Thursday 12 June 2003

VINTAGE SAVINGS

Wine lovers can pay up to five times less for their favourite tipple if they buy it direct from the vineyard in France, with typical online prices in the UK up to 488% higher than the vineyard price.

Wine and travel website, winedrive.com, checked 30 typical wine appellations available online, against similar wines on their vineyard lists. Said managing director David Spokes: "Although you expect to pay more in this country to cover taxes, transportation and storage, we were stunned by the actual difference. Some wines were almost five times more expensive. The best saving buying from the vineyard was 80% whilst the average was 44%."

The study compared online wines to their equivalent on Winedrive's vineyard lists. Although the online lists did not necessarily include wines from the same vineyard, the appellation was the same. "We took the typical on-line price and compared it with wine of industry respected quality from our vineyards. At these rates, the savings on ten cases could cover your cross Channel ferry costs and at least you get to taste it first," added David Spokes.

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