The winemaker is in charge at ONWINE

On this page, you will find comprehensive and transparent information about the organization of ONWINE. The goal and mission of ONWINE is to make the wine world a bit fairer. We do this not only through fair prices but also by being open about our margins, promotional periods, and other matters.

It’s all about the winemaker

On ONWINE, the winemaker has control over supply and demand on the platform. This sounds noble and fair, but what does it actually mean?

Wine supply

Once a winemaker joins ONWINE, the so-called "onboarding process" begins. During this process, we put the reins in the winemaker's hands. The winemaker sets the prices and chooses the wines they want to sell on the platform.

This means that the winemaker's selection on ONWINE may sometimes be smaller than at their 'Cantina'. This can happen due to limited stock or importers seeking exclusivity. Prices are often slightly higher than at the winemaker’s own location due to costs like transportation and excise duties.

Information about wine

The information about the wines is also provided by the winemaker. We collect all this information and strive to present the product as completely as possible on the website. Some pages are much more detailed than others, depending on how the winemaker supplies the information, which is a personal choice.

Curious about how ONWINE started? Read more here >

Supply by country

The winemaker also has control over where they sell. Some winemakers only sell via ONWINE in Belgium, while others only in Germany or in both the Netherlands and Belgium, but not in Germany. Since you are on the Dutch version of our website, you won’t notice this.

Discounts

Since the winemakers control their own prices and offerings, they also determine the discounts. These discounts are based on Dutch law, with a maximum discount of 25%. A winemaker indicates when they want to promote their wines.

We try to cluster discounts in periods to make it as easy as possible for both the winemaker and the customer. This is why multiple winemakers often offer discounts at the same time.

What about quality?

At ONWINE, we do not select wines because we advocate for a free market where consumers make their own choices. An importer often selects wines based on economic choices, such as where they can make the most margin. We are an independent platform, and we do not check the quality of a winemaker in advance. Quality is assessed based on your reviews of the wines. Additionally, there are many indicators that indicate when something is quality wine. If a wine wins an award, we display this on the product page at the winemaker’s request. You can also gauge quality from the designation of origin. Plus, the 'Vivino' rating is always clickable from a page to view reviews from other wine lovers. The winemaker is always responsible for the quality of the wine, which in practice means that a 'bad' wine, such as one with cork taint, will always be compensated.

"I already buy my wine directly from the winemaker"

We sometimes hear this from fellow wine lovers. This may be true, but it is often not legal. Excise duties and other regulations are bypassed with this form of shipping. A tax assessment may still come from the tax authorities, which can put a winemaker in serious trouble. Through ONWINE, we handle all excise duties and taxes, so the winemaker doesn't have to worry about administrative tasks.

Shipping costs

Some winemakers choose to handle shipping themselves and let the shipping company manage the excise duties. Such services often cost substantial amounts, rising up to €54 per 6 bottles, depending on the location. This is a significant cost for you as this shipping cost is often passed on to you as the customer. Shipping through ONWINE is only €6. We can guarantee these low shipping costs due to our unique tax structure and favorable agreements with shipping partners.

Looking for more transparency?

Do you feel something is missing in terms of transparency, or do you want further explanation about ONWINE? Don’t hesitate to email us at [email protected]