I am always interested by creative or should I say smart ideas.
The wine world is so compartmentalized with all these niches and a myriad winemakers and distributors that it is hard for anyone to navigate the wine waters.
The recently launched Naked Wines offers wine lovers in the UK a chance to buy wine online without all the intermediaries. They describe themselves as "an online 'farmer's market' to connect small wine producers with customers looking for new wines."
Their site currently lists 18 winemakers from Argentina to Chile, the Loire Valley to Chateauneuf du Pape not to forget South Africa and New Zealand.
The Ross Gower Rosé 2008 from South Africa would set you back £6.49 (about $10).
It would be nice if the varietal used was mentioned on the fact sheet.
Youthful mistakes I guess.
Besides buying from Naked Wines you can become sort of an Angel Investor for the winemakers.
If I understand the system well, after you sign up you pre-pay £5 a month (about $7.60) towards your next case of wine from the winemaker you picked.
As a thank you for signing up as an angel, your choice will send 6 bottles of their wine for free.
You only pay £15.83 (around $24) for shipping and taxes.
After tasting, you can share your notes on the Naked Wines site with others.
Martin Waller gives us some background info and details on this new venture in It is real business, with sales, products and profits, but done in the best possible taste (Times Online UK, November 28).
Interesting idea brought to us by Rowan Gormley (formerly of Virgin Wines) who was also Interviewed by Graham Charlton (E Consultancy Blog, December 4).
A commentator to the Times Online piece suggests that the idea is not new and mentions Italyabroad as doing similar work with Italian food and wine.
Do you know of similar endeavors in other parts of the world than Europe?
Will local liquor distribution laws stand in the way?
Somehow related: Music's Angel Investors: Sellaband