Choose The Best Wine For Christmas By Going Online

Christmas is fast approaching and for most of us, it’s the highlight of the year. But, especially if you’re hosting a large gathering, the pace of the festive season can seem overwhelming.

There are endless cards to buy and write, presents to choose and wrap and parties, carol services and nativities to attend – and that’s before you start on the food and drink!

One of the best ways of saving time and money is, of course, to go online. You may already use the internet for choosing and ordering seasonal gifts, but perhaps it hasn’t occurred to you to do the same for your food and wine.

Drink in the benefits

You’ll save time when you buy wine online, and love the convenience of shopping at a time and place to suit you, whether that’s late at night, on the train to work or during your lunch hour.

And of course, your order arrives right at your front door. Wine bottles are fragile and heavy to carry around, at a time of year when you’re probably already lugging enough stuff back from the supermarket. Especially if you don’t have your own transport, getting great wine offers delivered direct to your home instead can be a godsend.

With web-based sellers having fewer overheads, you’ll also almost always save money as well.

There are other advantages, too. When you buy wine from a web-based merchants, you’ll have access to a wealth of specialist knowledge that even larger supermarkets simply don’t have.

That’s why buying wine from the high street can be rather hit and miss. Even if they know their wines, staff are often too busy to help you choose the perfect bottle.

Go online, though, and you’ll have access to a whole education in different grapes, what would best suit a particular meal or occasion, and the characteristics and background of each bottle. Descriptions are comprehensive and easy to understand.

Not only that, but all this information is at your fingertips 24 hours a day!

A good online retailer will suggest new wines to try, based on sound knowledge and education, and an understanding of what you have previously enjoyed, rather than guesswork.

Don’t forget, along with a wide range of reds, rosés and whites, online retailers also offer sparkling wines and champagnes for all your celebrations.

Want to give someone special a special gift this Christmas? Order them a bottle of fine wine online at a great price and get it delivered to them. Many merchants will package gifts beautifully, and this is a great option particularly if you aren’t seeing the recipient in person.

Here are some suggestions for Christmas Day tipples:

• A rustic, earthy Burgundy or a fruitier Pinot Noir red work well with a traditional turkey. Choose a white Burgundy if you’re less keen on red, or a Chardonnay. A white Riesling makes a good partner for duck, game birds and Asian dishes. For a richer white, select an Alsace.
• A good Sauternes can make a great alternative to port for your cheese course. A Sauvignon Sémillon blend is one example. A Jurançon from the Pyrenees will be fruitier, more laid-back, and not as rich.
• For pudding, consider an ice wine, Tokaji or rich sparkling wine such as Peller Estates. Alternatively, consider a port like red Shiraz from down under.

At a time of increasing demand and this year’s poor grape harvest putting pressure on prices, consumers need all the help they can get choosing wine.