Terms & Conditions


In purchasing wine from EWR, the customer automatically agrees to the following terms.


Persons who purchase and receive wine from EWR must be 21 years of age or older.

The title to all wine purchased from EWR passes to the buyer within the state of California at the moment payment is received.  Thereafter, EWR acts only as the customer’s agent for shipping wine.  The purchaser is responsible for the shipments of all orders he or she places with EWR.    

EWR cannot be held responsible for what may happen to purchases while in transit.  The receipt of a 1% insurance charge by EWR entitles customers to a refund only for the breakage of wine while in transit.  EWR and our carriers will not issue refunds for any other types of damages, such as, the defacement of labels, corks, and capsules, spoilage, and all other forms of damage.  Neither EWR nor its carriers are liable for the deterioration of wine due to exposure to extreme temperatures or humidity while in transit.   If you receive bottles that have been broken during shipping, you must contact us within 24 hours of receiving the parcel.

Because we do not actually produce or bottle any of the wines we sell, and due to the fact that the character of wine changes with age, we are unable to completely guarantee the "drinkability" of every bottle we sell.  We can however guarantee that our wine has been cared for and stored properly since its acquisition. 

Please contact us is you have any questions regarding our terms of sale.

NEWS

Sauternes…

On the left bank of the Garrone, and just to the south of the great estates of Chateau Haut Brion and La Mission Haut Brion (also known for their great white wines), lie the five villages in Graves that make the exquisite sweet white wines known collectively as Sauternes. They include Sauternes, Barsac, Preignac, Fargues, and Bommes.

This region is located near a small cold water spring called the Cérons, which meets the warmer waters of the Garrone to create the misty conditions, that help breed the “noble rot” that separates these wines from those of the rest of the world. It’s a fungus that ruptures the grape skins in the late summer, predisposing the grapes to desiccation. Thus, the wines are viscous or honey-like, often with hints of apricots and pineapples. These delicious wines are also high in alcohol and acid, allowing them to age almost indefinitely. Sauternes are primarily made with the Semillon grape, along with small amounts of Sauvignon Blanc and Muscadelle.
 
It is difficult to make Sauternes. The rot must be of just the right level, and only the most affected grapes can be picked, thus the yield for the wine from Sauternes is reduced substantially. Considered the most prestigious Chateau, Chateau D’Yquem, actually harvests one berry at a time, and only after they have reached ultimate perfection. While most Bordeaux vineyards claim to produce one bottle per vine, Chateau D’Yquem is reputed to produce one glass per vine, and perhaps even less in a dry year.

French Sauternes will always be considered one of the great treasures of the earth and understandably expensive.  Chateau D’Yquem, considered the First “Great Growth” (from the Bordeaux Classification of 1855), is the benchmark for French Sauternes, and is frequently offered at the pre-release price of $200-300 per bottle.
 
Other producers, however, have become increasingly competitive both in quality and price. Within the 1885 Classification, there are a significant number of First Growths (Premiers Crus), which are also notable and prized, but trade at one quarter the price of Chateau D’Yquem. These include Chateau Climens, Rieussec (owned by Chateau Lafite Rothschilds), Chateau Suduiraut, Chateau Gilette and several others. The leading production at Chateau Gilette or the “Gilette Crème de Tete,” is particularly unusual in that it is kept “en reserve” for roughly 20 years prior to its release. 

Lastly, there are a large number of Sauternes that are from the “petite” Chateau or surrounding regions, for example Mascaron par Ginestet, which can fit any man’s budget and always provide a memorable experience.

Cin-Cin!!!