1. How to buy wine at bargain prices?
Spending hundreds on a bottle of wine or Champagne to wash down a single
meal is no longer considered an impressive feat. In fact, it is seen as tasteless
and perhaps even a little foolish.
Today people from all walks are choosing to purchase affordable, drinkable wine
over fancy labels and pricey brands. For those of us who aren’t wine aficionados,
knowing how to get more bangs for your buck can be tricky – getting a cheap
bottle of wine that tastes even cheaper is certainly not a bargain.
Here are a few tips to make sure you don’t overpay. And remember, when you do
find a delicious hidden gem, make sure you buy in bulk before others catch on
and the price starts to climb.
Buy wine that isn’t fashionable
Grape varieties trend on and off thanks to the opinions of celebrity authors and
TV chefs. Like all products, when a certain wine is popular its price skyrockets. It
doesn’t mean that the wine has magically improved. It’s still the same brand and
contents, and uses the same production methods. Suddenly though, you’re
paying a premium to be fashionable.
If you choose a less popular grape that has been overlooked in recent years,
you’ll notice that prices plummet. It also makes choosing wine more of an
adventure for your taste buds, rather than following the crowd and restocking
your cellar with rows of Chardonnay and Merlot.
When it comes to white wine, choose a light, sweet Riesling or at art, goldenChen
in Blanc. These wines are fabulous with food or on their own, and have been
unfairly overlooked for several years in favour of the white wine of the
hour:Sauvignon Blanc.
When it comes to a good, unpopular red, choose a spicy Zinfandel. This
Californian classic’s peppery undertones make it a perfect pairing for steaks and
burgers. For a lighter red, choose a Sangiovese, originating from Italy but locally
produced to great success in Australia. This variety is fruity and aromatic, with
nutty flavours creeping through.
Buy wine online
It makes sense to buy wine online at auction houses like GraysOnline. Buyers
sell direct and overheads are much lower than they are in-store. It’s often these
overheads that you pay for when you purchase at your local wine shop. Buy wine
online and you won’t be paying for storage facilities or store-to-store transport.
In addition to being cheaper, buying online also has another advantage: you can
quickly do your research before purchase, and compare prices and reviews to
make sure that you are indeed buying a bargain bottle of wine. Read the reviews
and make your own decision. It’s an adventure, and your hard work will pay off
when you discover a fantastic bottle at an unmatched price.
GraysOnline has a huge selection and great daily sales, which you can browse
through in the comfort of your own home.
Buy wine in bulk

2. Economies of scale also apply to wine. Buy in bulk and the prices per bottle could
plummet. If you’re buying online you also don’t have to worry about the hassle of
carting the wine crate back to your car. Buy in bulk and you’ll have enough wine
to cater for several dinner parties, so you won’t have to keep on popping back to
the wine shop.
Don’t be put off by cheap prices
When a wine is cheap we tend to become suspicious. Is it a bad batch? Do they
want to get rid of it because it’s proved so unpopular? While these are perfectly
legitimate questions, they’re often completely unfounded.
There are plenty of reasons why wine might be selling at an unusually cheap
price. The wine seller may need to clear stock to make room for a big order. Or
perhaps one of their overseas orders has fallen through and they need to make
up some cash flow. Don’t get caught in the “this wine is expensive, therefore it
must be excellent” trap.
Finding a bargain wine is something to shout about, not be ashamed of. You’ll be
heralded as smart and savvy, especially if you’ve discovered an excellent variety.
The thrill of adventure and sense of satisfaction at finding a bargain bottle is
second to none. Just make sure you don’t spread the word too quickly, or too far.
You might start a trend – and we all know what happens to prices after that.