FAQs

What is your mission?

We promote the knowledge and appreciation of wine, encouraging members to explore their own preferences through a range of educational opportunities, including tastings, curated wine pairing dinners, and other social events.

Our members enjoy learning about wine, and we welcome women with all levels of wine knowledge and tasting experience.

We strive to make each event a fun and engaging opportunity to meet new friends, share a glass of wine, and learn about the origins, traditions, and influences that shape the world of wine.

How long has Women’s Wine Society been in existence?

Women’s Wine Society was founded and incorporated in January 2014. We held our first official event in February 2014. Prior to that, we were part of a national organization under a different name. 

What are the benefits of becoming a member?

Benefits include:



• exclusive member pricing for most monthly events
• early access to limited-capacity events
• members-only wine raffle at each event
• access to members-only content on our website 

How much does it cost to join?

Our annual fee for membership is $60.00, paid annually on the month that you join. 



Do I have to be a member to attend an event?

Guests are welcome to attend events that are not designated as members-only. There is typically a surcharge of $10 for guests, depending on the event.

How many members do you have?

Our membership roster tends to range between 45 - 55 people. Attendance at events tends to range between 25 - 40 people and is largely dependent on the venue’s room capacity. 



How are events priced?

The pre-paid event registration fee for members is based on the food, beverage, staff, taxes, and gratuity as priced by the venue. There are additional service fees for PayPal. 

Women's Wine Society is a non-profit organization and does not receive monetary compensation from these events. No additional gratuities are expected at the event.

What is the dress code for events?

Dress code varies depending on the particular venue, but we are typically a fairly casual group. Some attendees are coming directly from work, so you might see anything from jeans to business casual attire. Our annual holiday event in January is the exception, where you typically see more festive, cocktail party attire. 

How often do you have an event? 

The Women's Wine Society hosts events on a monthly basis, typically scheduled on the 4th Monday of the month. However, due to holidays and venue availability, the day and time may change. Our annual holiday event takes place on a Saturday in late January. 

 

Can my food allergy be accommodated?

We request dietary restrictions on each event registration form and convey that information to the venue. We do our best to make sure they offer alternatives but cannot guarantee what the restaurant can accommodate. We often do not know the substitutions in advance of the event.

Do men ever attend the events?

Yes, they do! We occasionally advertise an event as co-ed and encourage spouse/partner attendance. We do this for the annual holiday event in January, and often for the bonus event in December. Men are welcome to attend events that aren’t advertised as co-ed, with the understanding that they’ll likely be the only male in attendance. 

Can I purchase any of the wine presented at the events and tastings?

 Each event is different. The ability to purchase the wines will be announced during the event.



Does your organization support local charities?

Yes, we do! For the last several years we have collected donations in the form of donated goods or raffle ticket proceeds and made donations to charities like Safe Harbor, Richmond Animal Care and Control Foundation (RACC), Chesterfield Christmas Mother, Richmond Fridges, and Little Hands Virginia. We are grateful for the generous support of our members and guests during these charity drives.

What kind of nonprofit organization is WWS?

We are registered as a nonprofit 501(c)(7) social club. Section 501(c)(7) permits social clubs to organize “for pleasure, recreation, and other nonprofitable purposes.” Organizations qualifying under this provision include (1) college fraternities operating chapter houses for students; (2) country clubs; (3) amateur hunting, fishing, tennis, swimming, and other sport clubs; (4) dinner clubs that provide a meeting place, library, and dining room for members; (5) variety clubs; (6) community associations; and (7) hobby clubs. We are exempt from paying taxes on our income. 

 Are my dues tax-deductible?

Donations or dues paid to Section 501(c)(7) corporations are not tax-deductible. That provision of the tax code applies only to Section 501(c)(3) charities. Thus, donors to social clubs may not claim a charitable deduction under Section 170. They also may not generally claim that the dues or other amounts paid to a social club constitute a

deduction as a business expense.

Please reach out if you have any other questions.