Finding new wines doesn’t seem like the most difficult thing in the world to do, does it? That being said, go from one grocery store to another (with the exception of Trader Joe’s, which has each of the wines it sells specialty made) and you’ll see the same wines, over and over again. As you might expect that can get old quickly.
Wine stores are much the same. Go from one wine store to another in your home town and you’ll see a higher quality of wine than your local grocery store (as well as higher price points) but overall the experience is going to leave you begging for better and more varied options over the long term.
Online wine clubs are another option-but unless the wine club is buying from a winery directly, they are using the exact same distributors as the grocery stores and the wine store’s you’ve already visited. On top of that, you’re stuck paying for shipping and handling in many cases.
So how do you break out of the mold? Social media can help. Small wineries don’t have the marketing budget to get themselves on national distribution lists, but they can have a presence on Twitter and Facebook. Using those social media tools to find wines isn’t for everyone, but if you are someone who has exhaused all hope of finding new wines in your local market, then they can help. It is good to know a bit about what you’re looking for before beginning though, having a game plan of finding California Cabernet Sauvignon leaves a huge number of choices, but limit your search to California Cabernet Sauvignon from Howell Mountain and you’re likely to find a winner! As with anything, don’t forget that prices are often negotiable, especially if you’re willing to ask since you’ve never tried any of these wines before. Most small wineries will gladly either discount their wine, or ship it to you for free!
{ 0 comments }