Wine Sediments

My home town of Henley has just lost the crown to a London borough as the top internet purchasing town in the UK. It has slipped down to number two in the country; but whatever its position, the town spends thousands a week on the internet. This fact explains the ever present Ocado, Tesco and DHL vans climbing up and down Remenham Hill and along the Reading Road.

Compared to like-for-like sales last year internet sales in the UK for wines and spirits rose 43.4% in July. This growth is set to continue as wine merchants up and down the country tap into the joy of the internet and clamour for trade. There are, of course, advantages to buying online and some negative aspects, too, of course.

Advantages to buying wine online:

• Access to a huge range of products thousands of the most exciting wines never reach the high street or supermarkets; the internet gives access to the many hundreds of specialists operating in the UK
• Convenience you can place an order whenever you like
• Information the internet, of course, is packed full of all the information you could possibly want, no need to ask the spotty Herbert re-stocking the alcopops which wine you should pick to go with your ready meal.
• Delivery Flexibility arrange for the package to arrive when you want it
• Gifts a great way to get gifts delivered direct to the recipient, saving time and energy

Disadvantages

• Delivery of course what should be flexible often results in hanging around for the delivery or, if you miss it, an inconvenient trip to collect the parcel from the Post Office or some remote industrial estate-based depot. Both, of course, having the most odd opening times.
• Delivery Costs savings may be made online, but you have to factor in the considerable delivery costs. Many merchants attempt to absorb some if not the majority of the cost. But when it reaches 10 or 12 a case
• Lack of Human interaction some people enjoy building a relationship with the wine merchant; while many will happily respond to emails, the lack of direct communication may not suit all.

While the UK is blessed with a vibrant wine merchant sector that still holds its own against the rise of the supermarkets and is unencumbered by interstate restrictions as in the US, the list above should apply elsewhere.