Amazon has joined the ranks of companies tapping into the new ways people are buying and discovering wine. The e-commerce company announced in May that its Prime Now membership has expanded to include beer, wine, and liquor in select U.S. cities. Deliveries are facilitated by partnerships with brick-and-mortar shops, which receive orders via mobile app and securely package them for delivery. Amazon drivers pick up from the store and transport items as directed. Two-hour delivery is free; one-hour delivery is $7.99. Alcohol delivery hours are 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., Monday through Saturday.
Meanwhile, meal kit delivery service HelloFresh has stepped beyond pairing suggestions to offer a monthly wine subscription option (Blue Apron, another meal kit company, started offering wine in 2015). Each month, subscribers will receive six 750mL bottles, with options for red wine, white wine, or a mixed case. Wines will correspond to HelloFresh recipes, and the box will include pairing suggestions, tasting notes, and flavor profiles. “Buying and pairing wine is typically overwhelming, and we look forward to making it easy and enjoyable,” said Stacy Gordon, the company’s U.S. chief product officer, upon announcement of the service.
