Irish/French Wine Run, suggestions please

FusionNet

Hi all,

Im looking for advise from fellow wine lovers.. Im sick to death of Irish taxes and nanny statism telling me I cant buy drink on Sunday moring and after 10pm cause it makes me a binge drinker! So to battle this I want to do a wine run to france. Im into my wine, Ive studied it and everything, so Im hoping Ill have the know how and wit about me to choose the right bottles but I have a few questions:

Firstly has anyone any Idea how many bottles or cases I can bring hope without paying duty?

Secondly, if I take the ferry over, has anyone experience of the best places to go to fill up? Im filling a Pajero btw for a large family!!!

Thirdly any wine recommedations when I get there, any gems. Im a Vaqueras, Corbier fan. I like big bold reds, Love sparkling, especially Sparliking Rose... Id really appreciate all your help guys and girls as I didnt vote for this Government and well Im sick of their rules...!!!

olaola

You can basically bring as much as it takes to make the suspension of your Pajero to scrape along the ground…

Irish Ferries round-trips. If you're going to Cherbourg - pick a date that will leave you with a night in Cherbourg, I don't think you'll have enough time to get your wine in otherwise. There are a good few places in Cherbourg - the hypermarket (Carrefour) has a decent selection and there is a wine & beer place there too. There is also the Normandy wine & beer place (on the way to McDonalds on your left opposite the post office) which has an agreement with Irish Ferries - so there are loads of leaflets on board with prices etc to peruse before you leave.
Roscoff you can easily do in a day - have a mooch around to Morlaix, there are LOADS of beer/wine places on the way including a few large supermarkets in Morlaix. Probably start there and work your way back to the ship. Then by the time you get back to Roscoff you'll have time for a nice lunch there and then head back to the ship. Not sure if the sailings are still goint here this time of year though.

You'll save a heap on prices here and have a jaunt away for the weekend. There is a good bit of info here: http://www.irishferries.com/normandy/wine/index.shtml

The new (to Irish ferries) ship is surprisingly nice, but the food is still a bit crappy - so might be better to have your dinner before you head back on board. If you're staying in Cherbourg - check out the Michelin guide for recommendations for accomodation & eating.

FusionNet

Thanks a million for all that info thats great.. I gont mind driving and wine is the only thing I actually enjoy shopping for!! I was told one time not to use the first hyper market off the both to go inland a bit to get better wine and value, not sure is that true or not though! Really apprecaite you taking the time to reply.

Thanks

shrapnel222

for future reference, a good time to do a wine run is when the french supermarkets have their "Foire aux vins". For example this year was

Auchan : du 20 au 30 septembre
Carrefour : du 11 au 23 septembre
Intermarché : du 12 au 23 septembre
Casino : du 8 -ou 12- au 23 septembre
Monoprix : du 13 au 24 septembre
Magasins U : du 26 septembre au 7 octobre
Champion : du 27 septembre au 8 octobre

these are great because you can get the catalogues early and you will always find some unbelievable value and amazing wines.

worth considering for next years run;)

olaola

Also - worth googling each of those supermarket chains and finding out the ones in or near Cherbourg - add them to your GPS

noby

A friend of mine, with some of his wine-loving buddies, make an annual excursion.
Drive to Rosslare on Friday evening. Overnight on the ferry (with obligatory session) On the Saturday they do their wine shopping. Because there's a group, and they're all stocking up for the year, they ask to meet the manager, and discuss discounts etc.. Load up the boots, have something to eat. Another overnight ferry, and back home by Sunday lunch time.

muckety

For nice sparkling at good prices try the Cremant (Cremant de Bourgogne, or d'Alsace) usually less than 5e a bottle in supermarkets, I haven't had a dud yet...

Mylow

muckety wrote: »

For nice sparkling at good prices try the Cremant (Cremant de Bourgogne, or d'Alsace) usually less than 5e a bottle in supermarkets, I haven't had a dud yet...

+1

Bobby04

I know it's no use for this year, but maybe worth noting for next year that Martin Moran regularly goes on these trips and organises tasting on board and is available to advise etc. Following is the mailshot for the most recent one;

"Depart: Rosslare to Roscoff: Thursday 11th September
Return: Roscoff to Rosslare: Friday 12th September

Part of the pre-Christmas landscape since its introduction in 2006, this popular cruise is aimed at those wishing to stock up for the festive season. Master of Wine, Martin Moran will conduct wine tasting on board and preview some of the bargains that can be bought ashore.

Enjoy two luxurious nights on board for €99 per adult return including bed in a 2 bed en-suite cabin.Take your car or motorbike for an additional €69 return when two or more adults travel together.Supplements apply for superior cabins.
Scheduled to coincide with the Autumn wine sales in France, spend up to 6 hours ashore in Roscoff or nearby Morlaix and enjoy massive savings on all your spirits and beer requirements.

Bon Voyage!"

enda1

My 2c.

If you are going to the effort of going over on a boat to France (1 day each way), branch out a bit and stay a night in a wine region.

Try this hotel in Nuits-saint-georges .... http://www.hotel-nuits-saint-georges.com/

as a great stopover place right in wine country. Not the biggest Borgogne lover myself (for price reasons not quality).

Do not shop in supermarkets is my main advice if you are travelling over to France. Supermarkets have to buy in such huge quantities that they can't buy the good small prouced wines. I find their storage conditions below par which really increases the chances of a fcuked up bottle.
Also don't buy a bottle that is standing up, nor one in sunlight.

Find a good sommelier online from an appelation you like. Get in touch and discuss what you like. Get him to pre select some wines for you. Go to his and taste. Then fill up your car!

Also don't buy more wine that you can drink in 1 year unless you have the proper storage conditions.


For amazing value wine try here...http://www.vins-bergerac.fr/gb/index1024gb.htm
Its run by the local administraion and has one wine from each of the makers in the local region. Though teh local wine may not be to your taste if you are looking for big bold reds, they are a bit lighter but still with great body me thinks.

NextSteps

Has anyone done this by hiring a car in Ireland? I want to stock up on wine for a wedding and my mini probably won't cut it!

ibh

UB wrote: »

Has anyone done this by hiring a car in Ireland? I want to stock up on wine for a wedding and my mini probably won't cut it!

Hire a van. Doesn't have to be very big but it'll be easier to load than a car. Better still find someone to borrow a van from.

coleen

I have just come across a company that will deliver wine from france to Ireland free if you are buying 18 bottles or more . I would like advice on what is good value to buy I like a good big red wine I was going to order 18 bottles to see how I go. The best value seems to be by buying 6 of the same type. The web site is www.vinatis.com so if anyone has knowledge of the wines on the list and can advise that would be great. I was going to spend 8to 10 euro per bottle and figure 8 to 10 euro in France would get you a much better wine What do you think ?

NextSteps

coleen wrote: »

I have just come across a company that will deliver wine from france to Ireland free if you are buying 18 bottles or more . I would like advice on what is good value to buy I like a good big red wine I was going to order 18 bottles to see how I go. The best value seems to be by buying 6 of the same type. The web site is www.vinatis.com so if anyone has knowledge of the wines on the list and can advise that would be great. I was going to spend 8to 10 euro per bottle and figure 8 to 10 euro in France would get you a much better wine What do you think ?

I'd be interested to hear how you get on, and whether you get charged customs fees.

coleen

As far as I know there is no custom charge for an amount like 18 bottles just the same as putting them in your boot and bringing them home your self Has anyone out there bought off this site and how did it go .

shrapnel222

coleen wrote: »

As far as I know there is no custom charge for an amount like 18 bottles just the same as putting them in your boot and bringing them home your self Has anyone out there bought off this site and how did it go .

if you're not allowed to import cigarettes in this way, i can't see how you would be able to import wine like this. i'm really interested to find out how you get on and how much customs you'll have to pay. when you go over to france you can bring back a hell of a lot more than 18 bottles and same goes for cigarettes

actually, just looked a the site and it says excise is already included in the price, and for ireland it's £ 2.36

could well be worth a try

BeerNut

coleen wrote: »

just the same as putting them in your boot and bringing them home your self

It's not. In order to pay the excise duty of the country where the goods were purchased (e.g. €0 for France), you must transport them yourself personally. It's Article 8 of Directive 92/12/EEC, as mentioned in plain English here.

The site does say it includes the excise duty, though the VAT would be presumably be on top of that as well.

enda1

BeerNut wrote: »

It's not. In order to pay the excise duty of the country where the goods were purchased (e.g. €0 for France), you must transport them yourself personally. It's Article 8 of Directive 92/12/EEC, as mentioned in plain English here.

The site does say it includes the excise duty, though the VAT would be presumably be on top of that as well.

But the VAT is paid to the country where its purchased, so that should be the final price.

BeerNut

enda1 wrote: »

But the VAT is paid to the country where its purchased, so that should be the final price.

Hmm. The EU tax authorities beg to differ with you on that one.

Note that VAT is also due in the Member State of destination in the case of distance selling of excise products

Remember, if you aren't physically transporting the stuff yourself a whole different set of tax laws apply.

enda1

Yeah you seem to be right. Seems nuts! Cause its the opposite for non-excised goods but I guess its cause vat is on the final price (including excise) and not the original price.

Really all excises should be dropped throughtout europe but that's a whole different ball game!

Tabnabs

I have an up-to-date customs leaflet in front of me and it states that:

(a) they must be for your personal use,
(b) you must retain your recepits as proof that you have paid duty and taxes and
(c) you must personally accompany the goods on arrival.

The limit deemed for personal use for wine is 90 litres (of which only 60 litres can be sparkling)

It's 110 litres for beer BTW.

BeerNut

Dyflin wrote: »

The limit deemed for personal use for wine is 90 litres ... It's 110 litres for beer BTW.

Bear in mind that that's not a legally enforceable limit, just the point at which they start asking questions and looking for the name of your offy on the side of your van. You can bring in more if you have some way of proving that you're still inside criterion (a), though the customs folk can make things difficult for you if they feel like it.

paulanthony

OP,
If you are going to get the ferry to Cherbourg I would recommend Auchan as the best supermarket.

http://www.auchan.fr/magasin/itineraire/itineraire.jsp?idPageMagasin=17953

It is pretty big and usually has some good offers.

In my experience the "Wine and Beer Warehouse" type places, which are near ferry ports, are not great at all, that's why there are no French people in there buying their wine!

You obviously know your wines so you will get great selections there and can buy them in boxes of 6/12 generally if you want which makes it a lot easier to pack into the car.

I would also recommend using a roof-box going on the ferry. No extra charge.
I wouldn't put any wine into it but you can put everything else into it and leave the boot / back seats empty for wine.

Good luck with it.

coleen

I have e mailed the web site and they say that they add on the duty €3 per bottle and that no customs will be due on my purchases. I also have had contact with a person who purchases from them and he tells me he has never been hit with customs . How is this? I was just putting my order togrther but now I am worried about getting hit with customs. Is there any way to check for sure before I order.

BeerNut

coleen wrote: »

Is there any way to check for sure before I order.

I don't think so. Buying drink from abroad really is luck of the draw, from what I've heard.

edanto

+ OLD THREAD +

Just researching about going to France to buy a carfull of wine, and thanks to everyone on this this thread and the others for all the good advice.

coleen - did you buy from that website and how did it work out?

Are there any places in Dublin that you can buy the brands of French wine that you might find in a Cherbourg supermarket? It's probably wildly optimistic, but I'd like to try some brands here so that I go to France with at least some clue about what I'm buying... and aren't trying to make a decision in a French car park with ten open bottles! (although that could be fun)

ntlbell

Sorry for the hi jack, but I was considering doing something simlar for personal use and possibly for my wedding.

When you take into consideration the time,petrol,ferry costs.

Are the savings worth the effort?

muckety

It depends on what you plan to buy / quantity! The biggest savings (in my view) are to be had in the wines that would be typically around 10-15 euro in ireland. They have around 5e of duty and vat included in the price. These wines would be eg 4-8 euro in a french supermarket. So the percentage saving is quite big, but you have to buy a large volume to pay for the petrol/ferry!