The world of wine has a long history and is wrapped in tradition. Selecting the right wine is as much an art as a science. Perhaps this is why wine enthusiasts tend to hesitate before they buy wine online. Many wine aficionados enjoy being able to hold the bottle in their hands and examine the product in person before making a purchase.
If you are one such person, then you’re missing out by avoiding the online wine scene. There are many advantages to buying wine online. Greater convenience, lower prices, broader selections, near-limitless expert knowledge, and communities of wine lovers all await you. But first, let’s take a closer look at each benefit.
Price
Buying a wine online is far less expensive than buying the same wine in a store. There is a simple, straightforward reason for this: you’re missing out the middleman. Liquor stores and restaurants buy bottles of wine at wholesale prices, and then mark the price up 25% to 33% in order to make their profits. When you buy wine online, you are effectively getting it at the same price available to store owners and restaurateurs.
Selection
The selection of wines a liquor store or wine shop can offer is ultimately limited by their available shelf space. Even the huge wine megastores, however, can’t compare with the choice available on the web. Almost any wine from any winery in any country can be purchased online. Wine accessories, such as glasses and wine racks, can also be browsed and bought online.
Convenience
When you’re in a hurry, shopping on the internet can be much quicker and more efficient than driving to a liquor store and waiting to be served. You can shop and buy wine online from the comfort of your home. The bottles will be delivered to your doorstep. Conversely, you can browse online wine stores for hours if you want. Virtual wine shops are open twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week, fifty-two weeks a year. They never close.
Research
Many online wine stores include detailed information about their wines. This includes the differences between vintages and wineries, recommend wine and food pairings, and choosing the right wine for a specific occasion or event. Many online shops also provide links to other wine websites that offer even more detailed information. It is surprising how quickly one can become self-educated when they buy wine online.
Community
Many online wine shops double as wine communities. Any shopper, from professional wine tasters to common amateurs, can rate wines and post comments about them. Some wine web stores have forums where wine enthusiasts can ask questions and discuss their favourite brands. Expert blogs and open-contribution wine wikis, once fairly rare, are also becoming more and more common in the world of wine online.
Visit Laithwaites for an amazing selection of wine online.