Page 156 - WINE DINE AND TRAVEL SUMMER 2019 PORTUGAL

Best Value Sites Higher-Priced Wines, Imports
Here are the sites I use most frequently. Wine Access offers more high-end wines or
Garagiste. Based in Seattle, Garagiste offers interesting finds, such as smaller lots from
a great array of finds from the U.S. and major producers, limited releases from vine-
abroad, with prices from under $10 to over yards adjacent to name brands and cult wines,
$100. Jon Rimmerman, the founder, writes and wines from star winemakers from the cults
descriptions to highlight each wine, ranging who also produce under their own labels. In
from pithy paragraphs to what could be the in- the past year, I’ve had finds from Napa, Ger-
troduction to a book on a favorite producer in many, Chablis, Bordeaux second labels, Bour-
France, Washington, or anywhere else. gogne bargains, and tasty older California
Zinfandels and Pinot Noirs coming out of cel-
The emails have easy one-click links to your
account to make your request on the current lars. It has free shipping on most orders, de-
offering (depending on the offer, from a six- pending on quantity and price.
pack up to 24 bottles or more). The requests Invino has a good range of imports and is
are first-come, first-served, so move fast if you distinct from Vivino, which claims to be the
like the offer. Garagiste sends a confirming largest online retailer and has a robust mobile
email in two or three days on your success or phone app for ordering wines. Recent Invino
not. I’ve purchased bargain reds from them, up purchases included a discounted $100 Califor-
to Premier Cru Burgundy and high-end Rhones nia Cabernet ($59), Mendoza Malbec, Aussie
and Montepulciano. They occasionally offer Riesling, Bourgogne Rouge, Washington
“mystery wines” from major producers with Rhone blend, and California bubbly. Free
significant discounts. I’ve been pleased and shipping is usually included.
have bought a few (Oregon Pinot Noir, Chablis Vivino has extensive offerings, with excel-
Premier Cru, Washington red blend). lent finds in the $35 to $50 range. You can
Wines Till Sold Out. It sends daily emails customize your interest in different wine
on bargains from throughout the world. WTSO types, varieties, country of origin, and prices.
gets wine from distributors and wineries try- Its database generates regular offers to match
ing to clear older wines from inventory to pre- your preferences, with occasional new ideas.
pare for newer vintages entering the sales Go to the website and explore using the differ-
channels. Discounts can be 25% to over 50% ent criteria (e.g., Showing 21,834 wines be-
from original retail costs and other online tween $10 - $50 rated above 3.8 stars;
sales sites. A typical offering is four bottles of Showing 2,587 wines between $20 - $50 rated
featured wine for under $20 each, with free above 4.2 stars). Recent purchases included a
UPS shipping included. They have free ship- St. Emilion Grand Cru ($59), single-vineyard
ping on every offer, based on number of bot- Oregon Pinot Noir ($39), Chablis Premier Cru
tles and cost. In addition to value wines from ($34), Argentina limited Cabernet ($38), and
the U.S., Australia, New Zealand, Argentina, Brunello de Montalcino from a top producer
and Chile, WTSO often has excellent finds in ($79).
$25 to $40 wines from France, Italy, Spain, Finally, for validation, before you hit the
and Germany (Brunellos, Rioja Reservas, buy button, check Wine Searcher, where you
Chablis Premier Crus, Bordeaux classified can search for wines and best prices from mer-
wines). chants everywhere. I use this site to check
prices and find a resource for anything from a
new release to a rarity from afar, such as a gift.

156 WINE DINE & TRAVEL MAGAZINE WINTER/SPRING 2024