Best Places To Order Wine Online In 2021
In case you hadn’t noticed, 2020 gave us all a reason or two to have a drink or three. There was civil unrest, a stressful political season, and of course the wretched COVID-19 pandemic. If wine is your usual drink of choice whether for perfect pairings at meal time, a relaxing moment on the couch once the kids are asleep, or to sip from a mug during yet another painstaking Zoom meeting 2020 also made it harder to find favorite bottles, as many of us avoided going out to shop .
The good news is that it’s easier than ever to find and buy great bottles of wine online. And as more and more customers are turning to the web to buy their wine, beer, and spirits, you can count on online booze buying to become ever easier and more popular as time goes on. According to a survey conducted by Drizzly, independent American liquor stores saw their online sales more than double during the COVID-19 pandemic compared to sales from the year prior. And a survey by vinSUITE conducted just after the 2020 Thanksgiving holiday saw a 78% increase in online wine sales compared to the Thanksgiving week of 2019.
Online wine sales are here to stay, and here are ten of the best places to get your wine online.
For The Most Part Ignore The Label
“Labels have absolutely nothing to do with the quality of the wine,” Isle says. “They do have a lot to do with marketing budgets and convincing people to buy the wine,” he adds with a chuckle.
The language on a label, especially for American wines, typically isn’t very helpful. In the U.S., the word “reserve” doesn’t mean anything there’s no legal definition, Isle says. “Old vines” also doesn’t have any true meaning. In contrast, European wine regions tend to have restrictive labeling laws, so the words used to describe the wine may reference official qualifications.
If you are scrutinizing a wine label, there are two things that can be actually helpful: the alcohol content and the location. Table wines range from 12% to 15.5% alcohol, Isle says. If it’s a hot day, you may want to avoid a high-alcohol wine because it tends to be richer and heavier. Lower alcohol levels tend to have a lighter flavoring.
Next, take note of the specific place the wine is produced, Thorsen says. The smaller the better. Let’s say you have three bottles of Cabernet Sauvignon at the same price in your basket. One says it is from “California.” The second bottle says “North Coast.” The third is labeled “Lake County.”
Mix And Matching Your Wine Where To Start
For those new to creating a case of their own, we have some pointers that will help! Remember to consider your budget and preferences when making your case you should always get what you want and will enjoy rather than what the internet says!
To make a starter case of mixed wines, its good for you to have a mixture of everything. Its a great way to try new wines or cater to a party. You can include:
- Two sparkling wines
- Five bottles of white wine
- Five bottles of red wine
Once you have this outline to work with, you can customize the case to your liking. For example, you could substitute two bottles of red wine for rose or drop a white wine to add a bottle of sparkling wine.
You might want to adjust the amount of bold and light wines you have to suit your tastes, too the choice is yours here, so dont be afraid to include what you want to drink!
Dont forget to add some sweet wines for pairing with desserts! When it comes to building your case and mixing, there are endless possibilities. We think its worth adding something new to the experiment too.
How else will you discover wonderful new wines that you will enjoy? Especially when you are getting a reduced rate, you might as well make the most of it and get some tasty wine?
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Nk’mip Cellars 2016 Medal Winners
2015 NK’MIP CELLARS QWAM QWMT RIESLING ICEWINE– Gold, InterVin Wine Awards- Silver, British Columbia Wine Awards
2015 NK’MIP CELLARS WINEMAKER’S DREAMCATCHER– Bronze, InterVin Wine Awards
2015 NK’MIP CELLARS WINEMAKER’S PINOT BLANC– Silver, InterVin Wine Awards
2015 NK’MIP CELLARS WINEMAKER’S ROSÉ– Silver, San Francisco Wine Awards- Bronze, InterVin Wine Awards- Silver, British Columbia Wine Awards
2014 NK’MIP CELLARS QWAM QWMT CABERNET SAUVIGNON– Gold, InterVin Wine Awards- Bronze, British Columbia Wine Awards
2014 NK’MIP CELLARS QWAM QWMT CHARDONNAY– Silver, Chardonnay du Monde- Bronze, British Columbia Wine Awards
2014 NK’MIP CELLARS QWAM QWMT MERLOT– Gold, InterVin Wine Awards
2014 NK’MIP CELLARS QWAM QWMT RIESLING ICEWINE– Gold, British Columbia Wine Awards- Silver, San Francisco Wine Awards
2014 NK’MIP QWAM QWMT SYRAH– Silver, InterVin Wine Awards- Bronze, British Columbia Wine Awards
2014 NK’MIP CELLARS WINEMAKER’S DREAMCATCHER- Double Gold, Six Nations Wine Challenge- Silver, British Columbia Wine Awards- Silver, Decanter World Wine Awards
2014 NK’MIP CELLARS WINEMAKER’S PINOT NOIR– Double Gold, San Francisco Wine Awards- Bronze, InterVin Wine Awards- Bronze, British Columbia Wine Awards
2014 NK’MIP CELLARS WINEMAKER’S TALON– Silver, InterVin Wine Awards- Silver, British Columbia Wine Awards
2013 NK’MIP CELLARS WINEMAKERS PINOT BLANC– Bronze, Decanter World Wine Awards
2013 NK’MIP CELLARS QWAM QWMT MER’R’IYM– Silver, British Columbia Wine Awards
Nk’mip Cellars 2015 Medal Winners
2014 NK’MIP CELLARS WINEMAKER’S DREAMCATCHER– Gold, InterVin Wine Awards- Best Value, InterVin Wine Awards- Gold, British Columbia Wine Awards- Silver, WineAlign National Wine Awards of Canada
2014 NK’MIP CELLARS QWAM QWMT RIESLING ICEWINE– Gold, British Columbia Wine Awards
2012 NK’MIP CELLARS QWAM QWMT CABERNET SAUVIGNON– Gold, InterVin Wine Awards
2013 NK’MIP CELLARS WINEMAKER’S MERLOT– Silver, British Columbia Wine Awards
2013 NK’MIP CELLARS WINEMAKER’S TALON– Silver, InterVin Wine Awards
2013 NK’MIP CELLARS QWAM QWMT CHARDONNAY– Gold, British Columbia Wine Awards- Silver, InterVin Wine Awards
2013 NK’MIP CELLARS QWAM QWMT CABERNET SAUVIGNON– Silver, InterVin Wine Awards
2013 NK’MIP CELLARS QWAM QWMT SYRAH– Silver, InterVin Wine Awards
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We’re Humbledby Your Compliments
Our greatest pleasure is in hearing from our customers how much they enjoy our wines. We love to think of ourselves as a central part of joyful occasions, where the conversation flows freely interrupted only by laughter. It comes as a welcome bonus to be acknowledged by people who make it their passion to know wine well and find ours worthy of their highest awards. It brings joy to the land we love.
Astor Wines & Spirits
Walking into one of New York City’s biggest wine and spirits shops feels a lot like taking an Americano to the face as soon as you wake up it can be both overwhelming and overstimulating, which is why its equally well-organized digital storefront can be an especially appealing option, even for locals. I’d recommend getting creative with the many filtering options the site allows for, from organic type to price range to sub-region, and paying especially close attention to the thoughtful staff picks.
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Different Types Of Wine Cases
While a standard wine case will come with 12 standard-sized bottles of wine, you can also get different-sized cases! Commonly you can find cases of six if you are looking for special-sized bottles of wine.
Magnums and splits typically come in cases of six that you can make the most of.
You will also find that high-end brands will offer cases of six rather than 12. Often this is down to the higher price point of the wine or the high quality.
You will still find higher-end smaller cases at most wine retailers, but they might be made to order rather than sitting there waiting for you. Be sure to speak to a sales assistant if you need any help finding the right case for you!
Learn About Canadian Wines
My Wine Canada also offers a popular that is written by some of Canada’s most noted wine experts. It acts as a hub for great information about Canadian wine, top Canadian wine producers and wineries, food pairings, and much more. Discover new wines of Canada and improve your wine knowledge without venturing to a single wine store. Think of us as a one-stop online-shop for anything related to wine in Canada.
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How To Build A Great Mixed Case
The perfect mixed case comes in all arrays, depending on the wine drinker, the occasion, and the budget.
Why Are You Buying Wine?
- I need a catch-all case to have on hand for everyday drinkers and dinner pairings.
- I need a mix of bottles for an upcoming barbecue or
- I want to challenge my blind tasting skills with a comparative tasting of classic wines.
- I want to expand my palate by adding a few quirky, obscure grapes to my usual faves.
For a Great Basic Starter Case:
- 2 sparkling wines
- 5 whites
- 5 reds
From there, customize your case.
If there are plenty of rosé options available, take away two whites and add in two bottles of rosé instead.
Love sparkling but hate red? Sub a few bottles of bubbly instead of so many red wines.
Hate light reds? Add a few more full-bodied ones although, its always good to try at least one new thing.
And, it never hurts to add in something sweet for dessert. The possibilities are endless!
What Are The Best Gifts For Wine Lovers
Going with a red wine case is safe for most wine lovers but there are also those who love sweeter wines or whites a little more. In those cases, go for sweet wines like Moscato or Riesling or a dry white like Sauvignon Blanc. Many of the wines in our wine gift set will be dry red wine or dry white wine, so please reach out if there are certain varietals you would like included.
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Look For These Characteristics When Buying Wine Online
There are 5 main factors to consider when tasting a wine for quality: balance, length, intensity, complexity, and typicity. The best wine will score high on all of these measures.
The best online wine stores have detailed reviews and tasting notes that will help you find the best value bottles. Understanding the factors below will help you sift through the flowery language in the reviews and find the most important qualities.
Carrying Case For Wine
- Make sure this fitsby entering your model number.
- With the Winebuddy your wine reaches its destination safely. Perfect hard case / outdoor case for carrying your valuable wine bottles.
- With its high-quality material it is suitable for tastings and for wine agents who want to present their best wines to potential buyers
- Space for 8 bottles, in the universal compartments all standard bottles can be stowed. Perfect protection and isolation of the bottles due to the special foam inlay
- The case is dust and waterproof and very durable, so your bottles also survive falls harmless. The case also got holes for a TSA lock to protect your wine against unauthorized access.
- Good and noble presentation of wines by high-quality materials.Case with wheels for easy transport. The dimensions are 22x17x8.5 inch. Cabin Luggage Size! Made in Germany!
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Acker Merrall & Condit
Blue chips. Top growths. Cult favorites. Whatever top shelf, impress-the-boss, WOW-worthy wine youre looking for, you can find it here.
Not only is Acker, Merrall & Condit the oldest wine merchant in the U.S., they also have access to the finest private collections on the planet because of their venerable reputation as an auction house for fine wines. It certainly isnt the cheapest online retailer out there, but the breadth and scope of their cellar are truly amazing.
Regions To Look For When Buying Wine Online
The best places to buy wine online will have a good selection of wines from lesser-known regions. Being armed with the knowledge to recognize quality is paramount, long-term, for deciding what you like and how to get value for your money. Before you have an opportunity to taste a lot of wine, however, it can be difficult to know where to get the most bang for your buck. To help you on your quest, here are a few of my favorite wine regions to find phenomenal value:
Lodi, California: We are happy that Lodi’s wine country has remanded a relative secret all these years. The anonymity has allowed the local wine quality to increase without a corresponding increase in prices.
When people do know of Lodi, they generally know about Zin. That means you can find amazing deals on any other varietal. Love Napa Valley Cabernet? You can find similar quality in Lodi at a quarter of the price.
for a selection of Lodi wines at Wine.com.
Portugal: When most people think of Portuguese wines they think of Port sweet, fortified after-dinner wine. What most dont realize is that Portugal makes a stunning variety of world-class dry wines as well, and at a fraction of the price of many better-known wine regions.
Barolo lovers should look for reds from Bairrada those who like Bordeaux-blends may find the dry reds of the Douro region to be of interest Sauvignon Blanc drinkers will adore the whites of the Vinho Verde region in the north.
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Purchasing Wine By The Case
Purchasing wine by the case is an alternative option to buying a single bottle.
If you decide to go this route, why not consider American wines. The United States is the producer of many fine wines!
Do not think only of California, although many consider it the very hub of wine production.
Emerging wine regions gaining attention include Washington and New Jersey .
When making the decision, look at the various factors affecting wine production.
Quality should always be a priority.
Ratings of the various wines may also help you with your decision. Yet, remember, ratings are subjective.
Try to sample the wines before you order. This is particularly true if you are considering buying a case of wine.
The ideal case of wine can be yours, but you must consider several variables before deciding to opt for more than a single bottle.
Among these are space, conditions, cost and quality. What are your reasons for buying a case of wine? You should have more than one before you actually purchase any wine.
How Is Red Wine Made
To make red wine, the pressed grape juice is left in contact with its skinsa process called macerationto draw out color, tannins and phenols . With fermentation complete, the wine is aged in tank or barrel. Short aging results in a fresh, fruity red. To allow time for flavors to integrate, more complex wines need to age longer, often in oak barrels, which may impart notes of toast, vanilla or coconut.
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Nk’mip Cellars 2018 Medal Winners
2016 NK’MIP CELLARS QWAM QWMT CHARDONNAY
– Gold, Chardonnay du Monde
– Silver, International Wine and Spirits Competition
– Silver, Okanagan Wine Festival Best of Varietal Awards
– Platinum, WineAlign National Wine Awards of Canada
2016 NK’MIP CELLARS QWAM QWMT PINOT NOIR
– Silver, Decanter World Wine Awards
– Silver, International Wine and Spirits Competition
2017 NK’MIP CELLARS QWAM QWMT RIESLING
– Gold, InterVin Wine Awards
– Gold, WineAlign National Wine Awards of Canada
2016 NK’MIP CELLARS QWAM QWMT CABERNET SAUVIGNON
– Gold, InterVin Wine Awards
– Gold, WineAlign National Wine Awards of Canada
2017 NK’MIP CELLARS MER’R’IYM WHITE
– Silver, WineAlign National Wine Awards of Canada
2016 NK’MIP CELLARS QWAM QWMT MERLOT
– Silver, InterVin Wine Awards
– Silver, WineAlign National Wine Awards of Canada
2016 NK’MIP CELLARS WINEMAKER’S PINOT NOIR
– Silver, InterVin Wine Awards
– Silver, International Wine and Spirits Competition
2016 NK’MIP CELLARS WINEMAKER’S TALON
– Silver, InterVin Wine Awards
2015 NK’MIP CELLARS QWAM QWMT SYRAH
– Silver, InterVin Wine Awards
– Best of Varietal, Okanagan Wine Festival Best of Varietal Awards
– Gold, WineAlign National Wine Awards of Canada
2016 NK’MIP CELLARS QWAM QWMT RIESLING ICEWINE
– Gold Outstanding, International Wine and Spirits Competition
– Gold, Six Nations Wine Challenge
– Silver, WineAlign National Wine Awards of Canada
2016 NK’MIP CELLARS WINEMAKER’S CHARDONNAY
– Best of Varietal, Okanagan Wine Festival Best of Varietal Awards
Nk’mip Cellars 2017 Medal Winners
2016 NK’MIP CELLARS QWAM QWMT RIESLING – Double Gold, All Canadian Wine Championships
2016 NK’MIP CELLARS WINEMAKER’S DREAMCATCHER – Silver, All Canadian Wine Championships
2015 NK’MIP CELLARS WINEMAKER’S CHARDONNAY– Best of Varietal, Okanagan Wine Festival Best of Varietal Awards
2015 NK’MIP CELLARS WINEMAKER’S PINOT NOIR– Silver, All Canadian Wine Championships
2015 NK’MIP CELLARS QWAM QWMT CHARDONNAY– Gold, Okanagan Wine Festival Best of Varietal Awards- Gold, All Canadian Wine Championships
2015 NK’MIP CELLARS QWAM QWMT CHARDONNAY– Gold, All Canadian Wine Championships
2015 NK’MIP CELLARS QWAM QWMT RIESLING ICEWINE– Gold, All Canadian Wine Championships- Gold, Okanagan Wine Festival Best of Varietal Awards- Best Icewine, Northern Lands Wine Festival
2014 NK’MIP CELLARS MER’R’IYM– Silver, Decanter World Wine Awards- Bronze, International Wine and Spirits Competition
2014 NK’MIP CELLARS QWAM QWMT CABERNET SAUVIGNON– Best of Varietal, Okanagan Wine Festival Best of Varietal Awards- Bronze, Decanter World Wine Awards- Silver, International Wine and Spirits Competition
2014 NK’MIP CELLARS QWAM QWMT MERLOT– Silver, All Canadian Wine Championships- Commended, Decanter World Wine Awards- Bronze, International Wine and Spirits Competition
2014 NK’MIP CELLARS QWAM QWMT SYRAH– Bronze, All Canadian Wine Championships
2014 NK’MIP CELLARS WINEMAKER’S TALON– Gold, All Canadian Wine Championships
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Tip #: Establish Provenance Early
Auction houses, wine shops, and online retailers that specialize in selling fine wine by the case should provide you with information about provenance, authenticity, and bottle condition. If youre buying wine by the case in order to sell it on the market later, then you should seek out cases that have an unbroken chain of ownership from the winery to the current owner. Gaps in the timeline dont necessarily mean that the wine is counterfeit or damaged, but when youre investing in six or 12 bottles at a time, you can never be too careful. Its a good idea to maintain higher provenance standards than when you buy bottles individually.
