How to avoid the pitfalls of selling sparkling wine
Champagne is certainly the most affordable luxury item there is. You can afford a bottle of this prestigious sparkling wine for less than 20 euros. And this very easily since buying champagne is childishly simple. There are resellers on almost every street corner. Whether directly at the producer, at the supermarket, at a wine merchant, in a neighborhood mini-market, on the Internet, at a caterer… there are plenty of opportunities. But be careful not to make a mistake, because before rushing to the first bottle, there are a few rules to know.
Directly from the producer
Where to buy champagne directly from the winemaker or from the champagne house has the advantage of sourcing directly from the source, and not having to worry about the storage conditions of your champagne. Most producers charge identical, and sometimes even higher, prices to those of distribution. On this point we will therefore rarely save money. Buying at the estate involves buying in multiples of 6, which can be a constraint for those who want to discover a range without necessarily buying large quantities. Buying directly from the producer also often requires going there, which allows you to discover the estate, the wine-making methods, and sometimes the personality of the winemaker or cellar master. Some agree to ship bottles of champagne, but of course you have to pay the shipping costs. Finally, it should also be noted that some houses or some producers do not sell on the property.
Not all champagne resellers are created equal
This is of course the easiest way to buy champagne, but a lot of things will depend on the seriousness of the dealer. Starting with the choice. You cannot find the same champagnes in all wine merchants and even less in all shops. Many houses refuse to be sold in supermarkets, believing that this would devalue their image. There is also a question of volume, because supermarkets impose large volumes that all houses and almost no winegrower are not able to provide. We can also point the finger at the storage conditions of certain brands that store champagne bottles in bright light, which quickly spoils the champagne. In wine merchants, we will find a generally more sophisticated selection, especially in independent wine merchants who make a point of thinking outside the box. If the number of references is nevertheless limited, it is often very qualitative.
What about buying champagne on the Internet ?
It's hard for us to say anything bad about the sale of champagne on the web, it offers both choice, competitive prices, and a practical and comfortable delivery service. But as with all remote purchases, it is important to choose your reseller wisely, to be sure of his reliability and the quality of his service. But once this choice has been made, internet sales seem to be the best solution, one that combines choice, price, service.