Shopping for wine

Whether you're buying directly from the producer, or in a supermarket or wine shop or online, take your time and don't go overboard with the first order.

If possible, sample the wine before you purchase, including a few wines of a higher quality than you have in mind. Then resample the simpler wine you would like to buy. If it still appeals to you, then it probably offers considerable value for money. Start with a few bottles. Sampler packets with one or two bottles of the same wine are a good idea. Once at home, invite some friends over to taste the wine again. Their comments can help decide what to purchase. Think ahead – it's a good idea to have a supply of various wines on hand so that you don't necessarily have to serve the bottle you just brought home. All wines need a few days to recover after being transported.

The finest German wines are particularly in great demand. For years, certain estates have sold their wines via subscription, i.e. the wines are sold before they're available to sample. Alternatively, other renowned estates opt to sell their wines relatively early, yet subject to quota. Frequently, these wines need at least a year or two of bottle aging before they are ready to drink, but by then they are sold out. Many a rarity for a special birthday or anniversary can only be purchased from merchants who specialize in mature vintages or at auction. There are, for example, numerous growers' associations in the Mosel, Rheingau and Nahe regions that regularly auction a certain portion of their production; some of the wines are available exclusively at these auctions.

Sales outlets	Considerations
directly from the producer, at the estate	good advice; personal contact; sampling prior to purchase; favorable ex-cellar prices; rarities and specialties; (usually) selection is limited to wines from that estate only
from a wine specialty shop	good advice; wide range of qualities, styles and producers; (often) sampling prior to purchase; slightly higher prices
in the wine dept. of a department store	wide range of qualities, styles and producers; (sometimes) wine consultant on site; (sometimes) delivery service; (seldom) sampling prior to purchase
in grocery stores and discount shops	wide range of medium-priced and inexpensive wines, including bargains; (sometimes) poor storage conditions
from a mail-order house	informative catalogue; (sometimes) advice via telephone; sampler packets; rarities; postage or freight fees in addition to price of the wine
online from an Internet shop	(sometimes) very informative pages from producers and/or merchants; price comparisons possible; sampler packets; postage or freight fees in addition to price of the wine
at trade fairs	wide, representative selection; (usually) only current or recent vintages; good opportunity to gain an overview; danger of impulse buying
at auctions	(usually) only very high-quality wines; rarities; bargains as well as overpriced wines, depending on the course of the auction; (sometimes) orders via brokers only

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