Wine and beer buying habits

[soad]

I'm yet to buy beer or wine online.

[XJSJohn]

have a very good and affordable wine shop nearby and 7-11 covers all my beer needs.

[condor]

I've still got loads of wine and spirits left over from the demise of Threshers, until I get that lot down to manageable portions then can't see me buying much more anytime soon. My father buys his wines online via Laithwaites. I'm considering setting up an on-line wine shop ( but not for a few months as I need to focus on being more computer literate re web design and payment methods).
I do buy beer at the supermarket (usually Stella) when it's one of their loss leaders...but that's more for the summer bbq season.

[Mobile Chicane]

Mark Benson said:

I generally buy wine from Virgin Wines, they seem to do OK with choice and price and I'm getting to know what I like.
I put £20 a month into their 'wine bank' scheme, and every 3 months they add another £20 and I'll spend the £80 on a case of mixed wines which are good enough to share with friends, but not so expensive I feel I'm wasting really good stuff on people that won't appreciate it.

I do the same. Virgin Wine have slipped a little in recent years compared to previously, however they do have some blinders 'in the style of' much more expensive wines that I buy again and again.

I don't buy beer online because I don't drink it at home, however I can see the convenience of having it delivered rather than lugging it home. Other people's tasting notes, or Amazon-style recommendations for other beers similar to those you've already bought would be useful too I think.

[Cheese Mechanic]

As a general rule of thumb, I tend to buy things online, that fit specific criteria.

Firstly, something I'd like, that I cannot get locally.

Secondly, Something I can get far cheaper online.

I have never bought ale, or wine online. However, I have just bought a nice variety of Scotch online because of my first condition above.

I reckon I can only see any beer or wine buys I might make online , would be driven by the same qualifier.

The only scenario, where I could see myself buying run of the mill nosebag or throat lubricant online , was if I was hamstrung and could not get out to get it myself. Tesco, Asda, delivery, etc.

[pad58]

I guess we are chavs ,we no sorry the missus buys from Iceland when we want some beers.

She likes wine at the weekend ,that comes form the supermarket,and i sometimes buy the beers from
the cash and carry.

Iv'e never brought on line ,but now i will have a look.

[Bob the Planner]

I buy about 12 bottles of wine from the local bottle shop almost every week at about $6 a bottle and have a trip up the hunter valley to taste some decent wine about every 2 months. Usually spend about $600-800 each time I go up the valley so can't afford to do it too often.

[Rooster]

cinque said:

(St Peters - Suffolk for e.g.)

I live 5 miles from the brewery, they do cases of 12 bottles where the labels have been put on wonky for a mere £16, I have three case in the cellar yum yum

[LordGrover]

in the cellar? Get her!

[Bullett]

Wine - I would buy specialist stuff I know I like online. For new wines I generally go to a specialist and see what they have available. For general drinking wines Majestic or supermarket are fine. I'd consider a bulk order for a party or something online.

Beer, not interested enough in specialist beer to bother. Would buy bulk for a party.

[shirt]

my wine knowledge isn't good enough to chance an online purchase.

I would buy beer online, price dependent. know of a couple of specialist retailers but the price for fewer than 10 cases doesn't make it worthwhile.

in the main, I buy wine on offer (i.e. clearance price not 3 for a tenner as I can buy vinegar cheaply anyway), mainstream beer from the supermarket or cash & carry for parties, and specialist beer from an importer.

[Xerstead]

Would consider buying either.
I rarely drink at home so the assorted ales/bottles of wine I pick up while on offer in store last me a while.
I'm unlikely to specifically order beer online, but there have been a couple recently I've looked up when they dissapeared from the shelves. When beer shopping I just pick a selection that looks interesting which I haven't tried before. This way each beer is a new experience and adds to the enjoyment. However, I usually have a crate of larger ready in the garage ready for the next party/BBQ.
As for the wine, I could be tempted by an intro offer but unlikely to continue.
For me to consider ordering online the prices (inc. delivery!!) would need to rival the supermarkets.

Mmmmm.... Beer... Opening one now... *Clink*

[callisto]

I've bought wine online once - about 10 years ago from Virgin Wines I think - only 'cos they had a decent sign up discount, etc.

My most recent purchase however was for a few crates of beer from Tesco.

Reason being there was a TopCashBack offer of £10 cashback and free delivery for a new Tesco online customer purchase of £50 or more. In addition, they had a £10 off voucher code at the checkout. So £50 worth of groceries for £30 and no need to suffer... seemed too good to be true

Of course my fridge and freezer were well stocked with grub, so I figured "Beer = Groceries?". Indeed it is.

So I purchased 3 crates of ale ( 3 x 24 cans ) in order to make the whole transaction simple.

Only it turns out the idiots at Tesco don't actually use common sense and deliver whole crates - the numbskulls send their packers out round the stores with carrier bags to stock from the shelves! So I ended up with 72 cans of ale divided between countless bags all piled up in 2 plastic boxes. One of the cans had split open and pissed all over the show.

The delivery driver apologised and made a note promising a refund. I never got it or chased it up though.

The bonus however was the petrol voucher giving me 5p off a litre for a full tank I didn't expect that so can forgive the 1 can.. lol!

[Bill]

I'd happily buy beer online, to save carrying it home.

Wine I prefer to pick up, have a read of the labels etc. I don't know why, it's certainly not because I'm a connosieur at all.

These days though I buy both from Costco as they stock my preferred plonk cheaply.

[ewenm]

I'd consider either. Just as easy for me to pick up what I want at the supermarket though.

[HereBeMonsters]

Majestic are the nuts.

[SVX]

I've used several online wine merchants, but always go back to my vintner by phone about every three months. Beer wise, I've order South African and Kiwi beers for parties as well as Trappist beers.

[Psychobert]

Happy to buy either, and have bought wine online in the past, but don't really know enough about it.. I like wandering into a majestic type place and say I've had a few bottles of x and liked it, what do you think would suit..

I really must write down what I like though.. The empties I'm using as an aide memoir are cluttering up the kitchen..

[V8mate]

shirt said:

my wine knowledge isn't good enough to chance an online purchase.

This comment fascinates me.

When you buy a bottle of wine in a supemarket, you have no idea how it'll taste. (Unless you've bought it before, obviously)

So why would an online purchase be any different?

Or are you put off my having to buy a 'quantity'?

[Psychobert]

V8mate said:

shirt said:

my wine knowledge isn't good enough to chance an online purchase.

This comment fascinates me.

When you buy a bottle of wine in a supemarket, you have no idea how it'll taste. (Unless you've bought it before, obviously)

So why would an online purchase be any different?

Or are you put off my having to buy a 'quantity'?

Happy to buy a case at a time, but in the past I'd found it tended to be a couple of bottles of the same type and if I didn't like it, I'm stuck with the other one. Supermarkets are OK IMHO if I know what I'm buying. Otherwise its off to Majestic..

Seriously thinking of going on some form of wine tasting event.. Be nice to know a little more about it..