Wednesday Is For Lovers of Cheap Wine

  • Share
  • Read Later
manuel velasco / Getty Images

On a Wednesday not long ago, the flash-deal wine specialty site WTSO (WinesTilSoldOut) sold more than 87,000 bottles in a single day, grossing over $1 million in sales. The Hump Day at hand was a “Cheapskate Wednesday,” a periodic occurrence when the site offers new bottles every 15 minutes at fire sale prices—between $7.99 to $18.99, which often translates as over 50% off retail. Another Cheapskate Wednesday is set to take place on Wednesday, May 16.

There are many wine flash-sale sites, including Lot 18 (a discounted direct wine seller of “the finest wines and artisanal selections”), Ninety Plus Cellars (it only sells wines with 90-plus ratings, though the actual names of wine makers remain a mystery to customers), and WineAccess (another vendor promising discounts via direct sales).

Few sites can claim to generate as much excitement from customers as WTSO can with Cheapskate Wednesday. The last Cheapskate Wednesday took place on February 15, after which one obsessive blogger listed each and every bottle sold. While prices ranged from $7.99 to $18.99, the overwhelming majority sold for $10 to $15, and for 45% to 55% off retail.

(MORE: 16 Easy Ways to Save on Groceries)

For the latest Cheapskate Wednesday, customers can expect about the same. Starting at noon on May 16, a new bottle will go on sale every 15 minutes or when the latest bottle is sold out, whichever comes faster. WTSO won’t announce what, when, or for how much bottles will be available, but it has sent over in advance a few of the definite vintages due to go on sale at some point on Wednesday. These include:

• Burgess Cellars Estate Vineyards Napa Valley Syrah 2006 (original retail: $30)

• Domus vitae Rosso di Montalcino 2008 (originally $30)

• Artesa Vineyards and Winery Napa Valley Merlot Reserve 2006 (originally $33)

• Berridge Vineyards Drystone Gibbston Valley Central Otago Pinot Noir 2009 (originally $50)

While the asking price won’t be available until Wednesday, they’ll all sell for $18.99 or less, so you can do the math. The only way to find out which bottles are selling when is to follow WTSO on Twitter, or to spend the entire day glued to the WTSO website. (If that’s your approach, you’ll probably need a glass or two of wine to get through it.)

(MORE: The Best (and Worst) Things to Buy at Dollar Stores)

Free ground shipping is available for orders of four or more bottles, and all purchases will be shipped on Monday, May 21.

Brad Tuttle is a reporter at TIME. Find him on Twitter at @bradrtuttle. You can also continue the discussion on TIME’s Facebook page and on Twitter at @TIME.