Frequently Asked Questions

The following are the most frequently asked questions Colonial Wine & Spirits has heard from its users. If you have a question or would like to tell us about a great bottle of wine, please Contact Colonial Wine & Spirits, we're interested in hearing from you.

Q. Where do you ship wine?

A. We ship 750mL bottles of wine to the following states:

All US states except for Alaska and Hawaii

Q. Where do you ship spirits?

A. We do not ship spirits.

Q. Do you ship internationally?

A. We do not ship internationally.

Q. Where don't you ship?

A. We only ship to New York, Alaska, Florida, and Washington DC.

We do not ship to any other states.

We do not ship internationally.

Q. How soon will my order ship?

A. We make every effort to process your order as quickly as possible. Our default shipping method is FedEx Ground. You will be supplied with a tracking number so that you can follow the progress of your package.

If you need expedited shipping, please contact us and we will work with you to discuss options. We apologize for any inconvenience.

Q. What is your Local Delivery Policy?

A. We offer local delivery for online orders placed on our website. We use third party delivery services to deliver your order.

Q. Do you offer mixed case discounts?

A. In store, we offer a 20% discount on purchases of 12 bottles or more of 750mL wine or 6 bottles or more of 1.5L wine. We also offer a 10% discount on 12 bottles or more of 750mL/1L liquor or 6 btls. or more of 1.75L liquor. Both wine and spirits items count toward the discount. Please note that items already on sale will count toward your 12 bottles but are not eligible for further discount.

At this time we do not offer quantity discounts on online purchases, but we are always updating the site so please check back as this may change.

Be sure to sign up for our emails to find out about special promotions and future sales.

Q. Do you accept orders over the phone?

A. To place a pick-up order by phone, feel free to place it on-line or please call 716-674-3736 and we will work with you to have an order ready when you arrive.

Q. How will you handle my order if an item is out of stock?

A. Although we continually update our online inventory, sometimes errors happen and we can oversell a product, especially if stock levels were limited to begin with.
In this rare occurrence, we will first attempt to get more of the item from our supplier. If this is possible but will take some time, we will contact you to give you the option to wait or cancel your order. If we cannot fulfill your order, we will contact you to give you the option to replace it with an alternate item, fill the rest of your order without the missing items, or cancel the order altogether. In any case, you will not be charged for anything that’s out of stock.

Q. Is it possible to get wines or other products not listed on your website?

A. Of course! Please contact us if there is a wine or spirit that you cannot find on our website and you wish to pick it up in store. We will be happy to attempt to order it for you, if possible, even if we don't carry it as part of our regular inventory. We will contact you with a quote for approval prior to placing an order with one of our distributors. You will not be charged until you pick the product up in the store, but we can only hold the product on your behalf for 5 days unless we have set up another arrangement.

We do not place special orders for online purchases.

Q. How do I know if my order was received or shipped?

A. You will get an automatic order confirmation by email. You will receive a second email to let you know when your order is ready for pick-up or shipped.

Q. What payment options are available in-store?

A. We accept cash, gift cards, and all major credit cards in-store.

Q. What payment options are available online?

A. We accept all major credit cards for online orders. At this time we only process credit cards with a billing zip code in the US.

Q. What is the return policy?

A. If you are not satisfied, please contact us. We will work with you to remedy the problem. However, except under special circumstances, all sales are final.

If you wish to modify or cancel an order, please contact us as soon as possible--within 24 hours of placing the order is best. Outside of this time window there is a chance that your order has already been processed or shipped.

If you have received your goods but changed your mind or no longer need the item, we apologize but we cannot accept a return. Please understand that this is because we cannot account for what conditions the wine was exposed to during transit or while in your possession and therefore would not be able to offer it for sale again in the store -- we are committed to providing our customers with quality goods.

In the rare instance we incorrectly fulfilled your order and you have received an incorrect item, we will send you a return label to affix to the original packaging with instructions on how to arrange for a FedEx pickup. We will then ship the correct or missing items to you or provide you with a refund for the product depending on your wishes.

We are not liable for any damages to goods caused by weather conditions and other "Acts of God" during transportation. Because weather conditions can change drastically at any time, we also assume no liability for damage caused by changes in weather during transportation.

Q. Can I modify or cancel an order after it has been submitted?

A. Yes, but please contact us as soon as possible-within 24 hours of placing the order is best. Outside of this time window there is a chance that your order has already been processed or shipped.

Q. Are shipments insured?

A. Insurance is included in the shipping cost.

Q. What is your shipping policy regarding weather?

A. Exposure to heat or cold can damage the quality of wine. If conditions are especially severe, we will contact you to establish whether you would like your order to be held or not.

If you wish to expedite shipping because it is time sensitive, please contact us before you place your order and we will work with you to discuss options.

Q. What should I do if no one is available to sign for my shipment, or if the person isn't of legal age?

A. Many customers choose to have their order sent to their work address so that an adult is present to sign for it. If an order is sent to a home address and an adult is not present, FedEx will try to deliver twice more on consecutive business days. FedEx will leave instructions on the door tags they leave so that the customer can call to arrange pick up of their package at the local FedEx facility if they like. FedEx will hold packages for five days if a customer tells them that they are coming to pick up their package. If the customer does not contact FedEx, or if the package is not picked up within the five day window, FedEx will return the package to us. We will need to charge shipping again for re-shipping packages.

Q. How can I track my order?

A. The confirmation email will contain your FedEx tracking number, which you can enter at FedEx.com to track your package. If you have further questions feel free to contact us .

Q. How long does it take for an order to be filled and be ready for pickup?

A. Pickup orders are usually ready the same day. If there are any discrepancies between the items you ordered and what we have on-hand in the store, we will need to contact you to establish how you would like the matter handled, so this might take a little longer. If you need your order ready on the day you place it, or within any specific amount of time, please let us know in the comments section, or contact us. We will be happy to expedite it if possible.

You will receive an e-mail when your order is ready to be picked up.

Q. What do I need to bring when I pick up my order?

A. Print out your order confirmation (or have it available on a mobile device) and bring it with you along with proper identification. If someone other than you will picking up the order, please note their name when you order in the space provided or contact us if this changes between when you place the order and when someone will be picking it up. The person who picks up an order must be an adult over 21 years of age.

Q. Are gift certificates available and are they redeemable online?

A. Gift cards are sold on our website and they are redeemable online.
At this time, we only ship gift cards to addresses in New York State but check back as this may change.

Q. What is the ideal temperature to serve wines?

A. Room Temperature: Most full - to medium-bodied reds (e.g. Bordeaux, Cabernet Sauvignon, Chianti)

Just Under Room Temperature: Lighter reds with lower tannin levels (e.g. Pinot Noir and Beaujolais)

Lightly Chilled: Oaky and/or full-bodied whites (e.g. Chardonnay and Semillon)

Chilled: Champagne; aromatic and/or medium bodied whites (e.g. Albarino)

Well Chilled: Prosecco, rose, most dry whites (e.g. Pinot Grigio, Sauvignon Blanc)