Drinks Wine The Ultimate Guide to Buying Wine Easy tips to take the stress out of buying your next bottle. By Dylan Garret Dylan Garret Dylan Garret is Food & Wine's editorial director, a former bartender, and longtime veteran of the hospitality industry. Food & Wine's Editorial Guidelines Updated on October 1, 2024 Shopping for wine can be an intimidating and sometimes costly experience. There are well over 11,000 wineries in the United States alone, and when you go global, that number increases to the hundreds of thousands. Even navigating your local wine shop can involve being confronted with a wall of unfamiliar labels, strange designations, and wondering exactly what you’re buying with each bottle. What type of grape is behind that funky label that seems to tell you nothing about the wine itself? Is that Riesling you picked up sweet or dry? And how can you make sure you’re getting the best deal possible? We’ve broken out a few common categories to help try and narrow down the choices the next time you’re shopping for wine. Look for shopping tips like how to get case discounts, start a collection, or step up your game to start investing in wine, as well as easy guides to decode confusing wine labels, and primers on the four most popular grapes in the country. Shopping for wine How can you make sure you’re getting the most out of your wallet with each bottle? Shopping online can help you get great deals on bottles you can’t find locally, so we’ve singled out 10 of the best places to buy wine online. For those looking to start a full wine cellar or just a small collection on their own, don’t let budget scare you away — we’ve got you covered on how to navigate case discounts, and affordable alternatives to big name regions. Finally, if you’re looking to grow your love of wine from a collection to an investment, discover how to build a portfolio that lasts. How to Start a Wine Collection on Any Budget The 10 Best Online Wine Shops Buying Wine by the Case Will Save You Money at Checkout — Here's How to Build the Perfect Case of Wine Can You Really Make Money by Investing in Wine? Decoding bottles One of the hardest things about shopping for wine is being confronted with hundreds or thousands of labels in the store, and trying to figure out what exactly is inside each bottle. Labeling systems can vary widely from France to the U.S., Italy, and beyond, so we’ve broken down exactly what to look for on each to make sure you’re purchasing what you really want. Additionally, dive into the great cork vs. screw cap debate so you can know which type of closure is best for the type of wine you choose. Shop Smarter: Here's How to Read a Wine Label Like a Pro How to Read a French Wine Label What Is Reserve Wine, and Is It Better Than Regular Wine? Do Corks vs Screw Caps in Wine Still Matter? This Is What the Experts Say Grape guides Foundational knowledge is key to making the right purchase. We’ve taken a look at four of the top selling wine varieties worldwide — Cabernet Sauvignon, Pinot Noir, Pinot Grigio, and Chardonnay — and broken them down to key components of flavor, regions, and how to find the exact bottle that’s perfect for you. How to Find the Cabernet Sauvignon That's Right for You Pinot Noir Makes Some of the World's Best Wines — Here's How to Find a Great Bottle Pinot Grigio Can Be a Surprisingly Exciting White Wine Chardonnay Has a Lot More to Offer Than Buttery and Oaky, Here's How to Find the Best Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit