Purchasing wine is what we’ll be focusing on in this installment of our wine guide…
The majority of wine purchased is sold by supermarkets; its presence next to everyday items like milk and bread making it easily accessible to millions of consumers.
However, in terms of the quality and range of wine stocked, the average supermarket doesn’t fare well. The labels may be different and the country of origin may be different but the wines will soon begin to all taste the same. The reason being that more often than not they’re made to the specifications of the supermarkets, who insist on average, middle of the road, risk free recipes.
A better option than supermarkets are regional and national wine merchant chains. Relying on these for the supply of some of your wine will result in a great deal more pleasure than shopping only at the supermarket. You’ll be able to find lesser known, higher quality wines. Their basic wines are still priced competitively with supermarkets; this being made possible by their considerable buying power.
Try out small independent merchants too. You’ll get knowledgeable advice and excellent service at them. Find out about a wine beyond just reading the label by asking the owner to give you their views on it; they’ll likely be honest as turning you into a regular customer is better for them than making a one-off sale. You won’t find this type of service at any supermarket.
Looking beyond supermarkets and wine merchants, internet and mail order opportunities exist. They give you access to thousands of wines as opposed to the hundreds you’ll find in a supermarket or wine merchants. Discounted prices are normally available and delivery takes just a day or two. For many, this is a perfect way to buy wine.
Another, lesser used, option is to visit the winemakers and buy directly from them. For real wine enthusiasts, there’s no better way; taking in the landscape the grapes were grown in and meeting the people who grew them will tell you much more about a wine than any label or review possibly could. Whether in the Americas, Europe or Australia, it’s common for wine producers to have tasting facilities for visitors. In addition to being able to taste a multitude of wines, it’s also probable that they’ll be available at prices substantially cheaper than retail stores.
Want to know more about wine? Take a look at our free guide: Wine 101