Online wine and wine in general....

Buying wine online through online wine sales websites can be somewhat daunting for a new "shopper".

How is the wine shipped? Is it going to be ok when I get it? Why are they selling this wine so cheap? Are cleanskin wines good?

Many questions are asked to which I will try and help by answer them as best as possible.

How is the wine shipped? Generally, wine is shipped in Australia using Australia Post which have a great service which allows many wineries to ship their wine without the worry of it being broken in transit. Whether you pay the full freight cost, some of the cost or none of the cost is completely up to the winery or the online wine sales company you're buying from.

Is the wine going to be ok when I get it? There shouldn't be a question about this. Generally online wine sales companies have policies which cover wine which is corked or "off". You should never have a problem in this regard.

Why are they selling wine so cheap? Some online wine sales companies have special deals with wineries that give them wine at a very good price if the wineries need to get rid of certain stock in a hurry (old vintages etc...). If you find a good wine at a good price, you can be sure of the quality you will be receiving. I recently bought a 6 pack of (normally) $50 a bottle wine for $150. Yep, half price. It pays to be on the mailing list of good wine stores to learn when the bargains are on and get them before they run out.

Are cleanskin wines good? Well, cleanskins are VERY hit and miss. Cleanskins generally come from two places:

1. The wineries have FAR too much stock and don't want to label that stock (as labelling takes a lot of time) so therefore sell it to somebody as a cleanskin at a very reduced price.
2. The wineries aren't happy with a certain vintage of wine and don't want to sell it with their label on it (reputations are a major thing in the wine industry).

The problem is, that sellers are not allowed to put the winery name on the label, only the region. So you will find some cleanskins which are fine, others are just downright disgraceful. How would you know the difference? You wouldn't unless you bought them.

Hopefully that gives you some insight into buying wine online. More to come soon!

A couple of years ago while passing through the Yarra Valley, my husband and I stumbled upon a winery that has now become one of the gems to the Yarra Valley wine region. Elmswood Estate winery is located in the Seville region, about 45 minutes east of Melbourne and is definitely worth a visit, not only for its fine wines, tasty food and friendly staff, but the breathtaking views of the Warburton Ranges.

Driving up the driveway that leads to the cellar door, there isn't a hint of what lies beyond the vines and the building that houses the cellar door and offices, but once you arrive at the car park, the view becomes prominent. There is a glass walled pavilion onsite that allows visitors to enjoy lunch or a glass of wine during all seasons, while also allowing the view to take centre stage. There's also facilities outside which allow for al fresco dining during the sunnier weather.

Elmswood Estate offers many different varieties of boutique wines, while regularly keeping up with consumer demand in introducing more wine to their range. Their well known and popular wines include a sparkling Methode Champenoise, Oaked and Un-Oaked Chardonnay, Cabernet Rose, Cabernet Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot while introducing in the past couple of years wines such as Sauvignon Blanc, Riesling, Pinot Noir, Sparkling Pinot and Liquor Chardonnay and Cabernet styles. Every winery has its speciality wine, but for a great combination, you can't go past the Oaked Chardonnay paired with a cheese platter.

As dining in the Yarra Valley has become increasingly popular, Elmswood has remained a destination for enjoying tasty food for lunch on weekends. There is an extensive lunch menu which offers delicious, unpretentious food and will provide an option for even the fussiest eaters. If you'd like to sit back and relax with a cheese platter, or decide that something more substantial is in order, such as the popular duck and pinot pie, or a steak sandwich, you won't be disappointed with your selection.

It is worth mentioning that Elmswood Estate has become one of the premier wineries for functions and weddings. With everything it has to offer, it is one of the most popular venue for weddings and required booking long in advance of that special date. The staff at Elmswood Estate can assist with planning for the special day and offer services that include onsite catering and table arrangements, as well as providing the contact details for a number of entertainment and transport options.

Elmswood Winery can cater to almost any need, from a quiet day out at the wineries, to a full day of wedding/birthday celebrations. Breathtaking views, delicious food, friendly staff and of course, quality wines, what more could you want at a winery?

Purchasing things online has always concerned people, especially those without knowledge of the intricacies of the internet. Mention handing out a credit card number to people and they cringe. Daily, millions of dollars are being passed around without a worry in the world because of the improvement in security over the years.

Online wine sales have always been, and will continue to be treated with "raised eyebrows" by some within the industry. These days, more and more quality online stores are presenting quality wines at affordable prices.

One great way of being kept up to date of things happening in the industry, as well as being presented with great bargains, is to sign up to mailing lists. There's no limit to the amount of mailing lists you sign up for.

Online wine sites are many and varied. It can take sometime to wade through the many different sites to find exactly what you're wanting. The best way to go about this is to start by searching for your favourite wines, then your favourite wineries, then your favourite regions. You can even search for a combination of wineries and varietal, or regions and varietal. You're bound to find what you're searching for.

Wine sales sites can include any of these types:
1. Wine direct from the winery from their own website.
2. Wine direct from the winery via an affiliate website that takes commission from the winery for the sale.
3. Companies that buy the wine from the winery, then on sell it via their website.
4. Auction houses which sell off stock no longer required from the winery or garnered through special deals.

Wine being purchased from a wine auction should be treated with some caution though. One problem with wine auctions is not always knowing how and/or trusting where the wine has been stored.

The best places to buy wine online are through companies that stock a variety of wine which is of the newest vintage as you really can't go wrong. The added bonus is most of them have some sort of guarantee on quality.

Shopping for wine online shouldn't cause one too much concern in todays world. Buying wine over the internet should be an enjoyable and no stress exercise met with a great anticipation of the wine arriving at your door.

This is just a short guide to help ease the concerns of some people about buying things online, especially wine. More and more quality wine sites are appearing often, so why not give it a try from the comforts of home?