Our Story

It started around a table.

The 626 Club started the way the best things usually do — around a table, with a few open bottles and a lot of good conversation. What began as a handful of friends sharing wine in Pasadena has grown into a community of people who believe that great wine is meant to be shared, not hoarded.

We're not sommeliers. We're not critics. We're people who get excited when someone pulls a bottle out of their bag and says, “You have to try this.” That's the whole spirit of The 626 Club.

The best way to learn about wine is to drink it with people who are curious and generous — and that's exactly who shows up.

Two glasses of white wine raised in a toast

How It Works

No fees. No exams. One rule.

There are no membership fees, no entrance exams, no minimum bottle price. If you like wine and you like sharing, you're in.

  • Some nights have a themeSome gatherings are organized tastings built around something specific — a region, a grape, a vintage. Others are looser: bring whatever you're into right now and tell us why you love it. Either way, someone goes home having found a bottle they'd never have come across alone.
  • Any bottle is welcomeBring a $15 bottle you found at the grocery store or a $1,500 bottle you've been saving — both are welcome, and both will teach us something.
  • Come as you areSwirl it, spit it, take notes — plenty of us do, and there's real craft in tasting that way. What stays at the door is the idea that there's one correct way to enjoy a glass. Taste however you like, say what you actually think, and nobody will correct you.
  • Everyone gets a turnEvery guest says a few words about what they brought and why. There are no wrong answers.
Champagne bottles resting in a display case

The 626

Why the area code.

626 is the area code for Pasadena and the San Gabriel Valley. When we named the club, we wanted something that rooted us right here, in the place we love.

Pasadena has a long history of bringing people together — from the Rose Bowl to the Arroyo Seco to the restaurants and shops of Old Town. The 626 Club is our contribution to that tradition: a place where food, wine, and friendship come together.

Pasadena City Hall at dusk
Palms and the San Gabriels above Pasadena
Vineyard rows under a wide sky
An outdoor toast in the afternoon sun

The People Behind It

Run by volunteers.

The 626 Club is organized by a small group of volunteers who love wine and love Pasadena. We handle the logistics so everyone else can just show up and enjoy.

If you're interested in getting more involved — helping plan events, suggesting venues, or joining the organizing team — we'd love to hear from you.

Get Involved
The club gathered at a long candlelit table