Tag: online wine sellers

7 Best Online Wine Sites for Labor Day Sales

Let the Countdown Begin!

As we head into Labor Day Weekend, we all should prepare for major sales and special deals coming at us from all sides. 

And wine will be right there with every major online website aiming in our direction.

That means you’ll encounter plenty of hyped up wine descriptions, a good amount of bs, and messages to act fast or miss the deal.

In other words, same as every other day in the crazy-paced online wine world.

As most of you know, I’m not a fan of subscription boxes since you can find better wines at better prices if you do a little research. Nakedwine, Vinesse, Winc, and Firstleaf seem to make many people content. Good for them. But those are not in my targeted wine-loving audience.

The following recommendations are based upon tracking the major websites every day and over the last five years. I should emphasize that many so-called experts  and self-appointed influencers providing lists of the top wine websites are often “affiliates,” meaning they get a commission.  Not me!

The 7 top websites make this list for several key reasons:

  1. They reflect serious and intelligent selection, aka “curation.”
  2. They include a range of imports as well as US wines
  3. They cover the full price range, from under $10 a bottle, not just expensive stuff
  4. They don’t totally rely on 90+ point scores which today are meaningless and unreliable
  5. They offer decent discounts which mean at least 20% off the verifiable retail price.

And, now with a little drumroll, here are the top 7

http://www.lastbottlewines. com

http://www.napacabs.com

www.invino.com 

www.winelibrary.com 

www.reversewinesnob.com

http://www.wineaccess.com

www.wiredforwine.com

Surprised? Didn’t see your favorite? Well, first of all, you owe it to yourself to first check out these top 7 sellers.  In a follow-up post, we’ll explain what sets them apart from the others.

And we’ll also say why some of the more obvious, seemingly successful sites such as wine.com, vivino.com and wtso.com fell short this time around.

Stay tuned!

Best Websites for Savvy Wine Shoppers in 2022

Let the Countdown Begin

Now that Spring has arrived and we can look back on all those wild sales from Thanksgiving to St. Patrick’s Day, this an ideal time to review what has happened over the last year in the fast-changing world of online wine sellers. 

It’s also Academy Awards time, with its ongoing chatter and debate about the best of this and that sets the tone for this post. I’ll be shining the spotlight on several wine webites that stood out and performed well over the last year.

As most of you know, I’m not a fan of subscription boxes since you can find better wines at better prices if you do a little research. Nakedwine, Vinesse, and Firstleaf seem to make many people content. But those are not my kind of  wine-loving people.

Much like the selections for best movies, actors, and whatever, selecting the best sites for serious wine shopping also has to be broken down into categories. 

For one stop shopping, the big retail guys like wine.com, wineExpress.com and cinderellawines.com maintained their positions over the last year as reliable and only occasionally exciting. 

Taking our cue from the Oscars, we are spotlighting the best websites in specific categories.

In the Best of “Curated Selection” category, the nomination for the best website for red wines is invino.com. Since the present partners took over in 2019, it is often my go to place for red wines. 

www.invino.com 

“Curated” is overused by so many others, but it applies perfectly to the wines offered at this site. Based in the town of Napa, it lists around 100 wines at any one time. But they reflect excellent choices that are not available elsewhere.  

If you prefer red wines, then this is the site for you. It is particularly good with Napa reds and carries such proven Cabernet wineries as Luna, Von Strasser, and Clark-Claudon. From Bordeaux, it now has very attractive red Graves for around $20 and a lovely 2018 Bordeaux for $9.95. Then there’s the rarely seen red wines from Betz Family, Ken Wright and School House Vineyard. The selections from Argentina, Spain, and Italy are also inviting and unusual.

An exciting list of red blends confirm these guys work hard to offer values, and many good deals are priced below $25 a bottle. A highly rated Dolum Estate Napa Cabernet was offered recently at 60% off and a Sonoma Coast Pinot for $23.95.  

If you buy wines based on ratings, then even here you can look over a collection of 94+ rated wines under $40. Many exciting wines and several are deeply discounted, such as a first rate 2016 Chateauneuf-du-Pape and 2016 Pomerol Château Croix-des-Rouzes. 

While a few other sites have recently offered Frisson Napa Cabernet, invino.com came up with a special deal on Frisson magnums at 50% off and free shipping on orders of 2 or more.

Pros:

Authentic wines, not custom made, private labels

Strengths are in wines from Napa, Spain, France, and Argentina with frequent surprises from other California regions..

No crazy BS write ups about the latest cult wine from icons and  rockstar winemakers

And, best of all, discounts of 50%-60%

 Shipping rates vary but always seem fair and based upon sales price.

Cons:

Not really a negative, but it is somewhat limited by appealing primarily to serious, well-informed, and somewhat adventurous wine lovers.

16 Wines Under $16: Deal of the Day

http://www.cawineclub.com  just announced a real serious sales. Here’s what you should know.

Specializing in small, family owned producers, this wine club is one of the oldest and is time proven, rock solid reliable.

Headquartered in California’s Central Coast, it is a website to follow if you are a fan of wines from Santa Barbara, Monterey, and San Luis Obispo. But it is also good at selecting wines from Sonoma, Napa, Lodi and other prime regions.

It is not flashy, and avoids the razzle-dazzle over hyped sales pitches so common with other sites. Dare I say “professional”?

Right now, it is offering $1 case shipping  and has organized the sale as 16 wines for less than $16 a bottle.

Proven names are part of the deal such as Fess Parker (Grenache Blanc), Pedroncelli (Zinfandel) and 3 excellent wines from one of my favorite wineries, Clos LaChance. 

I am a fan of the Clos LaChance Sauvignon Blanc ($14.99) and 2019 Estate Meritage ($14.99). 

Dancing Coyote, based in Lodi,  also makes one of the finest Chenin Blancs, offered for $15.99  

Chardonnays lovers can check out the 7 different ones in this sale. I suggest the 2020 Rancheria Cellars, on sale for $12.99.

With $1 case shipping and 16 discounted wines to consider, you can build a case that will make you proud of being a savvy wine shopper. See it at http://www.cawineclub.com

the details: $1 Shipping Wine Sale ends on March 31, 2022. Prices listed online are per bottle.  Half, full, and/or mixed cases all ship via ground for $1 to most states. Final order must be in increments of 6 or 12 bottles. Some restrictions may apply. Must be 21+ to order.

A Heads Up: Major Wine Sale Starts Tuesday

Vintage Wine Estates is running a serious sale with heavy (50-70%) discounts. 

While its portfolio of wineries runs the gamut, there are a few wineries you

might check out. You might pass on the Cherry Pie and Layer Cake, 

but there are some real fine brands represented.

Here are two examples of real deals:

Kunde Family Estate: the 2018 Zinfandel is on sale for $12.10 a bottle

Swanson Vineyards 2019 Pinot Grigio, San Benito $13.80 a bottle

Also, on Tuesday when the sales begins, see what is offered from these established wineries: 

Qupe, one of the most reliable Rhone wine producers 

Laetitia  is good for its cool climate Chardonnay and Pinot Noir

 Clos Pegase is one of Napa’s big names. Look for its Chardonnay

B.R. Cohn has a great Zinfandel from Moon Mountain and several Cabernets

Here’s where to begin:

www.vwecellarevent.com

Shipping is 1 cent for a case

You can thank me later

Best Winery Direct Holiday Sale

Winery Direct Holiday Sale

The Clos LaChance End of the Year Sale is HERE! Enjoy amazing prices on delicious wines – no coupon code required, simply shop online, or visit the Tasting Room. Supplies are limited, so don’t wait to take advantage of these great deals!

Truly, this is an amazing opportunity to stock up on wines for the holidays.

Check this out: 50% off of solid, high quality wines.

The deal is on for the month of December.

I’ve visited the winery on numerous occasions when living in the area.

It is family owned and managed. No corporate bs.

Authentic wines made from their own vineyards. Not private labels.

My favs are the Sauvignon Blanc and the Cabernet.

Clos LaChance has vineyards in the Santa Clara Valley, and Cabernet Sauvignon has thrived here for decades. Insider truth: the Cabs are every bit as good as Napa Valley’s. Honest!

Clos LaChance is a favorite hangout of the Silicon Valley crowd. 

Here’s a little more background:

Clos LaChance Vineyards

www.clos.com

Family owned, now in the hands of the second Murphy generation. Clos LaChance began in 1982. The family vineyard gradually grew to its current 150 acres. Today, it is a vastly popular wine destination with a very active and loyal wine club membership. The tasting room overlooks the valley and a private golf course, and has a well deserved reputation for both its food and its many musical events. 

Cabernet and Chardonnay are the mainstays, but I’m also a big fan of the Sauvignon Blanc and the red blend, Pirates 22.

Dont hesitate.

You can thank me later.

Today’s Best Wine Deals

2 Super Deals on Classic Vineyard Designated Red Wines

1. http://www.winespies.com

2017 Steele Zinfandel Pacini Vineyards, Mendocino $17

Super old vine zin that’s a field blend with a touch of Carignane and mixed reds. Made by

Zin master, Jed Steele, before the winery was sold.

2. reversewinesnob.com 

2017 Winesmith Cellars Grenache, Bates Vineyard Santa Cruz Mountains

A 3-bottle pack for $54.99

This is a great version of Grenache which happens to be a perfect choice for

Traditional holiday meals. Only 212 cases were made.

The 2021 Marathon Wine Sale is On

August 26 and 27th

9:00 am Napa Time

At www.lastbottlewines.com

Plus, FREE GROUND SHIPPING on ALL ORDERS (contiguous states)! TRUE, UTTER MADNESS. Yup, you read it right — FREE SHIPPING ON EVERY AND ALL ORDERS, regardless of # of bottles.

That’s it – madness it is, and all first come, first served!!

This year is different & This is Awesome!!

This 2021 marathon is all about TEACHERS, supplies, and support. We’re donating $1 per order (last one was 83,000) to the Napa Valley Education Foundation to directly benefit teachers’ needs for nearly every school in Napa County, many of which are strained to the maximum post-Covid.

A Little Background

I have bought from this site, and never had a problem.

I also still enjoy the crazy, super-paced descriptions.

Based upon the flash sale model, lastbottlewines is headquartered in Napa Valley and has been gaining momentum and clients since its humble beginning in 2011. Its Three partners (Cory Wagner, Stefan Blicker and Brent Pierce) have good connections in the wine world.

If you order too late, you get an empty wine case image with the not so subtle snooze you lose message. If you happen to buy the last bottle, they give you a $25 credit. 

The comments are obviously aimed at millennials with an overuse of CAPS, preponderance of buzz words from awesome, bang, boom, wow, and references to a killer Vintage or “Rockstar winemaker.  Then you usually encounter more exclamation marks and 3 dots than your English teacher ever thought possible in one paragraph.

So many ROCKSTARS, so little time. The 2018 Ridge Lytton Springs quickly sold out.

The 2016 Luna Cabernet Sauvignon, Rutherford was an out and out steal.

Other recent examples of wines offered that’ll rock your world are excellent Brunello and Barolo. Recently a 2016 Douro was tempting as was a Malbec from Cahors. Yes, they have an importer’s license and can offer super discounts on imports. Sorry I missed out on a super St. Emilion, the 2016 Château Haut-Sarpe, the real deal from St. Emilion.

 I couldn’t resist the 2019 Sauvignon Blanc from  Matahiwi Estate, NZ, for $10. The 2018 Rivetto Langhe Nebbiolo for $18 was so tempting. And so on and on…

Unbeatable Springtime Wine Deals

Direct from the winery: Navarro Vineyards

take advantage of three wines perfect for casual sipping this Spring:

2017 Chardonnay, Mendocino, $18 $216 case)

2017 Pinot Noir, Anderson Valley $18 ($216 case)

2018 Pinot Blanc, Mendocino $13.75 ($165 case)

Now the details:

Bottle Prices are for one case, 25% off regular bottle price

Shipping is one cent, yes, only one penny per case!

Why We Like This Deal:

  • Real wines from a real family winery
  • Great shipping price
  • Better than standard discounts
  • Experienced in packaging and shipping wines direct
  • Wines are not available in shops or supermarkets
  • Hard to find this quality of Pinot and Chardonnay for under $20
  • The Pinot Blanc at this price will make you forget about all watery-thin or over-priced Pinot Grigios and mass produced Chardonnays

Check these and other Spring deals at www. NavarroWine.com

The Best Online Wine Shop?

So, I have to confess my picks for the Sweet 16 college teams did not fare well. Each one has, alas, gone home.

My game is online wine shopping, and here is my choice for one of the Final Four

http://www.garagistewine.com

garagistewine.com is the most peculiar online retailer I follow. One reason is that its founder Jon Rimmerman who has been offering wines for over 20 years often presents his daily offers late at night.  He is based in Washington State which may explain some things.

He sometimes seems a bit chatty and becomes so excited and enthusiastic that he might belabor a point about a particular wine or region.

He is also insistent about when he will ship your wines and specifies the required temperature and humidity for proper shipping.

But these minor quirks are greatly offset by the pluses.

  • He seeks out wines that are organic, biodynamic and farmed sustainably  
  • He favors small artisan producers and family owned wineries
  • He obtains many wines direct so truly cuts out the middleman
  • He doesn’t use inflated scores from Somms
  • His wines are attractively priced
  • And he is unpredictable, sometimes offering olive oil, nutella, or food items. All high quality.

I enjoy reading his detailed notes because he truly knows his stuff. His background insights about vintages and regions are extremely useful. He is particularly on top of the vintage variations in France’s Burgundy and the Rhone.

He provided a detailed report on 2016 and 2017 based on travels and tastings throughout France and it is spot on. His remarks about 2015 and 2016 Bordeaux are the most reliable in the wine trade.

His analysis of 2016 in Burgundy and of the 2017 Northern Rhone are some of the best I’ve read.

And to this fellow Loire Valley lover, he has the inside track on Loire Valley wines:

“2018 is one of those “pinch me, this can’t possibly be true?” red wine vintages in the Loire. I can’t really compare it to anything else – it has the ripeness of a vintage like 1989 but the freshness of 1996 (another classic year.”

He also looks closely for super wines from Washington, of course but also Oregon. A recent Washington Tempranillo was remarkable.

He often locates super wines under $15 a bottle.

Here are examples of recent offerings:

  • 2018 Bourgueil, Domaine Cotellergie, $16.76
  • 2016 Scott Paul Pinot Noir, Chehelam Mts, $19.71
  • 2014 Rioja Riserva, Burgo Viejo, $13.98
  • 2017 Sancerre, Dezat $19.99
  • 2016 Renvoise “Jasmieres,” dry Loire Valley Chenin Blanc $16.70
  • 2015 Domaine de Cambes, Bordeaux $33.71
  • 2016 Ribbonwood Sauvignon Blanc, Marlborough $7.99

He recently offered a lovely Provence Rose for sale at $9.99.

He found “the best Bordeaux you’ve never heard of” from 2011.

He comes across as frank, as in these recent notes:

“This is fastidiously produced Chardonnay without a smidge of pretense but the stuffing and expression to, well, pummel just about any other example from outside the Burgundian reach under $30. In addition, the impact is from fruit, stone and clarity, not from alcohol, wood or from winemaker strategic manipulation/enhancement.”

Or

“If you think “bargain” wine is devoid of potential pleasure or cannot be in the league of top-drawer entrants, guess again. This wine can easily compete with Sauvignon Blanc at 2-3 times the $ and many of its competitors are not as delicious to drink.”

Sometimes to keep prices low, he suggests buying 6 or 12 bottles or more which may seem like hype and hustle, but I think he is sincere and honest in his emphasis on offering value.

A maximum number of bottles a person may purchase is always listed, ranging from 6 to 60.

Pros:

Wildly eclectic selection not found elsewhere.

Excellent prices

Seeks out biodynamic and other green products.

Cons:

Complicated shipping procedures and delivery dates but only to assure wines arrive in fine condition.

Thinking About Buying 2015 Bordeaux: Start Here

 

Yes, 2015 is an excellent vintage for most of Bordeaux. I was there during the early harvesting.

The vine in the close-up photo is Merlot at Chateau Monbousquet a few days before the harvest. The best winemakers have sorting devices (often people) that remove the raisined grapes prior to fermentation, in case you were curious.

And yes, 90+ scores are so plentiful as reviewers went crazy when the wines were sampled early on. So there’s little meaningful guidance if you go by the scores.

My buying strategy is to prefer the 2015s from St. Emilion by a slight margin. The growing season favored Merlot which made St. Emilion and, of course, Pomerol, the hit of the year.

www.wine.com just announced its first big offering of the 2015s. No discounts but plenty of choices and shipping options. This is a major, well-established, and reliable seller. See my detailed review at http://www.bestonlinewineshopping.com

My focus, as always, is on wines that are authentic, true to their region, can be enjoyed over the next few years and represent excellent value.

My top 5 picks of 2015 Bordeaux under $35.00 at http://www.wine.com:

Chateau de France, Pessac $24.99

Château Haut Brisson, St. Emilion $31.99

Tour Saint Christophe, St. Emilion $34.99

Château Cantemerle, Haut Medoc $34.99

Château Fombrouge, St. Emilion $34.99