If you’ve already dabbled into the world of online wine purchases or you are hoping to grow your wine cellar and are seeking an edge to online wine buying, we are here to help you gain enough comfort to shift your buying habits to the digital world.
This process may intimate you at first but there are simple methods any wine collector can use to make online wine ordering process fool-proof and to make spectacular additions to your wine collections.
Check Your Location for Mailing Details
Across the United States, there is a wide array of shipment and transport guidelines. Each state has its own set of laws and rules that you are intended to follow. In most cases, shipments and online orders can be made across states without any hiccups. Prior to the last few years, that wasn’t the case. Some states are still lagging and don’t allow shipments to be brought into the state from a retailer, and stricter states don’t allow wine shipments at all. Before you make any purchases, check your state’s guidelines for shipping. If you are shipping to a Wine Storage Partners location in California you are likely okay to receive shipments from out of state.
Buy Directly From a Loved Winery
When it comes to wine, collectors often have clear varietal, region, and winery preferences. If you are going to make a large purchase, it’s a good idea to buy from a winery that you already a fan of or is reputable. This reputability comes from the consistency with their product, service, and value. If you are a member then you are likely able to benefit from extra discounts on their website. If you are looking to make a splash purchase on a rare or expensive wine, it’s best to buy straight from the winery or verified retailer. By doing so, you can be sure of the wine’s provenance and know that it’s been in good hands.
Have a Budget in Mind
We’ve all been there. You’ve been looking through an online site for a while and your cart just keeps growing as you find item after item that you want. You’ve added way too many items. The best way to prevent this is to go in with a budget for what you plan to spend. Or not, wine is great, and if you are going to buy more wine later why not just buy it now? That’s what I tell myself when I’m wine shopping so buy on.
Always Read Merchant Reviews
When you’re buying wine online, you want to know that the retailer has a good reputation. Almost any retailer will be set to a higher standard than individual sellers but it’s still important to check for reviews or press on them if you’ve never used that retailer or haven’t heard from them. A good retailer will have a history of success with recurring customers and will be able to show off positive reviews from those customers.
Be Aware of the Weather While Shipping
It might feel counterintuitive to limit your online wine ordering to the colder seasons, but it must be done. Wine and heat don’t mix. Almost all online purchases will be shipped without climate control and can sit in a hot truck or in a distribution center for longer periods than you’d be comfortable with. Wineries shipping their allocations don’t ship from May to September for good reason.
When you are ready to dip your toes into the online wine market remember to keep this post in mind and you’ll be confident to make quality purchases.
