you from the other side of the Atlantic soon!
Finally an official member!!
the winegetter 
Thank you, Oliver, you’ve inspired me! I have just applied for a membership too :D
PS: It was not difficult to reach 100 grape varieties after half a year in the Balkans ahahaha…
Glad you applied!! And yes, the Balkans, Italy, Greece and Portugal are great for expanding the list…:D
Congrats, my Man! Well done! :-)
Sorry about the double post but I thought that my old comment from yesterday didn’t go through for some reason but now I can see both so you might as well delete one of the two please :)
Done! I took it doubly as well, though, fellow distinguished member! :)
Congratulations! Enjoy your journey :)
congratulations! Keep drinking!
Thanks, will do, my muse! ;)
Filling in the form right now!
Woohoo!
Congrats! I am working on mine – my Wine Century Party is on Saturday to help me along!
Good luck with your party! It will be so much fun!!
congrats to both of you and bring on the german posts )
Thanks!
Congratulations to you and Nina. I’m looking forward to your blogs and pics of your beautiful homeland.
Thanks, Linda! Lots to look forward to…
This is awesome!
Thanks, Melanie!!
How fabulous and cool! Congratulations! Can’t wait to hear about your adventures in Germany.
Thanks Megan! More adventures ahead!! YAY!
Congrats!! But, ahem, I’m a a doppel member.
Dude, I am on my way!! :D
That’s awesome!!
Thanks!! Come join me! :)
:-)
Congratulations!
Grazie tanti!! :)
Congratulations and a safe trip.
Thanks!
You are an inspiration! Reviewing my grape varietals is now on the top of my list. Thank you! Congratulations / Glückwunsch!
Thanks Ernest! Can’t wait to have you join us!!
Congratulations and welcome to the club! The question is: Are you going to keep counting?
Yes, current count is 128. :)
Congratulations–that’s very cool.
Have a safe and happy trip. We’ll be thinking of you, and looking forward to reading your posts from over the Atlantic. :)
Thanks, Tracy!! Will do.