Thursday July 5, 2003

VINTAGE YEAR AND BIG SAVINGS FOR COST CONSCIOUS WINE BUYERS

Tourists buying direct from French vineyards can make big savings on their favourite tipple as the weather creates what could be a vintage year for wine lovers.

Although the weather at the moment is perfect, wine and travel website, winedrive.com is reporting frosts in April and May which has damaged the vines reduce the potential crop. According to Madame Arlette Courty of Domaine de Perdrycourt: "The volume of grapes is reduced but we think they will be of a higher quality. The weather at the moment is superb with ideal temperatures".

Monsieur Laurent Simonnet said his vineyard, Simonnet-Febvre, was also hit by the frosts, but recent hot and sunny weather is speeding growth. "We will see an earlier, if somewhat smaller crop, but it will be good quality."

English owners Sarah and David Meakin of Domaine du Merchien in the Lot region say they have not seen weather like this so early in the year. "Our vines, which are normally about 1.6 metres high are already over two metres," they said.

Maurice Carroll of winedrive.com, said the vignerons could never be 100% sure but the signs are good for fine 2003 vintage Chablis. But he also added that there were big savings to be made buying direct from the vineyard. "Vineyard prices usually compare well with retail costs at home, but we know at least one source charging up to three and half times the vineyard price for Chablis on our list. At that rate, the savings on just a few cases could cover your ferry fare."

ends

257 words