Buying wine online can be overwhelming. Our blog post titled “Buying Wine Online – 6 Essential Elements You Should Know” will provide you with the necessary information to confidently explore and select the best wine for your budget. Let’s uncork the knowledge!
And even if you’re a sommelier, it doesn’t exempt you from such restrictions, making it difficult to source the best wines. However, purchasing them online is a highly viable option in these challenging times. But what essential elements must you know when shopping for wine online?
Here Is What We Will Cover
Do This Before You Buy Online
Before you take that plunge and place your order, there are some things you need to know and understand if you want to have a pleasant experience when buying wine online. This article will help you understand what you should know when buying wine online and how to make the entire experience easier.
#1 Understand The Delivery Times
One of the first things you should know when buying wine online is how long it takes to be delivered to your doorstep. This is crucial since delivery times can vary greatly depending on the supplier, with some delivering within three days, whereas others offer two-week delivery times.
However, it’s doubtful you’ll appreciate the wine that takes an extended duration to get delivered. Therefore, to ensure you’re getting the best value for money, you must consider the delivery times. And as you do this, make sure to also factor in the shipping costs.
Shipping costs vary depending on the shipping company, the distance the wine is being shipped, and the weight and size of the package. In general, shipping wine is more expensive than shipping other goods.
#2 Don’t Always Go For The Cheapest Option
It’s always advised to get the best value when shopping for wines at stores like Usual wines and the like. With that said it’s also important to remember that cheap is expensive. Therefore, rather than prioritizing the price of wine as the primary reason you opt for one brand over another, you also need to consider its quality.
This means you also shouldn’t overlook the importance of getting something that, in addition to offering you excellent value, tastes good to you. The last thing you want to do is waste your hard-earned cash buying wine you won’t enjoy, so go for quality over price when buying wine online. By doing this, you’ll be able to relax and concentrate on enjoying the wine instead of regretting your wasted money.
#3 Always Opt For A Reputable Vendor
Another crucial thing to consider when buying wine online is the wine vendor’s reputation. And because there are many sellers online, you must do your due diligence and conduct thorough research to determine the seller’s reliability. You can do this by reading the customer reviews on how well a specific wine vendor served them.
You should also ask the online wine seller several questions to determine whether they are experienced in the industry and sell quality products. With a trustworthy wine seller, you safeguard yourself from constantly worrying about whether the product is of acceptable quality or the payment method is safe. All these precautionary measures are advised since many online wine-selling businesses aren’t regulated by the state.
Thus, you must confirm a vendor’s reputation by visiting the Better Business Bureau or checking with other local business owners to see if anyone has filed a complaint against them. If there are any negative reports, avoiding such sellers is advisable.
Most reputable wine vendors use major shipping companies. Some use smaller, specialized wine shippers that offer various services, such as temperature-controlled shipping and insurance.
Is it worth obtaining insurance or ordering from a seller who offers one? Rare bottles of wine can be worth thousands or even millions of dollars. If your wine is damaged or lost during shipping, you could suffer a significant financial loss. Hence, find a trusted vendor that can offer some sort of guarantee or insurance.
These vendors carefully package wines to prevent them from breaking or being damaged by heat or cold. They pack wine bottles in sturdy boxes with plenty of packing material to cushion them. The boxes are also labeled ‘Wine’ and ‘Fragile’ to ensure proper handling.
#4 Ensure Wine Is Safeguarded From Heat
Exposure to heat is the last thing you’d want for the bottle of wine you’ve ordered online. Temperatures above 85 degrees will destroy how refined your wine is since it causes oxidation and, in some cases, the corks to crack. Because of this, it’s vital to ensure that all the precautionary measures when shipping your bottle of wine are observed to protect the wine. Otherwise, you might end up with a bad bottle of wine that’s ruined even before it gets to your doorstep.
If you wish to avoid the quality of wine getting diminished due to heat, ensure a reputable delivery service does the delivery. With such carriers, you can be sure that your wine will be stored in air-conditioned storage throughout the entire trip hence safeguarded from heat exposure.
#5 Understand The Shipping Laws And Policies
When ordering wine online, you must understand shipping laws in your state. This looks relatively obvious and hence ignored by most people, but several states don’t permit wine delivery right to your doorstep. While this only applies to a few states, it’s always best to be cautious, and this means reading through the liquor laws in your state before you request for online shipping of wine.
You should also take a look at the shipping policies of the company. Some wineries or third-party vendors only ship during certain times of the year, such as Valentine’s Day or their Christmas sale. Some vineyards offer free delivery when buying wine online. Others have different policies depending on the amount of wine you wish to order. It’s advisable to familiarize yourself with the distributor’s policies before you place your order to avoid unpleasant surprises.
Some countries have restrictions on wine importation regarding the amount or type of wine that can be imported. For example, the United States has a tariff on imported wine, and Australia only allows the import of wine approved by the government.
#6 Be Cautious of Wine Clubs
Wine clubs operate like subscription services whereby they send you a prechosen wine after every one or two months. These might look like a great deal if you want to buy your wine online, especially since it is available at pocket-friendly prices. However, the downside of these wine clubs is you don’t know which wine will get delivered. This means you don’t get to examine where the wine is coming from or whether it is of acceptable quality.
To avoid such frustrations, you should avoid these wine clubs even though they might look appealing initially.
What Wine Regions Are in Michigan?
Michigan has five American Viticultural Areas (AVAs), federally designated regions where the wines produced exhibit similar characteristics distinct from other regions.
- Fennville AVA is located in southwestern Michigan and is known for its cool-climate wines, such as Riesling and Pinot Noir.
- Lake Michigan Shore AVA is located along the eastern shore of Lake Michigan and is known for its diverse range of wines, from light-bodied whites to full-bodied reds.
- Leelanau Peninsula AVA is located on the Leelanau Peninsula and is known for its high-quality Riesling and Pinot Noir wines.
- Old Mission Peninsula AVA is located on the Old Mission Peninsula and is known for its sparkling wines and Pinot Noir and Chardonnay wines.
- Tip of the Mitt AVA is located in the northeastern part of the Lower Peninsula and is known for its cool-climate wines, such as Riesling and Pinot Noir.
These regions’ climate and soil conditions are ideal for growing wine grapes, and the state’s wine industry has been growing rapidly in recent years. In 2020, Michigan produced over 2 million gallons of wine, making it the 10th largest wine producer in the United States.
Top Types of Michigan Wines Available Online
Michigan is a leading producer of wine in the United States, and the state is home to a wide variety of wine grapes. Here are some of the top types of Michigan wines:
Riesling: Riesling is a white wine grape known for its crisp, refreshing acidity and fruity flavors. Michigan is one of the leading producers of Riesling in the United States, and the wines produced here are often praised for their quality.
Cabernet Franc: Cabernet Franc is a red wine grape similar to Cabernet Sauvignon but lighter and less astringent. Michigan Cabernet Franc wines are often fruity and flavorful, with a hint of spice.
Cabernet Sauvignon: Cabernet Sauvignon is a red wine grape that is known for its full-bodied flavor and bold tannins. Michigan Cabernet Sauvignon wines are often aged in oak barrels, which gives them a complex flavor profile.
Merlot: Merlot is a red wine grape known for its smooth, fruity flavor. Michigan Merlot wines are often light-bodied and easy to drink.
Pinot Noir: Pinot Noir is a red wine grape known for its delicate, elegant flavor. Michigan Pinot Noir wines are often light-bodied and fruity, with a hint of earthiness.
Final Thoughts on Buying Wine Online
So, you want to start buying wine online, and hopefully, you’ll achieve it with some degree of success. But before getting started, there are several things you should know about buying wine online before you even make your purchase. In this informative guide, we’ve enlightened you on the things you need to consider to help you be sure that you’re getting the best service, the best product, and the best price.
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