Question and answer session with
Simpatico, a company
who sells wine online.
What are the main differences in the wine regions listed on your Web site?
We have wines from most of the major wine producing regions in the world. We also have some under-appreciated areas in both U.S. and around the world. Some regions are famous for certain style and quality of wine while other regions that are less familiar. The latter are rapidly growing and already producing fine wines on a world class level.
What are the main difference between the major wine types and varieties?
We carry red, white, and rose’ wines. Occasionally we also have specialty wines such as champagne or dessert wines. Many of these are made from single grape varieties while others are blends of several types of grape.
What are the benefits of purchasing wine from a small producer as opposed to a larger company with a more recognizable name?
Winemaking is both science and an art form. Small producers are artisans that take great care and pride in their wine throughout the entire process. They may micromanage a vineyard differently from one slope to another in order to maximize the quality of their crop. High quality fruit, carefully cultivated and hand picked at precisely the right time is just the beginning. How the fruit is handled and processed usually is quite labor intensive and done in small batches in order to control the process as thoughtfully as possible. Large producers simply have to compromise production on a large scale for the sake of quantity and uniformity.
What type of wine do you feel is the most popular?
Varieties such as Cabernet and Merlot are still familiar. However, many new varieties have been popularized on the world stage. They are coming from many different countries. Many winemakers are combining different varieties old and new, in “new” ways. It is a very exciting time in viticulture as there more high quality affordable wines then ever before. The global community has gotten smaller to our benefit.
What should a consumer consider when choosing a particular wine vintage?
Cultivating grapes like any agricultural product is subject to the area in which is raised (the terroir), what kind of care was taken by the grower and of course the weather. The same year may have been kind to one region and not another. Vintage is simple one of many factors to be considered when choosing wine. The variety, the region, the winemaker the process or blend of grapes, should also be considered.
Is it safe to buy wine online and what should a consumer consider when making such a purchase?
It is absolutely safe to buy from a reputable dealer. Shipping laws are regulated by each individual state. This may limit who can ship wine directly to consumers. These laws have been changing rapidly over the last year on a state by state basis. The online vendor should be able to tell you whether they ship to your address or consult your local State Liquor Control Board.
What makes one wine more expensive than another?
Simple supply and demand is certainly a big factor. Some winemakers regardless of quantity choose to have high prices because of their reputation. This does not always translate to quality. Other winemakers of less notoriety may produce wines that are more affordable without sacrificing quality. The favorable review by well known wine critics can also affect the demand for a particular wine.
HealthCare
Finance - CareCredit offers "no interest" financing for medical
procedures from Cosmetic Dentistry to LASIK Surgery.
Unmanned
Aircraft Systems - AeroVironment, Inc. is the largest producer of
small UAS in the world today.
Baby
Bassinets - Find out what characterizes a good baby bassinet in this
FAQ with Arm's Reach.
Israel
Biblical Tours - This travel company has archaeologists and scholars
to guide you through the Holy Land.
Residential
Re-Roofing - "Learn some important facts about re-roofing your home in
this exclusive interview with Jason Vaughan, a 20 year roofing
veteran.
Pet
Stairs - PetStairz talks about foam pet products.
CD
Manufacturing - Music Manufacturing Services provides CD's for the
Music Industry all around the world.
Live
Longer... A Science? - David H. Murdock, Chairman of the Dole Food
Company says it is, and he created the luxurious California Health &
Longevity Institute to prove it.
Counterfeit
Handbags - "The World Customs Organization estimates the trade in
fakes at about 7 percent of world trade."
Carpet
Cleaning Tips - "Always ask about referrals and if they have a list of
what they do to prepare your carpets for cleaning, and what type of system
do they use..." QA with Sunset Carpet Cleaning
Children's
Development Toys - "No matter how good a toy looks, the way it
performs under stress is often very different." Says Brian Gordon of
eBeanStalk.
Shopping for
Purses "Whats happening now at a great speed is manufacturers overseas
will see the latest it bag and then duplicate the bag... Price is
primarily why people would buy a knock-off purse as opposed to the real
thing.." Kitsch Purses Q & A
Workers'
Compensation Info "The huge benefit of the Internet is time and
expense savings. The only other way to get all of this information other
than the Internet is at your local law library." FAQ with
WorkCompCentral
Eating
Disorder Treatment - In this FAQ Monte Nido explains how you can find
the right treatment center online.
Auto
Insurance Quotes In this FAQ GMAC explains why you should shop around,
"Each company is different so you should always check several companies to
find the best rates."
Buying
Tickets Online "That game you want to go to is sold out (Superbowl,
World Series), your favorite artist is coming to town and you want great
seats, these are some of the reasons people buy through an online ticket
service or broker." Chico at Platinum Tickets answers faqs.
Planes
Without Pilots Imagine a 3 1/2 foot remote controlled plane that flies
straight up for miles.
Eating
Disorder Help For those dealing with eating disorders, hope is never
too far behind.
Mass
CD Duplication. All of the sudden record labels began relying heavily
on CD manufacturers for the mass production of their clients' albums.
Corporate
Entertainment Corporate meetings are becoming more common in spas than
conference rooms, with room service cuisine rather than with fast food
from drive-thrus.
Shopping for Wine Online Answers by Simpatico
