Whether you’re simply listing yourself on their directory, or becoming a part of their online store, you’ll want to make sure your business is represented in a range of locations and in a variety of manners.
DMoz
The Open Directory Project is one of the biggest directory listings online, covering everything from the arts to news to reference sites. Therefore, it’s important to establish a presence here in their wine section (which is found under their “shopping” header). It may not be a niche directory, but DMoz’s free websites are ones that internet surfers know and trust, so they generate plenty of traffic.
The Wine Web
Billing itself as the largest wine directory on the web (with a listing of 35,000 wineries), The Wine Web is an essential place to submit your winery’s website information. The site itself is comprehensive, including links to a blog on wine technology, a newsletter, mobile applications, reviews, and gift certificates. They have worked to create an online store that sorts through wine options by name, region, type, and price, thereby providing a potential revenue stream that you’ll also want to take advantage of.
Wine Directory
Wine Directory offers probably one of the most varied sites around. With tabs on subjects from auctions to wine accessories to travel to kosher selections, and even to mead, theirs is a detailed website that links up to many other important news, magazine, and event websites. The range of connections means that this is most likely a well-visited site that is worth being a part of, while the simplicity of the web page design makes it so that information is easy to access.
The World of Wine
A directory in the true sense of the word, The World of Wine consists of 4,008 links, which are the one and only focus of this website. Without web page background color or any type of art portfolio, the page directs viewers straight to the links. Don’t let their matter-of-fact approach deter you, however, because it’s the content that’s important, not the frills. Their home page set-up of links organized by country is comprehensive and easy to use, so The World of Wine remains valuable amidst other free websites.
Wine Compass
Above and beyond their directory of 5,777 wineries, Wine Compass offers the great feature of a wine map, which allows you to locate wineries, retailers, and festivals by location. Their news section, blog, wine 101 information center, and tours are complemented by an online store. It’s this mixture of great resources with an ecommerce site that makes submitting your winery to Wine Compass a useful tool.
Wine Search Online
Wine Search Online offers directories not only of wineries, but cultural and museum events, courses and tours, wine and health, clubs and associations, software, sales, and regions, among others. It’s another no-nonsense directory that is straightforward and easy to use, but continues to offer a fairly wide range of information and links. Much like the other free websites, their simple web page design is as pared down as possible.
