The Wine.com Blog

Celebrating the Deal of the Day at Wine.com

2008-12-10T13:13:00.000-08:00

If you're following us on Twitter or Facebook, you've probably noticed that there seems to be a new deal from Wine.com popping up every day. Did the holidays come early this year? This is like day after day after day of cool presents! The holidays didn't actually come early, but we wanted to make sure you know about the best deals on Wine.com so you have time to ship your wine and gifts before the holidays.

Every day until December 19th, we'll be offering a special "Deal of the Day" on Wine.com, along with other special prices and "Today's Hot Pick." Today, for instance, you can save 15% when you buy six or more bottles. There are only nine days left for standard shipping rates if you want to make it before Christmas, so make sure to check back often. You never know what might pop up tomorrow!

For a persistent link to the Deal of the Day, click here

For a persistent link to Today's Hot Pick, click here

Announcing The Wine.com 100 List

2008-12-03T11:25:00.000-08:00

When choosing the right wine to quench your indelible thirst, who do you turn to for advice? While it's always great to get tips from the experts who make a living out of studying this sort of thing, we've found over the years that our community at Wine.com has some great insights too. Just browsing the thousands of community reviews and wine lists can really help to narrow down that perfect wine for the occasion. That's why for the second year in a row, we chose to honor our sharp customers with the Wine.com 100 list. This list is unique because it's based entirely on community preferences. The rankings reflect the top 1% of wine sold nationally on Wine.com during 2008.

So what have the people decided? The biggest trend we've seen this year is that people are looking for highly rated wines at lower prices. The #1 ranked wine, Veramonte Cabernet Sauvignon Reserva 2006, for instance, keeps people coming back for more with its very reasonable price and a 92 point ranking from the Wine News. We also saw that the community has very "international" tastes. Besides the many domestic wines on the list, Wine.com 100 wines hail from eight other countries, including a larger percentage than last year from Australia and South America.

Interested to dig into the list and learn more? Here are a few great choices that have the backing of a great community!

#1 Veramonte Cabernet Sauvignon Reserva 2006
Deep, dark ruby red. Concentrated blackberry and black cherry aromas with well-integrated oak. Juicy red and black fruit highlighted with earthy notes and elegant oak that lend a creamy mouth feel. Plush with soft, rich tannins, this wine is concentrated, round and luxurious with a long finish.

#17 Conundrum 2006
Conundrum 2006 exhibits soft tropical notes of guava and cherimoya, also peach and honeysuckle. The rich perfume is supported by concentrated and focused layers of peach and apricot nectar, pear and green melon with spicy vanilla notes. The creamy texture and balanced acidity carries through the palate for a long finish.

#44 Chateau Souverain Alexander Valley Merlot 2005
Deep ruby in color, this concentrated Alexander Valley Merlot offers classic aromas of ripe black plum, blueberry and currant. The core of vibrant fruit balances nicely with the soft, round tannins creating a lush and juicy mouthfeel. Notes of cinnamon and nutmeg, which come from aging in oak barrels, meld nicely with the rich fruit and lead to a long, velvety finish.

Cyber Monday!

2008-12-01T12:08:00.000-08:00

We had a pretty good time during Black Friday last week and thought we'd extend the cheer this week for Cyber Monday. How many of you rolled into the office this morning, all puffed out from the Thanksgiving turkey, and all you wanted to do was check out the online shopping deals? We did!

So here is our promo for Cyber Monday - we're offering 1 cent shipping on any order, no matter how big or small. You can order 1 bottle of wine or you can order 50 and you will still receive 1 cent shipping. Check here to learn more and start shopping to your heart's content!

We gave some suggestions for great wine gifts and gift baskets in our last post, but there are so many more to choose from to take advantage of this best shipping offer of the year. Our gift selections - from Godiva chocolate and wine pairings to gourmet food and wine baskets - are perfect for family and friends looking to celebrate the holidays and bring in the new year. Here are some more top picks:

Warres Otima Port & 8-Piece Godiva Chocolates
Is there a better combination than tawny Port and chocolate? From the renowned Port house Warres, Otima is a 10 year tawny Port made in a lighter, more contemporary style. Beautifully packaged and incredible when paired with Godiva's 8-piece ballotin of assorted creamy milk, white and dark chocolates.

California Wine Tour Gift Basket
Celebrate wine country living with three top shelf wines and assorted gourmet foods in a wicker picnic basket. Intense aromas of cherries and black raspberries define this full-bodied Kenwood Pinot Noir from the Russian River, while Wente's Sandstone Merlot delivers flavors of blackberry and spice, accented by hints of licorice and tobacco. DeLoach Chardonnay is rich and clean with a smooth, long-lasting finish.

Enjoy these wines with scrumptious treats such as Napa Valley mustard, Ghirardelli chocolates, lemon almond biscotti, California pistachios and much, much more.

At checkout, remember to use the code CYBERMON. Have a Happy Cyber Monday!

Black Friday!

2008-11-28T09:49:00.001-08:00

Whew! We all made it through the big Thanksgiving feast! Not sure about you, but I was certainly too tired to wake up at 4 a.m. this morning in time for the big sales. Too much turkey and pecan pie last night! I will be one of the many who does most of my holiday shopping online this year though. At Wine.com we are featuring a special promo for Black Friday - 25% off any gift basket or wine gift set. All you have to do to take advantage of this offer is enter "FRIDAY25" at checkout - you can find all the details here.

In order to make your shopping even more easier, I thought I would point out some of the best wine gift baskets and gift sets. Or maybe these are just the ones my family and friends will be receiving this holiday season :)

Wine Gift Sets:

Quintessential Reds
This gift is the quintessential red wine sampler of six wines from the most famous winegrowing regions in the world. For the wine adventurer in search of bold flavors, taste these wines against one another to see how they compare. Each bottle has been chosen to represent the best example of red wine made in its particular region. You'll receive a French Bordeaux, Spanish Rioja Reserva, Super Tuscan blend, California Zinfandel, Chilean Malbec and Aussie Shiraz.

Silver Oak Trophy Reds
Silver Oak and Twomey Cellars are two of the most prestigious and renowned wineries in California. Under the leadership of the Duncan Family, both wineries have achieved their vision of attaining superior quality with a single grape variety. Silver Oak produces uniquely complex and elegant Cabernet Sauvignon from the Alexander Valley, while Twomey creates exquisite Merlot. Both have consistently reaped praise from critics and consumers alike. This gift is sure to impress even the most discriminating wine connoisseur.

Viva Italia!
Our most popular collection, Viva Italia, combines six bottles representing the best winegrowing regions and varieties from Italy. Completing the gift set is the definitive "wine first" cookbook: The Wine Lover's Cookbook ($25 value). Using color-coding, select recipes and ample photographs, author Goldstein leads readers through food and wine pairing in a systematic fashion. With beautiful photography, creative recipes and wine pairings, plan the Italian culinary adventure of your dreams.

Or maybe a wine gift basket is a better option for you? Check out our Gourmet Wine & Cheese Board Gift Set or Executive Selection Cabernet Quartet.

New Shipping in Time for the Holidays

2008-11-20T14:04:00.001-08:00

This week we announced a bunch of new shipping options right in time for the hectic holiday season. We are very excited to let you know that Wine.com is now the first and only wine retailer in the US to offer evening, Saturday, date-specific and by appointment delivery options. Since the wine industry is required by law to get an adult signature at the time of delivery, these new shipping options should give you a little more flexibility in your ordering. No need to endure the glares of your coworkers when your very large holiday wine orders arrive at the office or have your cubemate call you a wino! Just have it arrive after work or on Saturday!

We are also proud to introduce our new Wine.com Steward-Ship™ Program, which offers frequent buyers one year of free delivery on every order, regardless of size, for just $49. And as always, shipping is fast! Most customers will receive their orders the next day or in two days, at no additional charge, due to the proximity of Wine.com's wine warehouses across the country.

For more details on the new shipping options, please check out our press release.

For some good holiday wine recommendations, check out our list of great bottles to give.

Uncovering Wine Spectator's 2008 #1 Wine

2008-11-17T12:10:00.000-08:00

In its Top 100 Wines of 2008, Wine Spectator recently announced they had chosen Casa Lapostolle Clos Apalta 2005 as the #1 Wine of the Year. In recent days, there has been a ton of buzz about this spectacular red blend from Chile, but we'd like to take this opportunity to uncover a few more details on the people behind the wine - the Marnier-Lapostalle family, the founders and owners of Casa Lapostolle.

Does the name ring a bell? Indeed, Alexandra Marnier Lapostolle is the granddaughter of the founder of the famous Grand Marnier liqueur. The family also owns Chateau de Sancerre in the Loire valley. When searching for the best place to start a new winery, Alexandra discovered that old, ungrafted vines, which had originally been brought from France, were still growing in the vineyards of Colchagua, Chile. She and her husband combined with the Chilean Rabat family to found Casa Lapostalle there in 1994.

Today, Casa Lapostalle is owned solely by the Marnier Lapostolle family, and its vineyards cover about 350 hectares, producing Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Carmenere and Syrah. The well-renowned French oenologist Michel Rollan has remained as a key consultant for the winery since Alexandra hired him to work exclusively within Chile for Casa Lapostalle.

Visit our site to learn more about Clos Apalta 2005.

To read more history of Casa Lapostolle and the Marnier Lapostolle family, please visit their website.

Sources:
Casa Lapostolle website, www.casalapostolle.com
Thewinedoctor.com

Thanksgiving: The Best Wines for Every Course

2008-11-14T14:00:00.000-08:00

For many, wine is an essential component in the Thanksgiving feast. But with so many varieties of flavorful foods and multiple courses on Thanksgiving, choosing the best wines to match your guests' tastes can be a difficult prospect. You may have happened upon that exact red you wanted for the main course, but what about appetizers and desert? What about finding the sparkling wine to kick off the evening just right?

Our Thanksgiving wine list may be just what you need to plan your dinner masterfully. Our experts at Wine.com have not only compiled a great list of wines to fit the holiday, but they've also recommended specific choices for every course of the Thanksgiving meal!

In general, we recommend fruity wines with lower tannin levels such as Zinfandel, Riesling, and Pinot Noir - they'll match better with the plethora of flavors that Thanksgiving brings.

More specifically, you'll need bubbly for toasting, brightly flavored whites for starters, fruity reds for the main course, and dessert wine for an impressive finish.

And to make sure that deliveries are more convenient for your schedule, we've introduced new delivery options, including date-specific, evening, Saturday, and by-appointment deliveries. Make sure to look at the options available to you at checkout. Have a Happy Thanksgiving!

A Big Birthday Thanks to Our Wine.com Community!

2008-11-11T12:30:00.000-08:00

One of the reasons why shoppers at Wine.com find it so easy and fun to discover and buy wine is the wealth of information available in our community. Since we started the community, contributors have exchanged thousands of wine reviews and lists and their valuable insights have helped to make the wine selection process for customers a truly interactive one.

On our 10th birthday, it's important to recognize the amazing contributions of community members over the years. You all add richness and vitality to Wine.com, and with your help, this continues to be the best place to shop for wine online. As a way of saying thanks, we're highlighting recent reviews from a few of our top contributors:

Diane Foushée
Langmeil Barossa Valley Floor Shiraz 2006
Love Those Barossa Valley Wines! 11/5/08
"As you have probably noticed, I love the Australian reds, and am particularly partial to the Barossa Valley. This is an excellent example of the very best the Barossa Valley has to offer, and at the price, I can't help but suggest you buy several bottles if at all possible. Very fruity with more than a hint of spice, it has a full-bodied and earthy backbone. You'll enjoy this from start to fine, fine finish!"

Erol
Hess Mount Veeder Collection 19 Block Cuvee 2005
May Seem Expensive but Well Worth It! 10/8/2008
"Most people don't associate Hess with expensive, first rate wines, but this is one of the better young California's I have had. It has beautiful dark fruit at the onset, but is by no means a 'fruit bomb'. It then unveils some terrific yet subtle tannins and has a long finish. That is the extent of my memory of it but I truly enjoyed this wine. I did not decant it, but it developed in the glass so maybe decanting for 15 minutes would start you off on the right foot. Enjoy!"

Carbonellous
Hope Shiraz Malbec 2005
Deep Red Blend from Aus – 8/9/2008
"The first thing I noticed when pouring out this glass was just how deep and thick it was. The Malbec and Shiraz combo has produced a very intense red here. I loved every sip of it though. A really tasty and inky wine with a blueberry and plum flavor. I would recommend to anyone who can appreciate a 'real' wine!"

There are countless other fantastic reviews on the site, and we look forward to many more to come from the community.

Wine.com Celebrates our 10th Birthday!

2008-11-10T09:09:00.000-08:00

Today we are breaking out the bubbly in celebration of our 10th birthday (we're drinking the '98 Taittinger Comtes de Champagne Blanc de Blanc, in case you were wondering)! The past decade has been quite amazing and in order to thank all of our loyal customers we're reducing the prices on thousands of great wines! To make the celebration even sweeter, we're ushering in this second decade with new pricing on some of our most popular lists - 90 Point Rated Wines Under $20 and our Collectibles and Top Rated Wines are among the mix.

Maybe it's all the Champagne we've been drinking, but we've all been reminiscing on the past ten years in the office this past week. In 1998, we set up shop as eVineyard.com and then rebranded as Wine.com in 2001. Our focus has remained on providing consumers access to premium and ultra-premium wine and wine-inspired gifts. Here are a couple highlights from the years past:

10 Years of Wine.com:

1998 Launched as eVineyard.com in Portland, Oregon, serving customers in 12 states.

1999 Opened warehouses in Miami and Houston to serve Florida and Texas.

2000 Opened warehouses in New York, New Jersey, California, Virginia, Massachusetts, and North Carolina with capability to service 80% of U.S. wine consumers.

2001 Acquired domain names Wine.com and WineShopper.com from failed businesses and adopted the name Wine.com. Shipped one millionth bottle.

2002 Relocated corporate office to San Francisco and adopted "green" packaging for all shipments.

2003 Acquired leading gift basket design & manufacturing business.

2004 Wine.com becomes most visited wine website in world (and every year since).

2005 Wine.com ranked the #1 online wine store in revenues by Internet Retailer Magazine (and every year since).

2006 Offers one of the world’s largest selections of critically acclaimed wines, citing ratings and pedigree from 8 independent wine periodicals. Pioneers the popular wine list “90+ point rated wines under $20.”

2007 Rated best wine website by Bordeaux Business School. Retail stores opened in Berkeley, California and East Hampton, Connecticut.

November 2008 In celebration of 10 years of growth and market leadership, we’re leveraging our purchasing scale and passing on the savings to our customers, reducing prices on thousands of items to our best prices ever.

Come celebrate with us!

Election Day Celebration (or Blues)

2008-11-04T13:42:00.000-08:00

A good American wine may hit the right spot tonight while you are watching results from Election Day - whether you're celebrating your candidate's victory in your state or mourning over a loss. It could even help all you undecideds gain a reflective moment of clarity.

Yesterday we mentioned the All American Wines promo we are running this week and the mini election poll we are also running among wine drinkers. So far the results are pretty close:

Obama: 47%
McCain: 40%
Undecided: 13%

We encourage you to participate! Not only in the national election, but our fun community election too! Our community has been reviewing up a storm with the American wines and we wanted to highlight some of the best reviews from New Mexico, Oregon, Washington and California:

New Mexico:
Gruet Demi-Sec
The subtle fruity aromas and the freshness of the Demi-Sec drives the character of this light bodied, semi-dry sparkling wine. The palate carries through with a creamy sensation and vivid flavor of green apples, ripe pears, pineapple and a hint of mineral. It is delicate, lively and elegant!

Oregon:
Anne Amie Riesling 2007
Tropical aromas along with notes of Meyer lemons, white peaches, and honeydew melons. On the palate, this wine offers bright acidity and a mouthwatering finish highlighted by notes of mandarin orange, stone fruit, crisp apples, and Asian pears.

Washington:
Hogue Genesis Cabernet Sauvignon 2005
"Firm in texture, but open in style, with ripe currant and smoke flavors, lingering well. Drink now through 2012."
Wine Spectator

California:
Beringer Knights Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2005
"Knights Valley is a very special place for us at Beringer. As you drive over the mountain from St. Helena, the valley opens up before your eyes and you immediately feel transported to another time, where things are slower and more rustic. This wine captures that place with great intensity of black fruit aromas and flavors that continue to a long satisfying finish."
—Laurie Hook, Winemaker

All American Wine for Obama and McCain

2008-11-03T08:46:00.000-08:00

We sure hope that everyone who is getting prepared for Election Day tomorrow has found their polling place and read through all the proposition literature. Here at Wine.com we thought it would be fun to run our own little polling contest. We are featuring specials on all American wines - ranging from California to Washington to Oregon. Our shipping promo this week allows you to cast your vote for Obama, McCain or Undecided when you check out.

It will be interesting to see if the Wine.com poll comes out with the same results as the national election. Stay tuned for our results!

Halloween: Battle of the Reds

2008-10-30T09:41:00.000-07:00

Too old to go trick-or-treating? Unless you plan on taking your kids through the neighborhood on Halloween or you're just young at heart, you might miss out on all the fun. But it doesn't have to be that way. In between handing out candy to the 100th and 101st gang of hungry little ghosts and goblins to grace your front door, why not indulge yourself with some treats too? Maybe a bottle of wine (specifically a red wine to keep with Halloween rules, of course)?

But which red to choose? We did another fun "winosphere" monitoring experiment to answer this question. We tracked Halloween-related conversations involving several red wine varietals across social media channels over the past two weeks. This is what we found:

From these measurements, it looks like Merlot is the most buzz-worthy Halloween varietal this year, but you can't really go wrong here. The only exception is Cabernet Franc, which doesn't seem to have the most Halloween spirit.

In addition to the extra-spooky wines we featured in our last post, here are some suggestions for red wines that could pass the test for your Halloween party's "blood punch" or provide some much needed relief in the midst of your unpaid candy-distributing labor. Make sure to check out the community reviews.

Tin Roof Merlot 2005
A classic plush texture and delicious black cherry and plum flavors make our sumptuous Merlot both delicious on its own and a versatile food wine. Enjoy it with beef, lamb, roast duck with cherry sauce, red-sauce pastas, black olive and mushroom pizzas, and soft-ripening cheeses.

Ch. Ste. Michelle Indian Wells Cabernet Sauvignon 2005
The Indian Wells Cabernet is our warm climate ripe, jammy Cabernet. The 2005 bottling is no exception. The wine exudes sweet blackberry pie and vanilla aromas and flavors with loads of complexity. This is our big bold, obvious Cabernet and after just two vintages, it has quickly become a fan favorite. Wonderful Cab from such esteemed growers as Indian Wells, Jones, Washington Fruit and even Cold Creek Vineyard are woven together with a little Syrah to make a wine that says boldly 'I'm from Washington.'

Craggy Range Winery Te Muna Road Vineyard Pinot Noir 2006
Craggy Range Te Muna Road Pinot Noir is highly colored with bright ruby red in colour. Savoury spice notes are accented by perfumed aromas of violets, red cherry, blackberry and ruby grapefruit on the nose. Complex flavours of cherry, root spice, smoke and florals predominate the textural and creamy palate. The finish is long with redfruit and spice drawn out by the fine, silky tannin structure. Delicious with poultry, game and lamb dishes. Drink now through 2011.

Cline Los Carneros Syrah 2005
Dark, rich and extremely flavorful, this wine offers deep plum and cherry notes accented with aromas and flavors of vanilla and coffee. The combination of tannin, acid, fruit and great mouth feel come together to create a balanced and robust wine.

Spooky Halloween Wine List

2008-10-29T15:23:00.000-07:00

The countdown to Halloween has already begun at Wine.com. Earlier this week we announced a limited time sale running throughout Friday - you can save up to 50% on your order from our wicked wine line up for Halloween.

We also thought we should highlight some of the other spooky wines in our cellar so you can prep for your Halloween parties!

Spellbound Cabernet Sauvignon 2005
Spellbound Cabernet exemplifies lush textures and bold dark fruit flavors with a slight hint of oak and spice. Cedar and tobacco aromas complement integrated lively tannins and fill out your palate allowing the wine to be consumed on its own or with your favorite food.

Spellbound Chardonnay 2006
The 2006 Spellbound Chardonnay features bright and lush tropical fruits with notes of vanilla and classic crème brulée. To maintain the crisp fresh fruit acidity, nearly ten percent of the wine is fermented in stainless steel. Aging and fermentation in small oak barrels lend density and complex oak character.

Spellbound Petite Sirah 2005
This Petite Sirah offers rich, full-bodied flavors of ripe berry fruits with supple tannins. An easy drinking wine for casual weeknight meals and great with BBQ. 98% Petite Sirah, 2% other red varietals.

Evil Cabernet Sauvignon 2007
Dark rich red, with bright crimson hues. Fresh, yet rich classic varietal nose, consisting of black olive, fresh blackberries and raspberries. The soft palate displays complexity of fruit and oak, with blackcurrant and spicy clove characters, balanced with a fine tannin finish.

Evil Pure Evil Chardonnay 2007
Pure Evil Chardonnay has white peach stone fruit characters. Add a luscious and delicious textural mouthfeel and a touch of French oak influence. The creaminess is balanced by an elegant freshness.

Warwick Estate Professor Black Sauvignon Blanc 2005
The wine shows an abundance of tropical fruit, gooseberry, peach and green fig flavors on the nose that carry through to the palette. The palette is rich and fruity with well-balanced acid while the aftertaste is long and lingering with enough fruit to make you come back for more.

Warwick Estate Pinotage 2004
This wine has a plum garnet color with a complexity of fruits on the nose. A lively Pinotage sweetness balanced by careful wood ageing, plenty of ripe fruit and a spicy finish. The wine is big, yet accessible and should age well for 3-5 years.

It's Bordeaux Week!

2008-10-20T12:31:00.000-07:00

This week we are celebrating Bordeaux Week at Wine.com! The name Bordeaux itself conjures up images of old, dusty bottles and decanters. And, while it is the region known for the most ageable, not to mention pricey, red wines of the world, Bordeaux doesn't necessarily have to mean expensive or pretentious. After all, not every bottle of Bordeaux can be a Chateau Margaux or Mouton Rothschild.

To celebrate the great tasting, affordable Bordeaux we have put together a superb "Affordable Bordeaux Wine List" to help you navigate. We'll even throw in 1-cent shipping this week to make it even more easier to enjoy!

If you don't find what you are looking for on that list, maybe our community generated Bordeaux wine lists will be helpful. In particular we thought these wine lists were worth sharing:

2005 Bordeaux - A wine list by "le Bon Vivant":

Château Paradis Casseuil Bordeaux Rouge 2005
Domaines Baron Rothschild Reserve Speciale Bordeaux Rouge 2005
Mouton-Cadet Bordeaux Rouge 2005
Ch. Saint Sulpice Rouge 2005

Bordeaux - A wine list by "Chrisk":

Domaines Baron Rothschild Reserve Speciale Pauillac 2005
Ch. Lafleur Pomerol 1999
Ch. Mont Redon Chateauneuf-du-Pape 2003

What is your favorite bottle of Bordeaux?

Wine Brands and Social Media

2008-10-16T09:24:00.000-07:00

Yesterday, the Cork Board wrote an interesting piece on defining brands in the wine world. Using a social media monitoring tool, they were able to track mentions of "Napa Valley" in online media (such as blogs, microblogs like Twitter, and rich media sites) to find which words were most associated with the Napa Valley "brand." Words such as "cabernet" and "vineyards" came up often in results, indicating these are hot topics in conversations about Napa Valley.

Over the past several weeks, we've also been monitoring the "winosphere." We found this first attempt at aggregating data on brand ownership so intriguing that we did some additional research of our own. Staying on the Napa theme, we wanted to compare the online buzz generated by several Napa Valley wineries over the past month. We chose five major Napa wineries: Robert Mondavi, Beringer, Sterling, Beaulieu, and Rubicon and discovered the following:

These results provide a glimpse into the relative prominence of these wineries or their relative share of the ownership of the larger Napa Valley brand in online conversations. Mondavi was at the front of the pack, meaning the Mondavi brand was mentioned the most in social media posts, followed by Beringer and Sterling.

Approaching this from another angle, we determined the relative prominence of these five wineries within discussions about Cabernet wines. Who is generating the most buzz when it comes to Napa Valley cabs? We found similar results to the graph above:

Is this just a coincidence, or can we use this data to come to general conclusions about brand power in social media? We're interested to hear your thoughts, and we'll be checking back with the Cork Board to see what else they are cooking up.

All of these Napa Valley brands and many more are available on our website.

Or get a taste of the most talked about Napa Valley wine brand, Robert Mondavi.

The Wine World Goes Solar

2008-10-15T15:16:00.001-07:00

Earlier this month Constellation Wines announced it would be installing the world's largest winery solar installation at its Gonzales Winery in Monterey, California. Constellation Wines estimates that this move will reduce the annual carbon footprint by about 1.6 million pounds, which translates to the equivalent of planting 2,500 acres of trees, not driving an average automobile 25 million miles, or taking more than 2,000 cars off the road. Incredible!

ZDNet, today, highlighted the fact that Constellation Wines includes heavy hitters like Clos du Bois, Wild Horse and Mondavi, which happen to be three of the top purchased wines in the US. This foreshadows good news for the environment and the wine consumer!

If you would like to contribute to a reduction of the carbon footprint while still enjoy a nice glass of Chardonnay, consider checking out these wines:

Clos du Bois:

Clos du Bois Chardonnay 2007
Clos du Bois Alexander Valley Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon 2005
Clos du Bois Merlot 2004

Wild Horse:

Wild Horse Pinot Noir 2006
Wild Horse Cabernet Sauvignon 2006
Wild Horse Viognier 2006

Robert Mondavi:

Robert Mondavi Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2005
Robert Mondavi Napa Valley Chardonnay 2005
Robert Mondavi Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon 2005

Cheers!

CBS Spot on the Antinori Family

2008-10-12T19:17:00.001-07:00

Here is the fantastic feature on the Antinori family. As complex and as wonderful as the wine itself.

Watch CBS Videos Online

'60 Minutes' to feature Antinori this Sunday, October 12

2008-10-10T16:24:00.001-07:00

The Antinori Family, one of Italy’s most historic wine producers, will be profiled by 60 Minutes on Sunday. This is a great moment for wine lovers. As you may know, Antinori is a legendary wine producer in Tuscany, having started in the 12th century.

The Antinoris are the first winemakers to be profiled by 60 Minutes in the past 26 years and just the third producer to be featured in the program's 40-year long history.

60 Minutes will feature interviews with Marchese Piero Antinori and his three daughters, Albiera, Allegra and Alessia, who are involved in all aspects of the family business. The program will also tour the family’s historic estates in Tuscany, Umbria and California. They are partners in the Col Solare winery with Ste. Michelle Wine Estates. We are excited to watch the show this weekend!

You can see our selection of Antinori wines here.

Welcome

2008-10-10T10:40:00.001-07:00

We know that sometimes wine buying can be intimidating (which wine goes well with pesto sauce? What do all these wine ratings really mean? If I need to buy a gift for my boss where do I even begin?), but it can also be a really great experience if you just have a little bit of easy to understand information to guide your way. We started this blog to do just that!

Through a wide range of Wine.com community created content and advice and tips from our very own Wine.com sommeliers, we hope to use this blog as a place to help you discover great new wines from all over the world, whether you are shopping for yourself or sending a gift. We will share some of our favorite wine lists, like our most popular list the “90+ Rated Wines Under $20” which includes the highest rated wines (according to independent wine critics such as Wine Spectator and Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate) or our list of “94+ Point Rated Wines” for our real connoisseurs. We’ll even share some of the great wine lists and reviews created by our community, such as this good review of the 02 Silver Oak Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon. And of course we’ll also give you some good advice on some of those really difficult subjects – how do you deal with the professional rating systems? What are great bottles to give as gifts? How do you host a great wine tasting party? And what to do about Thanksgiving dinner!

So kick back with a nice glass of 06 d'Arenberg Laughing Magpie Shiraz Viognier, check back often and let us know what you think! We are here to be your wine resource on the web and are excited to hear your comments and suggestions.