If Amazon.com jumps into the wine business, as I discuss in my column this week, it could give a dramatic boost to online vino sales.
Internet-based wine sales currently are dominated by Wine.com, which shipped 2.2 million bottles last year. Other smaller models have struggled. Lot18, a “flash sale” site that offers time-limited discounts on select wines, folded its British operation earlier this year. A new site with a similar approach is called VelvetPalate.com.
Flash-sale sites like to brag about their deep discounts on hard-to-find wines, but as a consumer, it pays to do some research. The “retail” prices listed on Velvet Palate, for example, are considerably higher than I could find elsewhere online, making the site’s sale prices less dramatic.
On a recent sale for Cicchitti Emkem Malbec 2006 from Argentina, even the $24 sale price was high — I saw the same wine listed elsewhere for less than $20. And as a Maryland resident, I couldn’t have bought it from Velvet Palate anyway. That’s because Maryland’s new law, which took effect in July 2011, allows direct shipping to state residents by wineries, but not by retailers. (Like most sites that facilitate such sales, Velvet Palate does not identify its vendors.)
However, I could have purchased two bottles of Bella Vetta Cabernet Sauvignon 2007 from Napa Valley, which Velvet Palate offered for $60 with free shipping, marked down from its “retail” price of $113. That’s presumably because the winery would be shipping the product, while the aforementioned Argentine bottle likely would come from a retailer. And I could have saved money on this deal: Bella Vetta’s Web site offered the wine at $45 a bottle, and I would still need to arrange third-party shipping.
What’s more, Velvet Palate has a nice graphical way of describing a wine’s flavor profile, and when I submitted a food-wine pairing question to the site’s “virtual sommelier,” I received a thorough and well-reasoned answer within a few hours.
Consumers looking for a direct connection to exclusive European wineries should explore VinConnect.com. The site is the brainchild of Kevin Sidders, a former investment advisor to Silicon Valley software firms, who enjoyed exploring California’s boutique wineries and buying bottles through their mailing lists. Sidders, who now lives in Charlottesville, applied the mailing-list concept to foreign wines. Visitors who register at VinConnect (membership is free) can sign up for e-mails and special offers direct from the wineries.
VinConnect launched a year ago and has a short-but-impressive list of French and Italian wineries, including famed Burgundy producer Clos du Tart, Domaine du Pegau from Chateauneuf-du-Pape and La Spinetta, a noted barolo producer from Piemonte.
For the wineries, VinConnect offers a direct link to their U.S. consumers without relying on the importers or distributors who themselves are a tier or two away from the consumer in the three-tier system. For the wine lover, VinConnect provides a personal connection to the vintners and a chance to snare some hard-to-find wines. And that’s what direct shipping is all about.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/all-we-can-eat/post/the-pros-and-cons-of-online-wine-sales/2012/10/09/e8073228-1256-11e2-ba83-a7a396e6b2a7_blog.html

Frequently visited resort hotel in Pampanga Angeles City Clark Freeport Zone shares news, articles, suggestions and ideas on matters that might enhance your visit to Subic and Clark Pampanga for vacation and travel, as well as to organize, plan or attend a corporate or social event near Manila.

The best hotels outside Manila in Pampanga and Subic are listed here including a beach resort which is a semi-private establishment located in the central business district near shopping, business, entertainment, airport and other conveniences of Philippines Clark Freeport Zone. This 13 hectare lake beach resort near Manila Philippines is highly recommended for family tourists with children or couples and individuals hoping to relax and enjoy peace and quiet in a laidback American suburban lifestyle.

Where to go in Clark? Hotel Clark Philippines is a De Luxe Hotel in Clark and Subic, a risk free place to stay, cozy and nice ambience, a nice function place for special occasion

You might want to check also the Yats Restaurant is the best restaurant for special dinner, best restaurant for dinner with friends near Manila, also the best place to celebrate special events.

Famous Restaurant in Pampanga, a place to dine with friends in Clark, cozy restaurant with a nice ambience, a nice function place for special occassions

Are you looking for an attractive restaurant or a nice place to eat with friends in Clark, Angeles City Pampanga? Yats Restaurant and Wine Bar is a restaurant with good food and good wines for dinner located at Clark Angeles City Pampanga. Perfect for exclusive dinner venues for groups, recommended for private dinner in Philippines. A Restaurant in Clark for business dinner meeting. Private dinner place or dinner restaurant in Clark Subic Near Manila Angeles City Pampanga. Yats Restaurant is one of the Good Restaurant in Pampanga Angeles City Clark near Manila.

Adding to the charm and attractiveness of the resorts and hotels in Clark Philippines are certain unique factors including safety, a keen sense of security and privacy that the main zone of Clark Freeport Zone offers. Angeles Philippines, Subic or Manila cannot offer the same sense of security like Clark Philippines. It is one of North Luzon Philippines’ top hotels that is trouble free, risk free, and a nice place to have rest in Subic. A well-recognized and interesting hotel.

Pampanga is an important province of the Philippines slated to be the next business and tourism center of the country. Already international traffic prefers the Clark International Airport and tourists find Clark Freeport Zone easier to get around than Manila. Safety, low crime rate, no traffic and low pollution levels all contribute to making Pampanga Angeles City Clark Freeport Zone a preferred destination for local and international tourists.

For information as well as assistance with reservations in hotels and resorts in Pampanga, Clark Philippines, click here to contact HotelClarkPhilippines now

Or call us at

Hotel Clark Philippines
Creekside Road corner of Centennial Road,
Central Business District, Clark Freeport Zone,
Pampanga, Philippines 2023

Tel: (045)599-5949 0917-520-4403 0922-870-5177 ask for Pedro or Rechel

Manila Sales Office
3003C East Tower, Phil Stock Exchange Center,
Exchange Rd Ortigas Metro Manila, Philippines 1605
(632) 637-5019 0917-520-4393 Rea or Chay

http://www.HotelClarkPhilippines.com

Email: Info@ClarkPhilippines.com

Getting to this hotel in Clark Philippines
After entering Clark Freeport from Subic, Manila, Dau and Angeles City, proceed straight along Clark’s main highway MA Roxas, passing Clark’s largest wine shop called Clark Wine Center on your right, continue to bear right making no turns at all, go past Mimosa Leisure Estate on the opposite side of the road, you will hit a major intersection. Go straight and the road becomes Creekside Road. YATS Clearwater Resort and Country Club is on your right just 200m down. Traffic in Clark Philippines is light so it should be quite easy for get to this hotel in Clark Philippines.

YATS Leisure Philippines is a HK-based developer and operator of clubs, resorts and high-class restaurants and wine outlets www.YatsLeisure.com

To inquire with the beach resort hotel in Clark Pampanga visit
http://www.ClearwaterPhilippines.com

For assistance with wedding venues, organizing and planning a wedding reception or to find wedding services and consultants, log on to
www.philippinesweddingvenue.com

To inquire with the highly recommended beach resort hotel in Clark Pampanga visit http://www.ClearwaterPhililippines.com

For more information about Clark, Pampanga, Philippines log on to
http://www.ClarkPhilippines.com

Wine lovers and gourmands looking for good place to eat, fine dining restaurants and family resto bar may want to log on to www.YatsRestaurant.com

In the Freeport zone of Clark, there is a large wine shop that sells excellent vintage wine called Clark Wine Center which offers over 2700 selections of fine wine ranging from p500 to p500,000 a bottle and up. Log on to www. ClarkWineCenter.com for more information.

Looking for a party venue in town?
Clearwater Resort and Country Club is one of the ideal venues for birthday party because it is a risk free venue. Not only Birthday Parties but also a good place to enjoy family reunion. A good place to celebrate special occasions. Clearwater Resort and Country Club is one of the resorts in Subic Clark Angeles City Pampanga or near Manila with activity amenities, place that are nice for celebration.