Wine.com: the best buys available in the US
Brianne Cohen offers 10 new wines to try from the world's largest online wine store, along with two from a previous tasting by Stacy Slinkard.
Founded in 1998 and headquartered in San Francisco, Wine.com bills itself as the world’s largest wine store. It is the biggest online wine retailer in the US, offering 17,000 different labels from regions around the world.
Featuring a mix of both well-known and well-distributed wines to smaller boutique brands, the company works hard to deliver what consumers want.
Wine.com aims to make buying bottles online easy, fun and informative. It offers live-chat wine recommendations with sommeliers as well as virtual tastings with some of the industry’s top wine personalities. Such savvy technology is also used by Total Wine.
Wine.com also has a wine-club program called Picked, which customises wine deliveries to a member’s unique tastes.
Annual shipping membership options – free to over 40 states – as well as competitive pricing set the business apart as a consumer-friendly, wine-savvy retailer that caters to both collectors and new wine lovers alike.
‘Wine.com is a wine-discovery engine,’ says CEO Rich Bergsund. ‘With our vast selection of wine and spirits, our algorithm that sorts by “most interesting”, plus our live-chat sommeliers, we help you discover the incredible world of wine with confidence.’
Bergsund is particularly proud of Wine.com’s mobile app. ‘People can keep track of what they’ve purchased and how they’ve liked it. Imagine having a record of every wine you’ve ever had, with your rating and notes attached?’
Decanter’s selection of top Wine.com wines to try
The wines below are a current selection from the Wine.com portfolio. The most recently tasted are at the top of the list.
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Zenato, Metodo Classico Brut, Lugana, Veneto, Italy, 2017
A laser-precise sparkler from Lugana made from the indigenous Turbiana grape. This wine would stump any Champagne lover who might mistake it for a youthful and fresh Blanc de Blancs Champagne. Notes of green apples, pear, and lemon start on the nose and confirm on the palate.
2017
ZenatoLugana
J Vineyards, J Cuvée 20 Brut, Sonoma County, Russian River Valley, California, USA
<p>Nicole Hitchcock, head winemaker at classic Sonoma sparkling house J Vineyards, crafts more than 30 wines annually. The J Cuvée 20 is a classic blend of the three Champagne grapes across the six estate vineyards in the Russian River Valley and Sonoma Coast. This flagship wine aims to be fresh and fruit-forward, showcasing richness and texture. Lemon and apple notes give way to toasted nut flavours.</p>
J VineyardsSonoma County
Fleur de Miraval, Fleur de Miraval NV (ER2), Champagne, France
Fleur de Miraval, a rosé only Champagne house, is a collaboration of three families: the Perrins, the Pitts, and the Péters. Medium salmon in colour. With coaxing and time in the glass, primary aromas of Asian pear, pink grapefruit, and red fruit, including cherries, arise. Almond paste, brioche, and other autolytic flavours on the mid-palate bring way to a smokey note and a long finish. A startlingly complex, lively, and elegant wine.
Fleur de Miraval
Venica & Venica, Jesera Pinot Grigio, Collio, Friuli-Venezia Giulia, Italy, 2021
Giampaolo Venica, the 4th generation vintner, produced a ramato-style Pinot Grigio with texture, mouthfeel, and phenolics. White flowers, spiced pear, and star anise lead on the nose, with ginger and spice continuing on the palate. Consider this a Pinot Grigio, but with character. To be enjoyed as a showstopping aperitif wine or paired with vegetarian cuisine.
2021
Venica & VenicaCollio
Lagar de Cervera, Albariño, Rías Baixas, Galicia, Spain, 2020
A bright lemon colour with green hues in the glass, this Albariño showcases bright fruit plus refreshing acidity. The fruit is lean: citrus, green fruit, then moving into stone fruit. Salinity and brininess on the palate call for seared scallops or shrimp. Any freshly grilled seafood with a squeeze of lemon would accentuate the wine’s acidity and make for a pleasant pairing.
2020
Lagar de CerveraRías Baixas
Gérard Bertrand, Cote des Roses, Languedoc-Roussillon, France, 2021
The Cote des Roses collection from Gérard Bertrand’s estate was named as a nod to the Roses Coast, a beach near the Mediterranean. This wine comes in a striking bottle with a rose motif moulded into the bottom of the bottle. Pale pink/salmon colour. A light, refreshing, and primary rosé, showcasing bright red fruits (watermelon and cranberries) plus pink grapefruit on the palate.
2021
Gérard Bertrand
Viña Los Vascos, Cromas Gran Reserva Cabernet Sauvignon, Colchagua Valley, Chile, 2018
In the late 1980s, Domaines Barons de Rothschild took over the Los Vascos estate in the Colchagua Valley of Chile. This Cabernet Sauvignon Gran Reserva seriously over-delivers for its $22 SRP. Dark fruit notes of black currant and blackberries make way for secondary and tertiary notes, including spice rack, cigar box, and vanilla. Marked earthiness, cracked black pepper notes, and well-integrated (though prevalent) tannins add to the layers of complexity. Serve this wine with a simply grilled steak.
2018
Viña Los Vascos
Quinta do Vesúvio, Pombal do Vesuvio, Douro Valley, Portugal, 2019
<p>Red table wines from classic Port producers are where to look for value in Portugal. Symington Family Estates produces this wine from one of its great Douro Superior estates used to make the world’s finest Ports. Marked herbaceousness on the nose. Red fruit (cherries) moving into black fruit (blackberries) notes. Dark chocolate and mocha on the back palate add a layer of richness, making this the perfect “fireside” wine.</p>
2019
Quinta do Vesúvio
Quivira Vineyards, Zinfandel, Sonoma County, Dry Creek Valley, California, USA, 2019
Quivira Vineyards produces low-intervention style wines with certified organic grapes in Sonoma County and Dry Creek Valley. A medium ruby in the glass, this wine gives a bouquet of red and blue fruit on the nose. On the palate, the fruit is ripe and moving into a rich coulis character. Vanilla and sweet baking spices add richness. Enjoy with beef stroganoff or stewed/braised meats.
2019
Quivira VineyardsSonoma County
Graham's, Quinta dos Malvedos, Port, Douro Valley, Portugal, 2010
When Graham’s declares a vintage, the Malvedos vineyard generally makes up a large component of the blend. In the most exceptional years, the wines from Malvedos warrant a standalone bottling like this one. A challenging growing season proved to be a solid foundation. Unctuous red and black fruit both on the nose and palate play centre stage. Ensemble characters include a minty eucalyptus note plus bitter dark chocolate notes. To be enjoyed on its own, with blue cheese or chocolate-flavoured desserts.
2010
Graham'sPort
Mumm Napa, Brut Prestige, Napa Valley, California, USA
A snappy sparkling that begins with a seriously fresh nose of green apple, orange blossom, citrus and gingerbread. These continue on the palate, driven by vibrant acidity and the unmistakable tang of freshly baked bread. Medium-bodied, balanced, crisp and complex, with a lengthy finish.
Mumm NapaNapa Valley
La Rioja Alta, Viña Alberdi Reserva, Rioja, Spain, 2015
Lively aromas of wild raspberries, cherry and red currants interplay with cedar spice and tobacco leaves. This has a soft, plush, medium-weight body with fine-grained tannins and a snap of tart cherry fruit on the mid-palate. Sweet oak spice carries through to a fine finish.
2015
La Rioja Alta
