Every summer it happens: someone texts “bring a bottle,” and I end up standing in the grocery store wine aisle staring at the same twelve labels I always see. This year I finally got into the habit of ordering from Total Wine & More instead, and honestly, I wish I had started sooner.
If you have never heard of them, Total Wine is America’s largest independent retailer of wine, spirits, and beer. They started as a single store back in 1991 and now run hundreds of locations across the country, plus a really solid online store with delivery and in-store pickup. You can browse everything at www.totalwine.com.
A Selection That Is Hard to Beat
The numbers are a little absurd: something like 8,000 wines, 3,000 spirits, and 2,500 beers at a typical store. What I actually care about, though, is that the range goes both ways. You can grab a $10 Chardonnay for a Tuesday pasta night, or dig into their Winery Direct section for small-production bottles you will not find at a supermarket. Their crisp whites lineup has been my go-to all summer.
The Deals Are the Real Draw
Here is the part that actually converted me. Total Wine runs limited-time specials every month, and right now the summer promotions are stacked. A few worth knowing about:
Mix any 6 bottles of wine and you automatically save 10%. Winery Direct wines are up to 15% off if you sign in first. And depending on your state, delivery is included on wine orders over $99 or spirits orders over $49 with their promo codes. I mixed a case of six for a barbecue last weekend and the discount covered the extra bottle, basically.
More Than Just Bottles
One thing I did not expect: their Cocktail Central section is genuinely useful. With the World Cup on this summer, they have a whole set of match-day cocktail recipes (the Pimm’s Cup is dangerously easy to make), plus summer classics like the French 75 and a maple bourbon margarita I keep meaning to try. If you would rather not play bartender, the ready-to-drink section has plenty of grab-and-go options for the cooler.
A Few Honest Tips Before You Shop
Create a free account and sign in before you browse, because some of the best prices only activate for members. Prices and delivery options vary by state due to local alcohol laws, so what I see in my cart might differ from yours. And the obvious one: this is for the 21-and-over crowd, so please enjoy responsibly.
If you want to see what is on special this month, the current deals are all listed on the official site here: www.totalwine.com. Stock on the popular summer bottles does move fast during the promo windows, so it is worth a look early in the month.
