Last updated on September 7th, 2021
Celtic Bank and Grand Reserve Rewards are launching a new credit card aimed at wine enthusiasts. The Grand Reserve World Mastercard offers savings on Grand Reserve purchases, wineries, wine clubs, and wine shops, plus a complimentary Priority Wine Pass. This new credit card raises questions as to the market space it occupies. Are there any other wine-specific credit cards that allow oenophiles to earn while they spend? The answer is no. So, what are the best credit cards for buying wine?
The Best Credit Cards for Wine Lovers of 2020
American Express
The Blue Cash Preferred Card from American Express is an excellent option for the wine connoisseur who also wants everyday value. The Amex Blue Cash Preferred earns an impressive 6% cash back on the first $6,000 spent per year on purchases at grocery stores. It also earns excellent cash back on dining – something it shares in common with the Blue Cash Everyday Card from American Express.
Another Amex offering is similarly impressive. The Gold Card, an American Express charge card staple, earns 4X Membership Rewards points on the dining and U.S. grocery store purchase categories. While this bonus category is limited to the first $25,000 in spending each year, for many Americans, that’s more than enough breathing room.
Chase
American Express doesn’t have a monopoly on the best grocery credit cards, however. The Amazon Prime Rewards Visa Signature from Chase is one of a few attractive rewards cards for those who prefer their wine from Whole Foods. The card lets cardholders earn 5% cash back on select purchases at Amazon.com or at Whole Foods. This leeway provides customers with the option of purchasing their favorite tipple at any Whole Foods location, on the Amazon app, or online at Amazon.com.
Chase now features new benefits for its Sapphire credit cards, as well. The Chase Sapphire Reserve, for instance, earns 5X points on Instacart purchases. Instacart is a popular mobile app that allows members to purchase groceries (including beer, wine, and spirits) from hundreds of vendors and have them delivered to their homes.
Chase Sapphire Preferred credit cardholders earn 3X on Instacart purchases. Given that card has an annual fee of $400 less than the Reserve, 3X points are an excellent value. Additionally, the Chase Sapphire Preferred rates consistently as one of the best restaurants and dining credit cards on the market.
The Chase Ultimate Rewards program is also a much more lucrative option for members than the Grand Reserve Rewards program that comes with the Grand Reserve World Mastercard. Chase points have a higher value than those of Grand Reserve Rewards – and more redemption options.
The Sapphire Preferred is a Visa Signature product, meaning it offers a similar luxury package to the Grand Reserve wine card. The Sapphire Reserve, on the other hand, is a Visa Infinite card, offering the very pinnacle of Visa customer service and benefits – something Grand Reserve cannot match.
Capital One
The Capital One Savor Cash Rewards is a perennial favorite for the best dining and entertainment rewards credit card. The card offers an impressive 4% back on dining and entertainment purchases and 2% back on grocery store purchases.
Citi
Citi also offers great credit cards that appeal to broad tastes – including grape varietals. The Citi Prestige Card, for example, earns a massive, 5X points on travel and dining purchases. The card also offers some COVID-19 specific perks that make it an excellent grocery store card as well – more on that later.
For those who like to dine out – and buy in bulk – the Costco Anywhere Visa® Card by Citi offers 3% cash back on restaurant purchases and 2% back on all purchases at Costco.
Wine Credit Cards for Bad Credit
A bad credit score doesn’t mean a wine lover is disqualified from savings. The Discover It Secured Card is an excellent option for the wine connoisseur who wants to rebuild their damaged credit and earn cash back at the same time.
The Secured Card version of the Discover It chrome Card earns unlimited 2% back on dining and gas station purchases. Even better, Discover matches all the cash back earned after the first year automatically through their Cashback Match program.
Other Cards to Consider
PenFed Platinum Rewards VISA Signature® Card
- 5X points per dollar spent on gas at the pump, and 3X points on groceries. 1X points on all other purchases
- $100 statement credit when you spend $1,500 in the first 90 days of card account opening
- 0% intro APR on balance transfers for 12 months after account opening
- No annual fees and no foreign transaction fees
Wells Fargo Propel American Express® Card
- Earn 3X points on dining, travel, gas stations, and streaming services
- Earn 1 rewards point per U.S. dollar spent on other purchases
- Rewards points earning is unlimited and points do not expire as long as your account remains open
- Enjoy cell phone protection against damage or theft when you pay your monthly cell phone bill with your eligible Wells Fargo credit card
- Receive complimentary discounts or food and beverage items at participating restaurants
U.S. Bank Altitude® Go Visa Signature® Card
- Earn 20,000 bonus points after you spend $1,000 on purchases in the first 90 days. That’s a $200 value redeemable towards merchandise, gift cards, cash back, travel, and more
- Earn 4X points per $1 spent on takeout, dining, and food delivery
- Earn 2X points per $1 spent at grocery stores, grocery delivery, streaming services and gas stations
- Get a $15 credit for annual streaming service purchases
Credit Cards with COVID-19 Grocery Benefits
The coronavirus pandemic may also be an unwitting ally to the wine lovers in America. Many credit card issuers are providing additional points or cash back on grocery store purchases during the COVID-19 pandemic, including Chase, Citi, and American Express.
Check back regularly, as this page will be updated as new offers are introduced.
Chase Bank
The following Chase credit cards earn additional points on groceries during the coronavirus pandemic:
- Chase Freedom Unlimited – 5% cash back at grocery stores (excluding Walmart and Target)
- Amazon Prime Rewards Visa Signature – $100 Amazon gift card upon approval (Can be used for wine!)
Chase previously offered additional points on grocery purchases for over a dozen credit cards, but this promotion has expired.
Citibank
Citi is also introducing new bonus categories for cardholders during the coronavirus pandemic.
Citi Prestige cards now earn 5X points on online retailers, online grocery store purchases, and online drugstore purchases. Prestige cardholders can also apply their annual $250 statement credit for travel towards dining and grocery store purchases. This new option makes it even easier to offset wine purchases when dining out – or eating in.
The Citi Premier Card also features a new bonus, earning 3X points on dining and groceries. This new feature appears to be a regular bonus category going forward, not coronavirus related.
Bank of America
Bank of America is allowing BoA Travel Rewards cardholders to redeem rewards points for dining (including takeout) and grocery purchases. Typically, offsetting travel expenses is the only redemption option with the card.
Capital One
The Capital One Venture and Capital One VentureOne now earn 5X points on Uber Eats purchases through January 31, 2021. The Capital One Savor, and Capital One SavorOne cards will also earn additional rewards, with both getting 5% cash back on Uber Eats – also through January 2021.
Since Uber Eats allows delivery of spirits, wine, and beer in some locations, this makes these cards an excellent option for the wine lover who wants to spend a quiet evening on the couch – or those planning a small get together with friends or family.
Conclusion
While the Grand Reserve World Mastercard is a unique offering, there are plenty of great credit cards for wine lovers already on the market. Many of these cards offer more excellent value than the Grand Reserve card, as they earn more points in every day (and wine-related) categories, such as dining and groceries.
