FAQs
Categories
No such thing as a stupid question here
Important stuff
Do you deliver abroad?
Want the good news first? OK. Well yes we can. The bad news? It can take anytime between 5-25 days (sometimes longer) following “recent changes” and the recipient will most likely have to pay duties when it arrives on their border. Delivery cost for Europe is around £20.
But don’t be disheartened, we can still make it happen but we just want to be very open and honest with you on the state of play with international deliveries - as frustrating as it is!
Note - there is no way we could account for duties in the pricing for a foreign order as it varies by every order, customer, country etc
Is English wine really any good? I'd always thought the opposite.
Drift back to the 90s and early 2000s and you wouldn't be too far wrong. But much like our taste for a shell suit, things have changed significantly. English Wine has made significant advancements - inviting established wine producers over from Europe, utilising their latest technology and increasing scale across many parts of the UK. The days of Dave and Deirdre making their own wine in their back garden as a retirement pastime are over, welcome to today's English wine. You can read more in our English Wine guide.
Why is it more expensive than the stuff from Europe?
In short, there is no single answer and the majority of the factors are down to the English Wine industry still being relatively new to the game. As a result, the lack of scale, comparably low yields (think grapes per hectare), speed to market, and labour and machinery costs all result in a higher price per bottle. Oh and don't get us started on the ridiculous duties the UK government hammer on us (we'll spare you the details but it's not pretty). That said, prices are coming down, we've seen our first great English white at just £10 and some great value sparkling wines (the Wiston Brut being a particular team favourite for bang for your buck). Also don't forget to factor in the environmental saving and supporting local businesses too - in some ways worth every penny.
Do you have a wine club?
Now that is an idea! But we'd rather it be a little unconventional, a rather English Vine Wine Club. Intrigued? Sign up to our newsletter below to hear more.
My wine arrived like it had been in a fight with a honey badger. Help!
We get it. Honey Badgers are badass (don't believe us? Google them). But fear not, we are here to help. Send us a quick email along with some photos and we'll take care of it and send out a replacement straight away.
I need wine now, how long will it take to get to me?
Me too. But we are here for you first. We'll send you wine ASAP. Deliveries are next working day if you order the day before by 2pm. Orders placed after Thursday 2pm will arrive on Monday. We cannot send wine on bank holidays, so please allow an extra day.
A Saturday delivery option is available but at extra cost and again you’ll need to order before 2pm Friday to get it on time.
Simply can't wait? Well, if you find yourself in our neck of the Essex woods, give us a shout and we will see what we can do.
I'm having an event and need booze. What can you do?
We love a good bash but we really love it when we are loading the bar up with goodness.
Our events team can curate wines from across the UK or if you want, just wines locally sourced from nearby to you. You can discover more here or give us a shout to speak to us directly.
I bought some wine that I don't like. What should I do?
No prob. It happens. Tell us about it. We stand by our wine, but if you aren't happy, then neither are we and we will make it good.
Fun stuff
Not sure about English wine, what are my other options?
We've got you. We're not here to hard sell you. Check out Momma Vineo's article here on great European wines available from the supermarket today.
A "Vine-O" is what exactly?
A Vine-O. A member of our incredible clan of customers who are proud to be part of the no-nonsense wine revolution and to shout from the hills about how great English Wine really is. We love you guys.
How much wine do you guys drink each day?
Just enough to keep you lot happy. And us. On that note, stay tuned as we've got even more wine coming from further afield (we're calling it The Secret Vine', shhhh, it's a secret).
Cork or screw?
Ah, the age old question. Well, not that old. In short, it doesn't matter. As a matter of fact however, corks are actually better for the environment as it's much more sustainable and requires much less energy to produce. Check out more wine myths here.
What makes you guys so different?
We just got fed up with the wine industry endlessly speaking to itself. Instead we want to speak to you, make you happy, scratch your back, whatever it takes to get you thinking different about wine. Read more about us here.
Can you really tell a wine by the label?
Sometime you win, sometimes you lose. It's always a gamble. But that shouldn't be the case. This is what gets us angry (sorry, we'll calm down a bit now). But why should it be like this? Someone? Anyone? Right, so try reading what we have to say about the wine and let us know what you think. We are always looking to improve.
Can I open a bottle of wine with a shoe?
Yes, yes you can. Check out our video on instagram for this and other mischief.
Why do you park on a driveway?
Can someone PLEASE answer this question. Best answer gets a free bottle of magic from us.
I don't even like wine, no idea why I'm reading this, what should I do?
Hey you made it this far, well done. Might as well give it a go now. Check out our English Wine Starter case to get you going. Shameless plug over.