The internet has been a game changer when it comes to topping up your tipple
Gone are the days when stocking up on wine meant having to go to the shops. Over the course of the digital revolution which has dominated the past two decades, more and more of us are choosing to buy our wine online, having it delivered straight to our doors without any hassle.
And in recent months, the internet’s role in wine shopping has reached new heights due to the COVID-19 pandemic. With shops and restaurants closing, the drinks trade has been forced to adapt to an online landscape, and this has provided a huge amount of change for shoppers. But it has also undoubtedly presented an opportunity.
Online wine sales surged during the pandemic, and increasing numbers of people are choosing to shop online for greater choice and accessibility.
But how exactly have our wine buying habits changed in recent months? Let’s take a look.
Mixing and matching with big orders
Perhaps because eating out has not been an option, stockpiling quality wines to enjoy at home has driven huge amounts of online orders over the past year. In UK hotspots like London, wine delivery encourages you to make the most of a single delivery in order to enjoy specific perks like money off or free delivery.
Online, you’ll also find a larger array of choice than you would at your local supermarkets. By shopping for wine online, you can cherry pick old favourites or exotic new options to try.
Sharing a glass or two during virtual hangouts
By now, we’re all familiar with Zoom and other video chat tools. Not only have these been intrinsic for individuals working from home, but they’ve also opened up a new kind of socialising in the wake of restaurant and bar closures. This has resulted in the rise of virtual parties and social events, including wine evenings and tasting sessions.
Even businesses have taken advantage of this, offering virtual wine-centred events that involve having wine samples delivered to your home. Technologically speaking, this has been possible for a long time, but it took the pandemic for companies to make it a reality.
In a more relaxed sense, virtual hangouts are encouraging us to stock up on wine simply so we can have a nice time with friends and family on the screen. By drinking together, even through a screen, we can maintain some level of normality.
Broadening horizons
Let’s face it, there hasn’t been a huge amount to do over the past year. With nothing on the social calendar, wine lovers have spent their time mixing up their wine racks and exploring different regions and grape varieties.
London wine delivery services have a huge selection of options for people looking to try something new with their chosen tipple. Even fortified wines have grown in popularity, with Nielsen reporting that sales of sherry peaked at 124% in April 2020, and remained at 93% even after pubs and restaurants began opening again.
Increased interest
There’s an old joke that wine shopping simply involves looking for the highest percentage for the cheapest price, but recent events have led many of us to open our eyes – and our taste buds – to the possibilities of true wine education.
Through wine delivery services, we’re able to explore what makes different kinds of wine so special. What wines pair best with certain food? What wine is best as a cooking ingredient? What wine should you pick for a sunny afternoon in springtime? These are the questions we’re starting to ask ourselves, and online wine shopping has made finding the answers all the more possible.
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