How to Choose Wine Online When You Don't Know What to Buy

How to choose wine online when you don't know what to buy

Buying wine online sounds simple.

You open a wine shop and see hundreds of bottles and dozens of regions. Some descriptions sound like university theses.

Don't worry.

You don't need to know everything about wine to choose a good bottle.

In fact, you don't even need to know very much.

You just need a few useful starting points.

Wineslut finds interesting wines from independent producers. Here is our guide for choosing a bottle when you are lost.

First: forget about choosing the "best" wine

There isn't one.

The best wine is the one you actually enjoy drinking.

A £15 bottle might be perfect for you. A £50 bottle might leave you wondering what all the fuss was about.

Wine is personal.

So instead of trying to find the best wine, try to find:

the right wine for you, right now.

That makes things considerably easier.

1. Start with red, white, rosé or sparkling

This sounds obvious, but it's the easiest place to begin.

Red

Generally more structured and fuller-bodied, although reds range from light and elegant to rich and powerful.

Good starting point if you're eating:

• Steak
• Burgers
• Roast beef
• Lamb
• Rich pasta dishes
• Hard cheeses

White

Usually fresher and lighter, although fuller-bodied whites absolutely exist.

Good with:

• Fish
• Seafood
• Chicken
• Salads
• Fresh cheeses
• Lighter pasta dishes

Rosé

Don't think of rosé as simply "summer wine".

Good rosé can work brilliantly with:

• Mediterranean food
• Grilled fish
• Salads
• Charcuterie
• Spicy dishes

Sparkling

Obviously excellent for celebrations.

But you don't actually need an occasion.

Sparkling wine works beautifully as an aperitif and can be surprisingly versatile with food.

No one has ever said you need to wait until someone's birthday.

2. Think about what you normally drink

If you're completely new to wine, start with something familiar.

Already enjoy Sauvignon Blanc?

Look for another Sauvignon Blanc from a different producer or region.

Like Malbec?

Try another bottle and see how different producers approach the grape.

Love a big Italian red?

Sangiovese, Primitivo or other Italian varieties might be worth exploring.

This is how you gradually build your own understanding of wine.

You don't need to memorise every grape in existence.

Start with what you like. Then get curious.

3. Decide how adventurous you're feeling

This is one of the easiest ways to choose a wine online.

Ask yourself:

"Do I want something I know I'll probably enjoy?"

Choose a familiar grape or region.

"Do I fancy trying something different?"

Choose a producer you've never heard of.

"I want something completely different."

That's where things get interesting.

Try a less familiar grape.

Explore a region you wouldn't normally consider.

Choose something because the story behind it catches your attention.

There's no wrong answer.

4. Look at the grape variety

If you're unsure what a wine might taste like, the grape can give you a useful starting point.

Some broad examples:

Sauvignon Blanc

Often fresh, crisp and aromatic.

Chardonnay

Can range from fresh and citrusy to rich, creamy and oak-influenced.

Pinot Noir

Usually lighter and more elegant than many other red varieties, with red fruit and a softer structure.

Cabernet Sauvignon

Often fuller-bodied, structured and concentrated.

Sangiovese

Usually associated with bright acidity, red fruit and savoury character.

Malbec

Often richer and fruit-forward, with darker fruit flavours.

But remember:

The grape isn't the whole story.

Climate, soil, producer, vintage and winemaking can completely change how a grape expresses itself.

That's why trying the same variety from different producers can be so interesting.

5. Don't ignore the region

The region can tell you a lot about a wine.

For example, Marlborough is particularly well known for Sauvignon Blanc.

Rioja is famous for Tempranillo-led red wines.

Burgundy is synonymous with Pinot Noir and Chardonnay.

Provence is famous for rosé.

But don't stop there.

Some of our favourite discoveries come from regions people don't immediately associate with great wine.

Portugal. Slovenia. Lebanon. Norfolk.

There is a lot more to wine than the famous names.

And discovering somewhere new is half the fun.

6. Let the food make the decision

Completely stuck?

Look at what's for dinner.

It can make choosing a bottle surprisingly easy.

Steak tonight?

Look towards fuller-bodied reds.

Seafood?

A fresh white with good acidity could be perfect.

Pizza?

You've got plenty of options, but an Italian red is a very good place to start.

Roast chicken?

A medium-bodied red or fuller white could work beautifully.

Cheese board?

Depends entirely on the cheese.

And if you're having takeaway?

Even better.

Wine doesn't judge.

7. Think about how much you want to spend

Set yourself a budget before you start browsing.

Otherwise it's incredibly easy to convince yourself that you really do need the £75 bottle.

A useful starting point is to think:

What am I comfortable spending on this bottle?

Then shop within that range.

Remember:

Price isn't the same thing as quality.

There are excellent wines at a wide range of prices.

The trick is finding the bottles where the quality and price make sense together.

That's one of the reasons we spend so much time looking for independent producers.

We want to find wines that give you something interesting for what you're spending.

8. Read the description, but don't believe every adjective

Wine descriptions can be useful.

They can also get slightly carried away.

"Opulent."

"Seductive."

"Silky."

"Exuberant."

"Luxurious."

"An explosion of..."

Sometimes you just want to know:

Is it dry?

Is it light or full-bodied?

Is it fruity or savoury?

Will it work with dinner?

Why should I buy it?

That's the information that actually helps.

At Wineslut, we tell you what the wine is like. You do not need to decode it first.

9. Check what the people behind the wine are like

This is something that's often overlooked when buying online.

Look beyond the bottle.

Who makes it?

Are they a small family producer?

How long have they been making wine?

Where are their vineyards?

What makes their approach interesting?

The story doesn't automatically make the wine better.

But it can make the bottle more interesting.

And wine is much more fun when you know there's a person, place and story behind it.

10. When in doubt, start with one bottle

This is probably our favourite piece of advice.

If you've never bought from a particular wine merchant before, you don't have to commit to a case.

You don't have to buy six bottles of something you've never tasted.

Start with one.

Try it.

See what you think.

If you love it, you've discovered something.

If you don't, you've learnt something too.

That's a pretty good outcome either way.

What if I still have absolutely no idea?

That's fine.

Start with these five questions:

1. Red, white, rosé or sparkling?

2. What do I normally enjoy drinking?

3. What am I eating?

4. How much do I want to spend?

5. Do I want familiar or something new?

Answer those five questions and you've already narrowed down hundreds of wines to a much more manageable choice.

And if you're still stuck?

Pick the bottle that makes you curious.

That's often where the best discoveries begin.

Why buying wine should be about discovery

Wine doesn't have to be intimidating.

You don't need to understand every region.

You don't need to know every grape.

You don't need to recognise every famous producer.

Do not pretend you taste violets and graphite. You can just taste the wine.

You just need to find something you want to drink.

That's where a good independent wine merchant can help.

At Wineslut, we search for wines from independent producers and smaller vineyards that we think are worth discovering.

Some will be familiar.

Some won't.

Some might become your new favourite bottle.

The Wineslut way

Know what you like?

Start there.

Want something new?

Try something you've never heard of.

Buying for dinner?

Start with the food.

Buying a gift?

Look for something with a story.

Completely overwhelmed?

Start with one bottle.

You don't have to know everything about wine.

That's our job.

Ready to find your next bottle?

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Frequently Asked Questions

How do I choose wine online if I don't know anything about wine?

Start with basics. Pick red, white, rosé or sparkling. Think about your food, budget and taste preferences.

What wine is best for beginners?

There isn't one perfect wine for everyone. Start with a grape you enjoy. Then explore different producers.

How do I choose wine to go with food?

Consider the main ingredients and dish richness. Full foods work with full wines. Lighter dishes need good acidity.

Is expensive wine better?

Not necessarily. Price can reflect reputation, scarcity, production costs and demand, but it doesn't guarantee that you'll enjoy the wine more.

Should I buy a case of wine I've never tried?

Not necessarily. Buying a single bottle is an easy way to discover a wine before committing to a larger order.

How can I discover new wines?

Try a grape, producer or region you haven't explored before. Independent wine merchants can also be useful because they often introduce wines that aren't as widely available.