Wine ranks as one of the most popular beverages in the world today, along with beer, tea, coffee, and plain water. It has been made since the days of the ancient Greeks and Romans, and it comes from the Latin word “vinum.” For centuries, France and Italy have been the two major wine-producing nations of the world, and many of their wine brands are deeply respected and well established. This continued well into the present day, though the United States has emerged as the third major wine producer today. It is home to hundreds of wineries, and though the U.S. doesn’t have Italy and France’s extensive history with wine, American wineries have produced some popular brands of this drink. Nearly all American states are home to at least a few wineries, though California has the lion’s share, being home to 90% of American wineries due to its favorable climate and terrain.
Who drinks wine today, and what sort of flavors are out there? Someone visiting the wine valleys of California as a tourist may look up “wineries near me” to locate some, and they can even enter “wineries near me” and add their ZIP code or their home town’s name to find local results. The best natural wines, white wines, and red wines might not be far away.
Wine and Americans Today
Plenty of statistics and surveys are being kept to track what Americans like to eat and drink, and the numbers show that Americans today love wine more than ever. In fact, wine lovers tend to skew younger, being in their 20s and early 30s. Now, in the 2010s, it is Millennials (born 1982 to 1995) who are the most enthusiastic buyers of wine, even more so than their Baby Boomer parents. This generation of young adults draws a lot of attention, and perhaps the wine industry is noting their preferences and spending habits, too. Overall, some 949 million gallons of wine were consumed in the U.S. in 2016, and USA Today stated that in 2015, Millennials drank 42% of all wine in the U.S. Among Millennials who drink wine more than once a week, they consume an average of 3.1 glasses per sitting.
Statistics also show that women love wine most of all, and they rank it as their favorite alcoholic beverage, ranking it over beer. Wine can be consumed just for fun, or during a birthday party or a fine dinner. Christmas and New Year’s Eve are also a popular time for wine, not to mention weddings. Someone seeking wine for these events may look up “wineries near me” to get their hands on their favorite brands in person.
Wineries Near Me and the Internet
An American who wants some fine wine has options open to them. To start with, as mentioned earlier, they can look up “wineries near me” to find some of their favorite flavors of wine, and this is especially helpful in wine-heavy California. At a winery, a guest may go on a guided tour with other guests, and they can browse the many brands of wine that the winery makes. The gift shop may also offer wine accessories such as corkscrews, wine sleeves or tote bags, and much more. Other Americans may visit liquor stores for convenience to find wine, and many grocery stores also have a wine section. But a winery might have the best options of all, as it specializes in wine.
What if there are no nearby wineries, or the customer is looking for an obscure brand or flavor? In this case, they can order that wine online after they find it in an online catalog. A web search for that wine’s brand (or even its age) may yield some results, and the customer can place an order. If the source is close enough, the wine can be delivered to the customer’s doorstep, though someone must be available to sign for it. Meanwhile, longer deliveries may involve transporting the wine to a warehouse, and storing it in a cooler. Heat damages wine, and it’s a bad idea to let wine sit in a truck’s hot trailer. Once the wine arrives at the warehouse, the customer will be notified, and they can visit and pick up their wine, nice and chilled for them.
