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Wine
Wine for Delivery or Pickup
The Instacart wine buying guide
Your days are busy, and sometimes it's a challenge getting to the store to pick up a bottle of wine for dinner. Make your day easier by ordering your favorite wine through Instacart. Whether you want your wine delivered by an Instacart shopper or you want to pick it up curbside at select stores, Instacart has you covered.
About wine
People have been enjoying wine for thousands of years. In 2011, archeologists exploring a cave in Armenia discovered a wine press and fermentation jar believed to be about 6,000 years old.
Wine is an alcoholic beverage made from fermented fruit, normally grapes. After wine grapes are harvested, the grapes are crushed through a press to remove the juice inside the fruit. Winemakers then add yeast to the juice. During the fermentation process, the yeast converts the grape's sugar to alcohol. Depending on the style of wine and the grape variety, fermentation can take anywhere from 6 months to 3 years or longer before the wine is ready to drink.
Types of wines
Most wines are made from red or white wine grapes, with an occasional wine made from other fruit sources. The fermentation process occurs in either stainless steel tanks or wooden barrels usually made from French or American oak. Most wines have an alcohol range of about 9% to about 15%.
- White wine: Grape varieties such as Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Chablis, and Semillon make white wine. White wine grapes that go through fermentation in stainless steel tanks have a clean, crisp flavor that lets the taste of the fruit shine. Most chardonnay grapes go through fermentation in an oak barrel, imparting a rich, buttery flavor to the wine.
- Red wine: Wine grapes such as Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Syrah, Nebbiolo, Zinfandel, and Malbec create red wine. Often, red wines get blended to enhance the flavors of each for a smooth sipping wine. Red wines go through fermentation in a variety of oak barrels that help to give red wine a distinct flavor.
- Rose wine: Red wine grapes that are briefly left to ferment with the skin and seeds create rose wine. The longer the red wine grapes go through primary fermentation, the deeper the red color and the more tannins get extracted. Rose wines only go through primary fermentation for about 12 hours, and then the skin and seeds are removed, giving the rose wine a light blush color with very low tannins. Rose wines can come from any red wine grape variety.
- Sweet or dessert wines: Sauternes, Port, Moscato, and some Rieslings have residual sugar left after going through the fermentation process. This residual sugar makes a sweeter wine than dry whites or reds.
- Fortified wines: Ports, Sherry, and Vermouth, have distilled spirits like brandy added to the wine. Fortified wines can be sweet or dry and are usually drunk as an aperitif or aid to digestion after a meal.
- Sparkling wine: Adding carbon dioxide to wines during the fermentation process helps to create sparkling wines. Sparkling wines are generally made from chardonnay grapes. Pinot noir grapes are used to create sparkling rose wine. Sparkling wines are similar to Champagne except that Champagne must come from the Champagne region of France by law.
Wine and food pairings
Select wines can help to enhance the flavor of foods, and certain foods can bring out nuances in the wine. Consider these wine and food pairings for your next meal:
- White wine goes well with seafood or creamy pasta dishes.
- Red wine pairs perfectly with red meat and Italian cuisine.
- Rose wine goes nicely with salmon, quiche, or cheese plates.
- Sweet or dessert wines pair easily with Asian cuisine, cheese and fruit, and roasted, salted nuts.
- Sparkling wine pairs perfectly with oysters, caviar, and crackers, or fruit and cheese plates.
Wine Near Me
Buy your favorite Wine online with Instacart. Order Red Wine, White Wine, Champagne and Sparkling Wine, and more from local and national retailers near you and enjoy on-demand, contactless delivery or pickup within 2 hours.
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FAQs about wine
When hosting a dinner party, calculate one to three glasses of wine per person. Generally, people will enjoy a glass of wine or Champagne before the meal, one or two glasses with dinner, and an after-dinner drink such as a small glass of port or sherry to go with dessert.
You can buy alcohol through Instacart. Simply go online and find your local market or liquor store that uses the Instacart delivery service and order the wine you want. The Instacart shopper will select your wine and deliver it to your doorstep with same-day delivery.
You also have the option of picking up your Instacart order at select stores. When your order is ready, you'll receive a notification on your mobile device with instructions about how to pick up your order. You can either go inside the store to pick up your order or wait in the designated area for an Instacart shopper to bring it out to your car.
Select stores allow for wine delivery through Instacart and the Instacart app. You can only buy alcohol if you're 21 years or older, and you must show proof of your age upon your wine delivery. Please keep in mind that if you show obvious signs of inebriation or intoxication, the Instacart shopper has the right to refuse alcohol delivery to you.
If you can't show proof of ID or don't meet the other Instacart alcohol requirements, the shopper will return the bottle to the store and refund your money. You may still get charged for delivery and bottle deposit fees as well as the tip.
An Instacart shopper will not substitute your favorite wine. If the store is out of stock, the shopper will contact you and ask if you would like a different option. If you don't want a different type of wine, the Instacart shopper will refund your money.
Whether you need wine for your dinner, a special next party, or to share with someone special, Instacart has you covered. Make your day a bit easier and save time when you order your wine via Instacart today.