You don’t have to be a sommelier to love a full-bodied Chardonnay or a savoury Cabernet Sauvignon. Wine culture has existed for centuries, with evidence dating back to the Stone Age over 8,000 years ago.
Since then, peoples’ love of fermented grapes has grown into a booming multibillion-dollar global industry — in part due to exports and tourism. In fact, Canada ranks 35th in wine exports and is the largest producer of ice wine in the world.
From the dinner table to traditions and many celebrations, wine is a staple, albeit sometimes a pricey one. Oenophiles can rejoice to know there are three cost-effective credit card perks for wine enthusiasts.
Many credit cards reward cardholders for their restaurant and dining purchases. The American Express CobaltTM Credit Card offers up to five points for every $1 spent on eats and drinks, including restaurants and drinking establishments.
Similarly, the Scotiabank®* Gold American Express® Card offers five Scotia Rewards points for every $1 spent in the same categories. Also, pay no foreign transaction fees on foreign currency purchases made online or abroad — saving around 2.5%. This feature can come in handy while travelling or ordering wine from overseas.
Credit cards often offer additional perks and benefits on top of rewards or cash back. Usually, these features consist of travel insurance or concierge services, but they may also include experiences.
The Visa Infinite Dining Series usually offers complimentary tastings and discounts at select wineries in Ontario, B.C., and Sonoma. For now, the program is offering an at-home series with chef-curated food and wine pairings via virtual events. Cardholders can also get discounted wine deliveries.
Members of Scotia Rewards or other popular programs may be able to redeem their rewards for experiences such as wine tours, wine tastings and, eventually, travel to Wine Country.
Programs like Aeroplan or BMO Rewards often offer alternative redemption options to travel, which includes wine-related merchandise. Cardholders may be able to redeem rewards for wine glasses or appliances like a wine fridge.
However, it is important to note; cardholders will always get the best redemption value for travel. But, if you are itching to use your points while waiting for travel to resume, there are plenty of options.
Save on your next wine purchase with these major credit cards.
*The RATESDOTCA Best of Finance methodology assumes the cardholder spends an average of $2,000 a month on their card to determine the first-year value. The calculation includes all welcome bonuses and promotional offers at the time of publishing.
Earn up to 30,000 Membership Rewards® points with the American Express CobaltTM Credit Card. Earn 2,500 Membership Rewards® points each month you spend at least $500 on your card for the first year.
Regular features and benefits of this card include:
Get comprehensive travel insurance and exclusive benefits with this card. It features one of the most flexible rewards programs, allowing cardholders to redeem rewards for wine-related merchandise, gift cards to trendy restaurants, and almost anything else imaginable. American Express® Experiences grants cardholders access to food festivals, culinary events and more.
Offer expiry date: N/A subject to change without notice
New cardholders of the Scotiabank®* Gold American Express® Card can get up to 40,000 Scotia Rewards points in the first year. Earn 30,000 bonus Scotia Rewards points when you spend at least $1,000 in the first three months of opening the account. Get another 10,000 Scotia Rewards points when you spend at least $7,500 in the first 12 months.
Regular features and benefits of this card include:
This card also features excellent travel benefits, including no foreign transaction fees (typically around 2.5% to 3%), travel insurance, and the Best Price Guarantee on airfare through the Scotia Rewards Travel Service.
Redeem Scotia Rewards points for a LifeExperiences.ca gift certificate to access wine tours, tastings, dining experiences, and more. Or use your card abroad and pay no foreign transaction fees on purchases like wine and cheese or scenic winery tours.
Offer expiry date: August 31, 2021
The CIBC Aventura® Visa Infinite* Card offers up to 40,000 Aventura Points, a travel value of up to $850. Get 20,000 Aventura Points when you make your first purchases. Get an additional 1,250 Aventura Points each month you spend at least $1,000 in the first year, up to 20,000 points.
Plus, get an annual fee rebate for the first year.
Regular features and benefits of this card include:
This card also features comprehensive travel insurance coverage and a complimentary Priority PassTM membership with four free passes annually. Cardholders get a NEXUS application fee rebate (a $50 value) every four years.
Access Visa Infinite* Wine Country benefits like complimentary tastings and round-the-clock concierge services for booking reservations to restaurants.
Offer expiry date: N/A subject to change without notice
The BMO eclipse Visa Infinite* Card offers cardholders up to 40,000 bonus points. Get 25,000 points after you spend at least $3,000 in the first three months and another 15,000 points on your first anniversary. Plus, BMO will waive the $120 annual fee for the first year.
Regular features and benefits of this card include:
This card features mobile device insurance, shopping coverage, and basic travel insurance. Not only that, but cardholders also get a $50 annual lifestyle credit to spend however they want.
Members can earn 10% more rewards when they add an authorized user to the account — 5.5 points for every $1 spent on purchases in the accelerated categories like dining in or out and 1.1 points everywhere else.
Cardholders can access the Visa Infinite* Wine Country Series to get complimentary tastings and discounted wine deliveries from select wineries in Ontario and British Columbia.
Offer expiry date: October 31, 2021
The CIBC Dividend® Visa Infinite* Card offers cardholders 10% cash back for the first four months, up to $2,000 in total purchases. Plus, CIBC will rebate the annual fee for the first year.
Regular features and benefits of this card include:
This card also features mobile device insurance, travel insurance, discounts on fuel at select gas stations, and 24-hour complimentary concierge services.
Access the Visa Infinite* Dining and Wine Country Series for Wine Country benefits, including discounted wine deliveries from select wineries in Canada.
Offer expiry date: N/A subject to change without notice
New cardholders of the Scotia Momentum® Visa Infinite* Card can get 10% cash back for the first three months, up to $2,000 in total purchases. Plus, Scotiabank will waive the annual fee for the primary and additional cardholders for the first year.
Regular features and benefits of this card include:
This card also features a wide range of coverage, including travel and mobile device insurance.
Cardholders can access the Visa Infinite* Concierge Service for booking restaurant reservations and the Visa Infinite* Dining and Wine Country program.
Offer expiry date: August 31, 2021
The Alaska Airlines® Platinum Plus® Mastercard® offers cardholders 20,000 bonus Miles when they spend at least $1,000 in the first 90 days of opening the account.
Regular features and benefits of this card include:
Get Alaska’s Famous Companion Fare every year on your account anniversary. Buy one round trip and receive Alaska’s Famous Companion Fare from US$121 ($99 plus applicable taxes and fees from $22) on Alaska Airlines. There are no blackout dates.
Mileage PlanTM members can check a case of wine for free on Alaska Airlines when they fly from 30 West Coast Cities in the U.S.
This offer is not available for residents of Quebec. For residents of Quebec, please click here.
Offer expiry date: N/A subject to change without notice
New cardholders of the BMO eclipse Visa Infinite Privilege* Card can earn up to 50,000 bonus BMO Rewards points in the first year. Get 35,000 points when you spend at least $5,000 in the first three months, and get another 15,000 points after your first anniversary.
Regular features and benefits of this card include:
This card also features travel insurance, a complimentary Priority PassTM membership with six free visits annually, priority airport perks, and hotel and resort discounts. Cardholders also get a $200 annual lifestyle credit to spend as they wish.
Not only that, but members also earn 25% more rewards when they add an authorized user to the account — 6.25 points for every $1 spent on purchases in the accelerated categories like groceries and 1.25 points everywhere else.
Cardholders can access the Visa Infinite* Dining Series and Visa Infinite* Wine Country Series for exclusive experiences. Get complimentary tastings at select wineries in Ontario, British Columbia, and Sonoma.
Offer expiry date: October 31, 2021
The TD Cash Back Visa Infinite* Card welcome bonus offers new cardholders 6% cash back on all purchases for the first three months, up to $2,000 in total purchases. Plus, pay no annual fee for the primary and first additional cardholder for the first year. Apply by May 30, 2021. Conditions apply.
Regular features and benefits of this card include:
This card also features a complimentary Deluxe TD Auto Club Membership for roadside assistance, basic travel insurance, and discounts on select car rentals.
Access Visa Infinite* Food and Wine Experiences to get premium benefits at participating wineries in British Columbia and Ontario.
This offer is not available for residents of Quebec. For Quebec residents, please click here.
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Offer expiry date: August 16th, 2021
The Scotiabank PassportTM Visa Infinite* Card offers new cardholders up to 40,000 bonus Scotia Rewards points in the first year. Earn 30,000 Scotia Rewards points when you make at least $1,000 in purchases within the first three months of opening the account. Earn another 10,000 Scotia Rewards points when you spend at least $40,000 on the card annually.
Regular features and benefits of this card include:
This card also features excellent travel benefits, including no foreign transaction fees, complimentary Priority Pass™ membership with six free passes annually, and travel insurance.
Access the Visa Infinite Dining and Wine Country program for complimentary tastings and discounts. Some benefits are even accessible from the comfort of your own home.
Offer expiry date: July 1, 2021
Rates, product information, and reward estimates are subject to change at any time and do not constitute financial advice. This post was not sponsored. The views and opinions expressed in this review are purely those of RATESDOTCA. Information in this article is accurate as of the date of this posting, May 5, 2021. Read our full disclaimer.