Amazon.com (AMZN +2.02%) is expanding its product offerings to wine, the company announced today. Amazon Wine (www.amazon.com/wine) offers more than a thousand wines from wineries across the country and includes amenities such as tasting notes and recommended food pairings.
Customers will be able to filter wines by criteria including professional rating numbers, tastes, and winery location. Customers are able to ship up to six bottles for $9.99, although, to begin with, the service is only available in 12 states (California, Connecticut, Florida, Idaho, Illinois, Iowa, Nebraska, Nevada, North Carolina, Oregon, Washington, and Wyoming) and the District of Columbia, according to Amazon. Orders go directly to the wineries and shipments may be held for up to 30 days if the weather isn't suitable for shipment.
The new format may help expand business for small wineries that don't have tasting rooms, and which rely on word of mouth to gain business.
