How do you buy wine?

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How do you buy wine? - 7/31/2008 8:44:21 PM

Hollowine

Posts: 218
Joined: 7/25/2008
From: Hood River, OR
Status: offline

Am curious how most people buy their wine? I guess there are a few main ways to do so, including:

Retail Store
Web-based email/promotions lists
Winery Wine Clubs
Winery visits
Auctions
Importers/Distributors

As my cellar has grown, I have seen my purchases decrease from Retail Stores and move more toward Winery visits and some web-based email sites, with a number of Winery Mailing lists I was fortunate to get on before they closed up. Lately I have found a few Distributors/Importers that carry many of the wines I enjoy and have been able to purchase direct from them, paying nearly wholesale prices which really adds a few ticks to the QPR value factor.

Anyway, thought I'd start a new thread and see how you feed your habit?

Cheers ~ Scott

Post #: 1

RE: How do you buy wine? - 7/31/2008 9:03:15 PM

Serge Birbrair

Posts: 1493
Joined: 4/23/2006
From: Boca Raton, Florida
Status: offline

Scott, retail stores are still #1 here.....lots of them though, all over USA though.

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Post #: 2

RE: How do you buy wine? - 8/1/2008 12:24:04 AM

pjaines

Posts: 699
Joined: 5/26/2008
From: London
Status: offline

We are reasonably lucky in the UK in that because we dont have our own wine (or any decent stuff to speak of) we get a good choice from around the world pretty much whereever you buy. Supermarkets make up the bulk of most people's purchases but these tend to be branded, big name wines.

I think the more serious wine buyer in the UK tends to go to specialist wine merchants or individual wine shops. I am lucky in that I can pop over to France where the supermarkets there can have some truly exceptional wine (obviously only French) at prices that are a fraction of the price in the UK (or they were until the Euro gained on the pound). Even in some grotty backwater supermarket in the middle of nowhere you can pick up the odd gem. Most of the better wine is Bordeaux though - in France you need to go to Burgundy to buy decent Burgundy.

I usually use the internet from reliable source (sawinesonline.co.uk, 1855.com, bbr.com) or individual shops in London (theatreofwine.com).

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(in reply to Serge Birbrair)

Post #: 3

RE: How do you buy wine? - 8/1/2008 9:11:14 AM

fingers

Posts: 682
Joined: 8/26/2006
From: Santa Ana, CA
Status: offline

As screwed up as the U.S. shipping laws are, it's pretty sweet to be in California. We can get it shipped from anywhere and every good store, even supermarkets, can have thoroughly impressive international selections.  I have the (mis?)-fortune to be located within 10 miles of no less than 6 very good retail outlets, 3 of which have large online business so I can shop at home, avoid shipping costs, and pick up when the weather's cool;
1) The Wine Exchange   (www.winex.com)
2) The Wine Club    (www.thewineclub.com)
3) Amazing Grapes (www.amazinggrapeswinestore.com)

There are also a plethora of little boutique wine shops in the area. Even some of the local liquor stores feature wine tastings!
I aslo buy from and recommend Vinfolio, in Northern Cal. Great service.

For me, it comes down more to finding the outlet that you trust with your taste buds. I'll often try their staff picks or find one or two of their employees that I share similar taste with and also bring them ideas I find on CT.

(in reply to pjaines)

Post #: 4

RE: How do you buy wine? - 8/1/2008 9:49:39 AM

PSirah Tampa

Posts: 76
Joined: 12/9/2006
Status: offline

I too have found that I'm making fewer retail purchases these days; wine just seems to be finding me from multiple directions. Gone are the days when I wander into a wine shop to browse a little and pick up a few bottles. My retail purchases now are to grab what I can of some new fantastic release and hope I can find room in the cellar somewhere.

I kind of miss the suspense of buying an unknown bottle to see what's inside.

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Post #: 5

RE: How do you buy wine? - 8/1/2008 9:51:32 AM

jhannah27

Posts: 408
Joined: 6/9/2008
From: Anaheim, CA
Status: offline

I am more of a retail guy as well as some online shopping as well. But, like fingers, I try to stick to those online sites that have locations nearby so that I can save on shipping.

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(in reply to fingers)

Post #: 6

RE: How do you buy wine? - 8/1/2008 11:32:03 AM

RoundersRob

Posts: 634
Joined: 7/1/2006
From: Santa Cruz, CA
Status: online

My trend has been changing recently but it still dominated by two stores. K&L Wines and Costco. Of those two, probably 80% of it is from K&L.

The change in trend has been to more direct from winery purchases as I finally outlast the waiting lists to get wines from favorite producers that are not normally offered in retail stores.

(in reply to jhannah27)

Post #: 7

RE: How do you buy wine? - 8/1/2008 4:49:51 PM

zitarell

Posts: 26
Joined: 7/1/2008
Status: offline

I started mostly with retail. Lately I have been trying to visit wineries, and I have also been buying a ton from Garagiste. I'm a sucker for flowery prose and threats of scarcity, I guess.

(in reply to RoundersRob)

Post #: 8

RE: How do you buy wine? - 8/2/2008 3:39:16 AM

smahk

Posts: 68
Joined: 2/23/2007
From: Long Island, NY
Status: offline

I used to ONLY purchase at a retail store. But when I began looking for specific wines, and every store is organized slightly different - I found the internet to be most efficient both in time and cost . I prefer to order on internet and then pick up - but I often find great deals that even with shipping, it is far less expensive than purchasing locally.

Of course with shipping - the weather plays a large role - and all my recent purchases from CA are being store for the summer :(.

I have just started on many winery mailing lists (and am on waiting list for mailing list) to be sure to get allocations of smal or hard to get producers.

Nothing is better than purchasing at the winery itself - both for atmosphere and some inside knowledge.

I also belong to Oriel Orbit. Interesting selections of wines from all around the world. always good - sometimes delicious - but constantly introducing me to regions and grapes I would have never selected on my own.

(in reply to zitarell)

Post #: 9

RE: How do you buy wine? - 8/2/2008 2:38:27 PM

Hollowine

Posts: 218
Joined: 7/25/2008
From: Hood River, OR
Status: offline

Interesting mix of methods, thanks for sharing. Wish I lived over with Paul and my French favorites were only a Chunnel trip away...then again, I also wish I was paid in Euro's and could take most of August off every year...

I will second Fingers on WineExchange in Orange, one of the few shops I routinely go out of my way to visit when in LA and my predominant source of mail orders, primarily because they are very fair in their pricing and specials. Their recommendations have turned me on to more <$20 stellar juice than any other source.

(in reply to smahk)

Post #: 10

RE: How do you buy wine? - 8/3/2008 5:22:55 AM

apes

Posts: 165
Joined: 1/29/2008
From: CT
Status: offline

Mainly online, prices in my state suck and buying online allows me to browse many stores at the same time. However my cost savings may have gone out the window if my last delivery got cooked!

(in reply to Hollowine)

Post #: 11

RE: How do you buy wine? - 8/3/2008 8:04:17 PM

nazizin

Posts: 10
Joined: 8/2/2008
Status: offline

Just like with books, i have to see and touch them before i make a commitment. I know it makes no sense, but i need that tactile input, courtship. Sorta like going to the produce section of the grocery store. Peapod, UPS & Fedex would cheat me out of the foreplay.

(in reply to apes)

Post #: 12

RE: How do you buy wine? - 8/3/2008 8:49:01 PM

fingers

Posts: 682
Joined: 8/26/2006
From: Santa Ana, CA
Status: offline

quote:

ORIGINAL: nazizin

Just like with books, i have to see and touch them before i make a commitment. I know it makes no sense, but i need that tactile input, courtship. Sorta like going to the produce section of the grocery store. Peapod, UPS & Fedex would cheat me out of the foreplay.

Wow, that's wide open for you, Serge.

(in reply to nazizin)

Post #: 13