The French say, "There is truly no perfect bottle of wine, there is only a perfect empty bottle of wine." The belief is there is no two bottles of wine alike. Different weather patterns, different lots in the vineyard, different mixtures, different barrels, and different corks make each wine unique. However, the advantage we have in California is our weather pattern is fairly consistent from year to year, we irrigate, cultivate and systematically monitor grape growth and maturation so closely, that each bottle is very consistent with the next. Schools like the University of California at Davis have been teaching grape growers and winemakers the art of Viticulture & Enology for many years. Quality control and process control in the wine industry has allowed us to enjoy a consistent wine flavor at the winery, at home and in a restaurant.

Wine can be purchased at supermarkets, grocery stores, specialty shops liquor stores and on-line. If you know what you like and are specific about the varietal, vintage, appellation, and winery, your choice is pretty safe. If not, you may be staring at the wide assortment of wines wondering which one to buy. If this questionable figure is you, be assured, you are not alone. People purchase wine because of a catchy picture on the label, the color of the label, the shape of the bottle, or they think they may have heard of the winery before. This method may be useful until you get home and find out you just bought a bottle of premium cooking wine. I know, I have done it a few times. The advantage of buying on-line is the ability to read about the wine before you buy. Is it a rated wine, highly acclaimed? Does the critic or winemaker's notes sound like something you would enjoy? If so, it is probably a safe bet. To evaluate on-line wine selections, CLICK HERE...

The most conservative method to purchase quality wine is to taste it before you buy. Booking a wine tasting tour of your local winery, or attending a wine tasting event, provides a side by side comparison of different appellations, wineries, varietals and vintage. Always a fun adventure is to organize a home wine tasting party of your own. The party can be mixed whites and reds, whites only, reds only or be specific to a region or varietal. If mixed, always remember to move from whites to reds, sweet to dry. To round out a perfect wine tasting party, a perfect wine and food pairing ensemble can be added. If you would like to keep it simple, mild cheese and crackers will do.

Wine can also be purchased through wine clubs. Most wineries have wine clubs that provide special discounts and privileges to members. Assorted wine, from their offerings, are typically shipped on a monthly, quarterly or semi-annual basis. Club members are notified of limited supply and reserve wines, and provided with special event discounts at the winery.

A different type of wine club is being offered by Simply-Wines. We are working with multiple wineries and wine clubs to provide premium wine at value pricing. We gather 90 + point, award wining, and premium releases for our panel to meticulously review and choose the perfect wine for the shipment. Each shipment is accompanied by a description complete with the rating of the wine, listing of the awards won by the wine, and winemaker's notes, as may be applicable. There are no sign up fees, no cancellation fees and no minimum shipment requirements.

To learn more about membership in the Simply-Wine Club, visit Join the Club.

Additional articles on Wine:
Health Benefits of Wine
Understanding Rated and Non Rated Wines
Simple Rating System
Examples of Rated Wines