5 years ago

Talking Wine – May 2019

So Sainsbury’s is selling a German wine at £3.15 a bottle. Remove the VAT which is a tax on a tax (the fixed duty rate) and this leaves about 37p for the cost of the wine, the bottle, label, closure, transport and profit. How socially sensible is this to the supplier and the consumer?

We all know that supermarkets can operate loss leaders but it would not be allowed in Scotland and shortly Wales where minimum pricing rules on the selling of alcohol exist. Hopefully this is something that will be adopted in England soon as pressure mounts from the anti-alcohol lobby.

It seems that Champagne will be replaced by non-alcoholic sparkling wine when celebrations are underway following victory in football cup finals. The decision will come into effect at next month’s FA Cup final between Manchester City and Watford at Wembley Stadium on 18 May.

In a statement provided to Reuters, the FA explained “that Champagne had been removed for reasons associated with religion and the age of players within some teams. This is to ensure that we are as inclusive as possible to players and communities who may be prohibited from alcohol, as well as any players who are under 18.”

Is this really the reason or is it simply that viewers cannot bear to see a quality product wasted which only seems to portray decadence and arrogance?

The Rum industry has welcomed a post Brexit deal trade deal signed between the UK and the Caribbean which will allow businesses to trade without additional tariffs or barriers. Minister for trade policy, George Hollingbery said: “It will help to support jobs in the UK and throughout the Caribbean, as well as ensuring that the British supermarkets shelves continue to be stocked with the best Caribbean produce such as bananas, sugar and rum. We have a long-standing commitment to reduce poverty through trade and this agreement will support jobs in key Commonwealth countries, such as Saint Lucia, Belize, Grenada, Dominica, Barbados and Guyana for whom the UK currently accounts for more than a quarter of their trade in goods with the EU.”

Is Rum the new Gin ?

Ted Sandbach

Ted studied History and Physical Education at Loughborough University before teaching at Magdalen College School in Oxford for 7 years. He gave up teaching to follow his passion for wine and cut his teeth at Stevens Garnier in Wine retail. During this time he travelled extensively and took his wine exams including the Diploma – which he will admit is much harder these days! Frustration and ambition prompted him to start The Oxford Hamper Company in 1985 which by 1992 had metamorphosed into The Oxford Wine Company.