Wine In France

M

Melendez

At the Start
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May 2, 2003
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Dublin
A bit early, but hell, I'm looking forward to it.

I've booked the hols in France this year. Part of the beauty of this for me is that I can load up the car with 100 - 150 bottles of wine on the way home.

I haven't been there for a good few years, but the last time I was there, I came to the conclusion that the best value was to be found in the cheaper wines, such as Cote du Rhones, Languedocs and Muscadets, and Champagnes in the Supermarket, and that there wasn't much difference in price between the more expensive bottles. Mind you, I wouldn't have known the labels, so this really is guesswork.

So the question to you wine Gurus is .... Am I better sticking with the Supermarkets or is a venture into a specialist wine shop likely to prove fruitful.
 
Ardross is probably the man to ask.

Last week in Spain I bought a 3L box of Tempranillo for about €5. I tried it last night and was pleasantly surprised B)
 
I took a trip to Burgundy a few years ago with my parents (my father is pretty astute when it comes to wine & my brother is a wine merchant importing Spanish wine). We made several trip to vineyards and bought direct from them - all levels and it was exceptional value. We even bought their bog standard vino and brought it back in plastic containers for ready to drink stuff (decanted at home & it was excellent). The vineyard owners love having visitors.

Where are you going? Let me know & I will ask both brother & father what their choices would be.

Have to say I am deeply envious!
 
I'm only going to South Brittany, Benodet. So no vineyards within reach unless I spend a whole day travelling, which I won't (not mad keen on driving over their).
 
Muscadet is within reach of Benodet - go for Sur Lie bottlings

There is no point in buying expensive wine - it is likely to be no cheaper than here . Champagne is cheaper though , but sometimes they sell rather greener cuvees at home than to send to the UK and Ireland .

Don't be too befuddled by medals . The medals from the Concours General in Paris and Macon might be worth having but some of the others are pretty tinpot

Take Hugh Johnson's Pocket Wine Book with you especially if buying the petits chateaux of Bordeaux- it sets out good producers in even the smallest regions

I agree that Southern France is the up and coming area . Look for some of the smaller appellations like Faugeres .

Don't ignore wines that are recommended in the Guide Hachette ( often with neck labels ) that you have never hear dof before as they just may not be exported

Avoid branded wines by Nicolas, Baron de Lestrac etc etc
 
I got Hugh Johnson's Pocket Book on the way home last night. I'm not exactly sure how it should be used - do you take a guide from the number of stars as to what sort of price should be paid, or ignore the stars and just run with his recommended producers if you want a particular type of wine, or only get a wine where the shop is selling one, with one of his recommended producers.

I'm half tempted to do a little research with the Nicolas and Carrefour websites before I go and have a list made up - but maybe that's being a bit too organised - better to guzzle down a few bottles and get a batch of the ones we like.

I was also told I'd need to get a 'Facture Détaillé' with a CRD stamp or I'd be liable to have the wine, car, wife and child confiscated - know anything about this? Are the Hypermarkets awkward about giving you one? My spoken French is dreadful. Pointing with the occasional noun and very rare verb, is my main method of conversation.
 
Don't you need some kind of proof that it's for personal use (if it's over a certain amount)?
 
You probably get a 'Facture Détaillé' each month from your phone company - it's an itemised bill
Click to expand...

... and a CRD stamp? I suppose you just go to the customer service desk with your receipt and they stamp it for you?
 
Travelling from the European Union to Ireland
If you are coming to IRELAND from another country within the European Union the
following information is for you.
Duty-Paid and Tax-Paid Goods
No additional duty or tax will be charged on goods bought duty and tax paid (e.g. in shops,
supermarkets, etc.) in another EU country, provided the goods are for your personal use,
that you have retained proof of purchase and that you personally accompany the goods
on arrival. Where your purchases of the excisable products listed below are equivalent to
or less than the quantities shown in the table they will, generally speaking, be regarded as
for personal use. If you exceed these quantities you may have to prove that the goods are
for your personal use.
Quantities Goods
800 CIGARETTES
400 CIGARILLOS
200 CIGARS
1kg SMOKING TOBACCO
10 litres SPIRITS (whiskey, gin, vodka, etc.)
20 litres INTERMEDIATE PRODUCTS
Alcoholic drinks not exceeding 22% vol. (e.g. Port, sherry,
some liqueurs, but not including sparkling wine)
90 litres WINE (OF WHICH ONLY 60 LITRES CAN BE SPARKLING)
110 litres BEER
Click to expand...

So between myself and the wife we could bring in 240 bottles without being challenged by Irish Customs, although the car might buckle under the weight.

I found this though on another website ...

If you do not obtain the Facture and C.R.D. stamp and are stopped by the 'Douanes Volantes' you can be in big trouble.
The Douanes Volates are the mobile customs checks that spring up as road blocks anywhere and at any time. I think that the current law is that if you have over 36 bottles in transit you have to have the paperwork. If not you can be accused of bootlegging have the wine, your car and its contents cofiscated
Click to expand...
 
"... have the car and its contents confiscated..." well, it's probably a lot cheaper than divorce and alimony, for those so inclined.
 
Melendez- that stuff about the French customs police sounds very far fetched let alone in breach of EU law . Look at what happened to UK customs when they tried to start confiscating white vans etc - a caning in the High Court .

As for Hugh Johnson' s book - recommended producers definitely . The stars signify the quality of the wine . The starred appellations in France to look out for are those in colour as they are considered good value .
 
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