TIPS FOR BUYING WINE ONLINE, AND GETTING IT RIGHT!

Are you considering buying wine online and don’t know where to start? We’ve been shopping online for years now. But, thanks to the pandemic, in 2020 it became more a part of our lives than ever. So, if you want to start enjoying good wine without leaving home, you’ll want to read this list of tips. And take notes!

Whether for a family lunch or dinner, or as a gift, buying wine online can get you out of a tight spot when you don’t have time or can’t get to a shop and you’re looking for something special and different. Before you get started, though, we recommend you keep in mind the following tips to make sure you do it safely and get it right.

This is key for anything you buy online, not just wine. Even for prestigious brands, make sure you check that it is an official website before handing over your card details to avoid any risks or scams. How? The first thing is to check the shop’s web address starts with http:// or https://, which means it’s on a secure server. Plus, there should be a little picture of a lock to the left of it, showing that it’s a secure connection and that the information you send to this website is private.

Apart from that, there are other elements of the website you can look at, such as the privacy policy, secure payment certificate and conditions of sale, among others. A full website with quality content is also a good sign that the people in charge are professionals.

Once you’ve made sure the website you’re going to buy from is secure, then you have to check that the wine they sell is good quality. Quality seals, like the D.O., are a good guide. They show that the quality of the wine is controlled by a regulatory board before it is sold to verify its origin and prestige. Spain has more than 70 D.O., including D.O. Rioja, D.O. Ribera del Duero, D.O. Rueda and others.

If you want to make sure the wine is even higher quality, go for wines with the D.O.Ca. seal. These have to meet high quality standards for a long time. To get a D.O.Ca. seal, the wines have to overcome three hurdles:

• Be recognised by the D.O. for more than ten years.
• Have a comprehensive system to control quality from production through to sale.
• Be bottled at wineries registered in the geographic region they belong to.

In addition to the quality seal, it’s important that the site you’re going to buy from includes all the information you would find on the label, which will help you choose a wine that fits your taste. From the age of the wine (Joven, Crianza, Reserva, etc.) to the type of grape (Tempranillo, Grenache, Verdejo, etc.) to its alcohol content, serving temperature, tasting notes and pairing suggestions. This makes it much easier to choose between wines.

On top of the brand’s description of the wine, it’s good to see what other users think of it. A quality website will always have a reviews section where customers can express and share their opinions on the products. It can be very useful in clearing up any little doubts you may have, for example about its flavour.

If you want a specific wine and are buying it from a multi-brand shop, we recommend checking on the winemaker’s official website. If they have one, you might find it at a more competitive price or some sort of discount.

Many online shops have a section for special deals or gift packs that can be very interesting. For example, you might get free shipping if you spend over a certain amount. So it could be worth buying more than one bottle and saving on shipping. If you’re buying wine as a gift, you might find options at a better price and in special boxes.

Did you get that? We hope you buy some good wine and enjoy toasting with it when it arrives.

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