You don't need a sommelier standing beside you to choose well. You just need to know what you're looking at.
That's the beauty of ordering wine online. No nodding along to recommendations you didn't quite catch. No grabbing whatever's on sale because the aisle is overwhelming. Instead, you're in control. Time to research. Space to compare. And access to bottles you'd never find in a shop.
The trick? Learning to read what's in front of you. You might be after a single bottle for tonight. You might be stocking the cellar for years to come. Either way, you're about to get a lot better at this.
Reading a Wine Label Like You Mean It
A wine label is a conversation, not a mystery. Start with origin. Old World wines are labelled by region, not grape, so a bottle marked "Chablis" won't mention Chardonnay, but that's what you're getting. In Spain, terms like Crianza and Reserva tell you how long the wine was aged before release.
Vintage indicates when the grapes were harvested. A cooler year gives you leaner, brighter wine. A warmer one brings riper fruit and a fuller body. If you're cellaring, pay attention. If you're drinking it this weekend, less so.
Alcohol offers clues, too. Higher ABV signals riper grapes and bolder flavour. Lower alcohol means freshness and restraint. Neither is better. It's about matching the bottle to the moment.
From Chenin Blanc to Cabernet Sauvignon: Know Your Grapes
Every grape tells a different story. These are the ones worth knowing.
Chenin Blanc – ranges from dry and zesty to off-dry and honeyed. South Africa does it as well as anywhere.
Sauvignon Blanc – crisp, citrusy, and refreshing. Look to the grape’s homeland in the Loire’s regions of Sancerre and Pouilly-Fumé, and exciting examples from Italy’s Friuli.
Chardonnay – can be lean and mineral or rich and textured depending on how it's made.
Pinot Noir – lighter red with earthy, elegant flavours. Great Domaines was founded on the wines of Burgundy - the reference point for both Chardonnay and Pinot Noir.
Merlot – soft, smooth, and fruit-forward. A good starting point if you find big reds too intense. Look to certain producers from Stellenbosch, like Keermont or the right bank of Bordeaux.
Cabernet Sauvignon – bold and structured, built to age. Stellenbosch produces excellent examples and don’t overlook regions like Tuscany in Italy for what producers are doing with Bordeaux grape varietals.
Shiraz – full-bodied with spice and dark fruit. Thrives in South Africa's warmer regions, and you will find its home in the Northern Rhône of France.
Climate shapes everything. Cooler regions like Elgin give you higher acidity and subtlety. Warmer areas like Stellenbosch bring riper fruit and more concentration. Same grape, different story. Half the fun is tasting the difference.
How to Shop for Wine Online With Confidence
Producer notes are written to sell. Read them, but look past the poetry. Specifics matter. Vineyard sites, winemaking methods, time in oak. "Single-vineyard, old bush vines" tells you more than "elegant and refined" ever will.
Critic scores can guide you, but a producer's track record is more revealing. Look for consistency across vintages. A curated selection helps too.
Browsing by region is a good way to start. Burgundy and the Loire for French classics. Stellenbosch and Swartland for South African depth. Rioja for Spanish reds built to age. The Mosel for precise German Rieslings. And if you're after something celebratory, a dedicated Champagne collection saves you wading through supermarket fizz.
Pinot Noir in Summer, Cabernet Sauvignon in Winter: Drinking With the Seasons
Good wine suits the weather. Summer wants freshness. Sauvignon Blanc, dry rosé, Chenin Blanc with a chill on it. If you're set on red, a lighter Pinot Noir served cool keeps things bright.
Autumn shifts the palate. Medium-bodied reds like Merlot work well here. Enough weight for a lamb potjie, but still suited to those in-between evenings.
Winter is for the bold stuff. Cabernet Sauvignon, Shiraz, rich red blends. Pair them with slow-cooked meats and hearty stews. This is when Stellenbosch really shines.
Discover New Releases: Your Selection Starts Here
You don't need to memorise every appellation or vintage chart. Stay curious. Drink widely. Trust your palate. The rest falls into place.
Great Domaines is a good place to start. South African producers next to celebrated names from France, Spain, and Germany. Browse the selection, pick something that catches your eye, and we'll handle the rest. Your job is the corkscrew.