Many wine drinkers dream of finding an exciting discovery from far-off lands at a great price … unfortunately the reality is usually wildly different.
SCANNING THE SHELVES
Today a few large wineries produce the majority of bottles you find on the high street. Furthermore, names like Hardys and Blossom Hill dominate the supermarket shelves. Many wine merchants and supermarkets are simply looking to secure the best price possible on easy-drinking, bulk wines from a large manufacturer. So if you want something a little different it’s not much use scanning the shelves in your corner shop or local supermarket. All you’re likely to find is mass-produced wine made for simple glugging!
ONLINE MARKET
However, there is hope … the advent of the Internet and growing interest in wine (especially in the UK) has made it far easier (and cheaper!) for the average wine consumer to order interesting wines.
A quick search for wine online reveals a number of wine merchants. Each merchant offering a vast range of bottles with handy information about each one. According to online monitor Hitwise, websites operated by Laithwaites receive more online hits than those of any other wine merchant. Browse Laithwaites and you will find wines from established winemaking countries. These countries include France and Spain as well as far-flung destinations. There’s Pinot Grigio from Hungary and Romania, Brazilian fizz, dessert wines from Greece, Chilean Sauvignon plus that most difficult of grapes – Pinot Noir – from Patagonia. You can even try an English fizz should the mood take you closer to home.
It seems Laithwaites are thriving on variety and Leading wine magazine Decanter voted them their Wine Merchant of the Year in 2007. Wine lovers must hope that other wine merchants follow suit and offer more character-driven wines from distant shores …
OUTSIDE OF THE UK
If you are feeling stuck in a wine rut – why not try searching for something a little bit different? There is a world of better wines out there to enjoy and they’re just a click away … If you’d like to learn more about the World of Wine, feel free to visit our site and if you’re residing outside of the UK, check out our personal online collection.
For all your wine needs the Eclectic Connoisseur has formed a partnership with California Wine Club, International Wine Accessories, Purewine, Reserve Bar, and The Whiskey Exchange. For a more comprehensive assessment of their storefront, products and services please visit our review section of our web-site. Please share your next dessert inspiration with our Facebook community of food and drink lovers @ the Eclectic Connoisseur!
