If there’s one thing we Australians do well at Christmas, it’s enjoy a good drop. From a crisp Chardonnay with the prawns to a bold Shiraz with the roast, a decent bottle of wine is as much a part of the holiday table as the dodgy bonbons and the relative who insists they “don’t usually drink” before finishing half the bottle.
But let’s be honest, this year, prices have been enough to make even Santa’s elves spit out their bubbles. Between the cost of ham, postage, and petrol, it’s no wonder so many of us are tightening the belt (and not just because of the pudding).
That’s why more and more savvy Aussies are discovering the joy, and the savings, of buying their Christmas wine direct from the winery.
Australians are expected to buy around 160 million bottles of wine between October and December. But data shows that if every bottle were purchased through Naked Wines direct-from-winemaker model, households would spend about 30 per cent less – saving roughly $522 million nationwide and be supporting the people behind the produce.
The model is simple: you bypass many of the usual middlemen – you deal directly (online) with independent Australian winemakers, and you benefit from better pricing and smarter sourcing. You could be saving up to 30 per cent off each and every bottle. And wine does taste better naked!
Join the Naked Wines community today and enjoy $100 off your first case of hand-crafted Australian wine. Click here.
“Families shouldn’t have to choose between a good Christmas and a balanced budget. By buying smarter, they can have both – and help Aussie winemakers at the same time,” Paul Connell, Managing Director, Naked Wines Australia said.
It’s not just a clever way to get better value. It’s also a small act of national goodwill. Our winemakers have done it tough these past few years, surviving fires, floods, trade changes, and the odd kangaroo in the vineyard. When you buy direct, your dollars go straight to the people who grow the grapes, stomp the skins, and somehow turn it all into liquid cheer.
“Choosing independents keeps profits in towns — not corporate head offices — and protects 3,000 hectares of productive land. Especially where consumption is declining and cost of production is skyrocketing. Support like this lets us focus on craft, not survival,” Nina Stocker, from Two Pairs Wines, said.
It’s a simple switch with big returns.
1. Buy direct this Christmas. Skip the middleman; every bottle funds real winemakers.
2. Keep it local. Each purchase fuels jobs in wine regions from Margaret River to the Riverina.
3. Enjoy better value. Great wines for less – without retail mark-ups or gimmicks.
And between us, the process couldn’t be easier. Gone are the days of trekking down the bottle shop aisle with a magnifying glass and a calculator. Just hop on line and after a few clicks, the wine is delivered straight to your door (or caravan, if you’re touring).
In my own “extensive research”, purely in the name of journalism, of course, I recently discovered a delightful Barossa Shiraz that cost less buying direct than it did at the Bottle Shop. Plus, the winery threw in a Christmas card and a cheeky note thanking me for “keeping them afloat (and myself nicely hydrated).”
It got me thinking: why stop at buying for ourselves? A case of Aussie wine makes a perfect Christmas gift. Forget the socks and shortbread, your friends and family will love something they can actually enjoy. Add a ribbon and a tag that says “Proudly Supporting Australian Wine – One Sip at a Time”, and you’ve nailed the Christmas gifts.
So this Christmas, think of Naked Wines before you head to the big retailers, consider raising a glass to the little guys – the vineyards that make our landscape (and our dinners) so special.
You’ll save money, enjoy better wine, and feel good knowing you’ve helped an Australian industry that truly deserves a toast.
As I always say, life’s too short for bad wine and far too long to spend paying full price for it.
So here’s to Christmas cheer, Aussie vineyards, and a very merry “buy direct” holiday season.
Join the Naked Wines community today and enjoy $100 off your first case of hand-crafted Australian wine. Click here.