With more and more people deciding to stay home due to COVID-19, businesses of all sizes and types are pivoting to online sales, including wine delivery services. For those new to buying wine online, there is no better time to dive and explore the vast digital world of wine. While the process can be a bit of a head-scratcher, online wine delivery services are such a convenient and safe way to partake in this decadent libation – much more than driving to a local liquor store. For those who want to discover new and exciting labels, or simply replenish their supply of classics, here is how to master the ins and outs of ordering wine online.

1. Check the Delivery Locations

Since wine is an alcoholic beverage, there are more restrictions around wine delivery services. Unfortunately, not every wine delivery service can ship to every buyer. While 45 states allow easy direct-to-consumer wine delivery service, there are a few that do not. Before anyone gets too excited about shopping for wine online, they should learn more about their state’s delivery options.

For instance, it is nearly impossible to order wine directly from a licensed winery in Alabama, Delaware, Mississippi, Kentucky, and Utah. For those residing in these states, it is best to work with local retailers directly. In some states, like Indiana, wineries must choose between selling direct or through a wholesaler, which can add extra hoops and limit choices. There can also be restrictions on how much gallons a winery can produce to sell online. This is applicable in Ohio and New Jersey – direct shipments can only come from wineries that produce 250,000 gallons per year. Once you know you are clear of the restrictions, you can start looking at wine delivery services near you.

2. Pay Attention to Shipping

Because of the nature of wine delivery service, every shipment must be signed for. After making an online wine order, it’s important for eager customers to pay attention to their shipment as they’ll need to be home to sign for it and prove they are over 21 years of age – a rule designed by the government to ensure minors don’t get easy access to alcohol. For those with demanding work schedules, especially as the holidays near, it may be best to have shipments delivered directly to work. Lastly, when it comes to shipping, never spend more on shipping than the wine itself. A simple solution to pricey shipping fees is to make it worth it. Rather than buying one or two bottles of wine, stock up and order half a dozen or more. This allows someone to qualify for free wine delivery service while exploring more options.

3. Don’t Judge a Bottle by the Price

For new and old wine connoisseurs, it can be tempting to judge a bottle by the price. Just because a wine is inexpensive doesn’t mean the flavor is lesser. Sometimes, wines are more affordable than others because of where the wine was produced, what types of grapes were used, or it’s simply a great bargain. An inexpensive bottle of wine can also taste better than a more expensive counterpart – it’s dependent on so many more factors than just price. The best wine delivery service will always try to curate the best selection of wines for a wide variety of budgets.

4. Document Favorites

The best way to master wine delivery service is to keep a record of what wines were enjoyable and which were not. However someone prefers to record information – whether it is through an app, a smartphone photo, or via classic pencil and paper – will do just fine. Keeping a record will ensure no one forgets the amazing wine they enjoyed, making placing their next order even easier.

5. Don’t Be Intimated

What makes the world of wine such a confusing place is the terminology. While sommeliers and seasoned wine drinkers can determine how a wine will taste based on descriptions like “tannin,” “dry,” “astringent,” and “tertiary aromatics,” a casual wine drinker probably can’t. Rather than spending hours trying to figure out what this all means, look for a wine delivery service that makes it easy by using simple descriptions and pairing suggestions. It can be a lot easier to choose a wine based on what food items it is best drank with then descriptors like dry, bold, bitter, or harsh. This also allows the shopper to envision the purpose of a bottle of wine beforehand – will it be drunk alongside a delicious dinner or indulged casually during the afternoon?

6. Be Open to Learning

Trying out a wine delivery service, especially if it’s someone’s first time, is a learning experience, so don’t be afraid to experiment! Spend some time researching and looking up reviews before placing an order, but don’t overthink it – branch out and try new wines. There are plenty of exciting bottles to choose from. Play around with new brands, labels, and regions, and don’t consider a disliked bottle a waste of money. It’s all part of expanding one’s palette, after all!