The best offers just recently are some of the pre-mixed cases by leading online wine merchants. It’s a great way to sample a selection of new wines and the price discounts for these packages are fantastic.

We’ve just been through our selection of mixed cases and picked out our top 3 deals.

Winemarket have just offered a 16 bottle mixed case for $79 a case. It works out at less than $5 a bottle. If you’re a bit reluctant to pay so little, thinking that the quality is poor, that’s not the case. The average RRP per bottle is around $17. The savings on this pack are massive and there are no cleanskins. All the wines are very drinkable brand names. Grab this bargain while you can. The pack is weighted on the red wine side with 12 reds and 4 whites. Perfect while the nights are still a bit cool.

Another bargain 16 bottle pack is available online from Cellarmasters. This one is a mix of Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc and Australian Shiraz. The price per bottle is $9.31 which is less than half price. The full retail price is $21.49 a bottle. The wines are classic examples from top wine producers. You won’t be disappointed.

Laithwaite’s Wine people have some great sale cases. The bestsellers case has 12 bottles of top quality, renowned wines for a fantastic price of $11.67 per bottle. The savings are significant and you get to try some great wines.

It seems as though all the best online wine merchants are putting together mixed cases of wine which represent fantastic value whether it’s at the cheaper end of the scale or fabulous mixes of fine wines.

We had a good look around and this is our pick of the best mixed cases of wine online.

In the cheaper range, we think that Wine Market have the best deals. They are offering a mixed dozen of red and white wines for $112 with two free bottles of Penfolds Koonunga Hill Shiraz thrown in. That works out at just $8 a bottle. For this price you’re not getting cheap wine you’ve never heard of but quality, brand names. The mix Includes 4.5 & 5 Star Halliday Wineries Zonte’s Footstep, Wirra Wirra and St Hallett. It’s a fantastic deal and the case price is less than half price.

Pay a bit more at Virgin Wines and sample the MD’s favourite 4 wines of the last 6 months. This Tried and Tested Case is $149.88 for some special wines at discounted prices.

If you’re looking for something from the top shelf, then there are some superb mixed cases in the fine wine category. We like this mix from small, boutique wineries. It’s hand picked by specialist wine merchants, Simple Pleasures and is great value for premium wine. Average bottle price in the mixed dozen is $23.17.

• The online wine stores have strong relationships with producers and get access to discounted wine.
• Wine sometimes has to be sold off cheaply for reasons that have nothing to do with the quality of the wine. It can be a cancelled export order, the end of the run, a surplus or occasionally a mistake like wine ending up in the wrong bottle.
• Online wine stores are competitive and will do their best to retain customers by offering great deals. This is good news for the consumer. Online wine stores have low costs and can therefore cut their margins to a degree that would be impossible for physical stores.

In addition to price discounts, there are other advantages to buying wine online. It’s easier to browse through a range of different wines before making a choice. You can do this in the comfort of your home or the office. There’s a good deal of free information available online in the form of wine reviews, tasting notes and articles. It’s also easier to home in on a selection of wines that is a good fit with what you are looking for. People buy wine in different ways and may browse by price range, wine region, wine variety etc.

Once you have made your choice then another good reason to buy wine online is the ease of getting it delivered to your home or office. Delivery charges vary but are reasonable and sometimes delivery is free. Winemarket for example have a flat delivery rate of $5 anywhere in Australia.

The best way to buy wine online is to have a plan in mind before you start. You may be looking for a simple, inexpensive everyday wine in which case the deals of the week are a great place to start or the wines organized by price bands such as the top 10 wines under $10. If you’re looking for something a bit more specific then browsing by wine region may be a good way to find what you’re looking for. Wines for special occasions can be found in the premium wines section.

Buying wine online can be a good incentive to experiment and try something a bit different rather than grabbing a familiar brand off the shelf. It’s a good way to take a risk especially as you can read reviews and opinions before you buy.