Love wine, but finding it increasingly difficult to find a bottle that satisfies on the supermarket shelves? We hear you. While there are some great in-person wine stores around, the fact is that, due to space limitations, they’re typically only capable of selling a limited selection of bottles.
That’s part of the reason why so many wine fans have turned to the online world. Plus, not only can buyers access a much broader range of wines, but they can do so from the comfort of their own home. Once the order is placed, they just need to sit and wait for the bottles to arrive on their doorstep, no driving or heavy lifting required.
With that said, while finding an online wine store is easy, finding a good one can prove to be a little more difficult than you might expect. Many online wine retailers simply offer all the wines possible, without any specialist input.
That’s why we were intrigued by Winedirect, which offers high-quality wines from specialist producers at a great price. But is Winedirect worth using? Let’s take a look.
About Winedirect
Winedirect sets itself apart in the online wine retail space by providing specialist wines at affordable prices. You’ll find more than 7,000 wines from around the world on their website, with a particular focus on Old World wines from Europe’s classic wine regions — though if you like wines from elsewhere, such as Argentina, the USA, Chile, or New Zealand, then don’t worry, you’ll find them too.
It’s a large inventory of wines, but there’s nothing generic about the wines that Winedirect sells. As wine experts, they go above and beyond to make sure that each bottle is high-quality. You can think of it as like buying wine from a well-curated list produced by wine experts.
We like this because it gives you confidence that you’ll always get a good bottle of wine, which allows you to buy a couple of risky wines — such as wines from regions you don’t know — without worrying that you’ll get one of the generic, mass-produced bottles that other online wine retailers sell. They also offer convenient mixed cases, which allow customers to try a curated selection of six different bottles.
Can Anyone Buy From Winedirect?
People who already know plenty about wine will find that Winedirect delivers just what they’re looking for, but what about those who aren’t experts?
Winedirect is an independent, specialist online wine retailer, but that doesn’t mean that only specialists can buy from there. Anyone who’s looking to avoid mass-produced wine, and instead buy specialist wine, can buy from Winedirect.
The website has a wealth of information that makes it easy for relative beginners to find a bottle that they’ll enjoy. For example, on the homepage, you’ll find a ‘New & Noteworthy’ section that includes a few bottles of wine, all of which were highly affordable. They also run a ‘Wine & Food’ pairing blog, which helps customers find a bottle that’ll match the dinner they have planned.
With that said, while it can be beginner-friendly, Winedirect is also very much an online retailer that connoisseurs will enjoy too. They have 7,000 wines from specialist vineyards around the world, and they also have exclusive UK partnerships with select wineries. If you’re looking for a special bottle, then you’ll likely find it here.
Winedirect: Pros and Cons
Winedirect has established itself as one of the leading independent, boutique wine retailers online, and that’s thanks in part to the many advantages it holds over other in-person and online sellers. Still, it’s not perfect. Let’s take a look at some of the primary Winedirect pros and cons, so that you can make an informed decision about whether the website is right for you.
Pros
Over 7,000 Wines
Winedirect doesn’t just offer thousands of bottles of wine; they offer a well-curated list of thousands of wines. Whether it’s an Old World wine from Europe’s classic wine regions or elsewhere, you can have confidence that you’re buying a great bottle.
Exclusive Imports
Winedirect also has exclusive partnerships with various wineries around the world, allowing customers to access bottles of wine that they won’t find anywhere else in the UK.
They Offer Mixed Wine Cases
Not sure what wine you’d like to purchase? Winedirect makes it easy to get a selection of high-quality wines based on a particular type (red, white, rosé) through their mixed wine case products.
They Have Great Offers
Many online wine specialists only sell high-value bottles. At Winedirect, you can find high-end wines with a high price tag, but you can also find affordable bottles too. We particularly liked that they always seem to have offers on, allowing customers to pick up a great bottle of wine at a price that’s just as good.
Delivery Is Fair
Wine is heavy, and that can make delivery prices expensive. At Winedirect, we were pleased to see that their delivery prices were reasonable (6 bottles for £11.95; 12 bottles at £14.95). Shipment takes around 3 – 5 days, which is standard.
Cons
Website Can Be a Little Overwhelming to Use
Winedirect makes it as easy as possible for its customers to pick up a great bottle of wine, but it can be a little overwhelming at first if you don’t know which region you’re interested in.
High Spend Required to Unlock Free Shipping
Winedirect offers free shipping, but only on orders over £500, which means most customers won’t qualify.
Winedirect Review: Final Thoughts
All in all, we have to say that we were very impressed by Winedirect. They have an outstanding collection of wines from all around the world, including exclusive wines that you won’t find elsewhere in the UK. We were also big fans of the mixed wine cases and the expert advice they provide, which makes it easier for newcomers to get a bottle that they’ll love. Ultimately, it’s an online wine retailer that will speak to all wine lovers, and it’ll be no surprise if it becomes the leading specialist retailer in the country.
