Booze cruise worth it...?

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flaming

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Later this year I am throwing a party that will require the purchase of a significant amount of wine.

I've heard that it can be worth while getting wine in Cherbourg as the quality tends to be better, and the price lower. Which would certainly mirror my experience of buying wine whilst living in France, but I'm wondering if it's really worth it once you factor in a cross Chanel trip.
Assuming that I will need about 200 bottles and another 50ish of bubbles (and can borrow a suitable transport vessel...) what does the panel think? Worth it?

And has anyone done anything similar, how easy is it in Cherbourg to get to the hypermarkets? And any recommendations for best shops?
 
If you're buying cheap stuff it's worth it

3 Litre boxes of J P Chenet (Wonky neck) come in under 10 Euros, whereas a similar box in the UK is about £18 (last time I looked).

You can get even cheaper as well, some, "regional" wines come in less than 10 Euros for 5 litres.

If you want decent stuff, it's probably not worth it.

Supermarket is about 1 mile from the ferry terminal and the same distance to the Marina. If you do it at high tide, I believe you can do it by dinghy.

Mark

(all IMHO)
 
With that quantity, better to go by car via Calais, from where a short drive gets you supermarkets not frequented by the mass of cheap booze seekers.
 
Cherbourg booze cruise

Good stuff in boxes from Cave Marcel, in the car park square, just off the inner hbr, west side. They also do Chinon, nice light red, very local availability most years:(
They deliver to the boat at HW too.
Consider a top of the range cider as 'sparkling' too.
When do you need it for-going over May/June for a few days
After the big redevelopment of the building, is the Discount 'mall shop' in the hypermarket still there anyone, and the independent discounter just to the east of the old entrance/car park(they used to have a shop in the old marina building).
 
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Are you talking about sailing or car+ferry?

Carrefour is a 15-20 minute walk from the marina. This year when I enquired they said they didn't deliver to the marina but you can take a trolley all the way or there are taxis (although fitting 20 cases of booze in a taxi might be entertaining). Not tried any of the smaller suppliers. The higher end of carrefour's own brand box wine is remarkably quaffable and obviously in a very yacht-transport-friendly packaging format (saves hours wrapping bottles in plastic to line the bilges).

Even if you work it out at only £3 a bottle saving you're quids in unless you do the run in a big sunseeker...
 
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Echo the recommendation for Cave Marcel, Cherbourg.

But with fizz on the list, you could consider a cheap Eurotunnel return, plus a drive to the Champagne region (about 3-4 hours south of Calais, depending on exactly where you're going, and what speed you go there at) where you can buy good fizz direct from the grower for about a tenner a bottle. PM me if you need an address. You could then fill up with still wines on the way back through Calais.

OTOH, a friend of my daughter got married last year. Her father did the rounds of his local supermarkets in early January 2014, scooping up left over Christmas bubbly and other special offers. Apparently he's still got enough left in his 'cellar' for the wedding of his second daughter.
 
The calc is pretty straightforward assuming you can buy at competitive prices in both France and UK (a reasonable assumption). France charges only VAT on alcohol, whereas the UK Duty+VAT. UK duty is currently £2.05 per bottle of wine and £2.63 per bottle of fizzy (£1.98 if <8.5%abv).

So the savings on 200 bottles of wine and 50 bottles of champagne should theoretically tot up to £541.50; the number will be somewhat lower in practice as UK retailers have a formidable purchasing power and are typically prepared to accept a lower margin on alcohol than their French counterparts. This is an absolute saving so will have a greater % impact on lower priced wines. Two warnings:

1. French wine retailers routinely flog off some dreadful wines to UK "booze cruisers" in the belief that they are essentially unsophisticated purchasers who are simply after cheap plonk. The solution is to have a good idea what you want in advance, and when you are over there to google the wines you find on any of the the countless review sites - avoid obscure "Special Offers" in the Brit facing shops like the plague.

2. Take proof with you of the non-commercial party/event you are having as Customs and Excise will likely question you if you travel by car (see https://www.gov.uk/duty-free-goods/arrivals-from-eu-countries). French non-supermarket stores will generally deliver FOC to yachts (assuming decent size order), but be aware trolleys of booze down a pontoon could easily trigger a call from French to UK Customs.
 
Normandy Wine Warehouse...Avenue Carnot near Carrefore......taste before you buy...delivery back to your boat the same day usually. (And I mean boat not just the pontoon.) Ask niocely and they will even give you a lift back at no extra charge.
 
As a seasoned booze cruiser;with the UK supermarkets battling it out the price differentials have narrowed. You would be hard pressed to beat the tenner a bottle for fizz prices available here, the cheap French offerings can be pretty dire. If going upmarket the savings are a bit better.

Wine is better, if you know what you're about there can be significant savings.

Beer, lager similar.

One problem you might have is buying large quantitys, certainly in the supermarkets their stock levels aren't all that high.

We buy about £400 quids worth of booze at a time, combining the visit with a stay over and a good dinner, taking all into consideration we reckon that the total cost is the same as buying at home but with the benefit of a free weekend break.

Watch the ferry special offers, they sometimes offer very good deals.
 
markleuty said:
If you want decent stuff, it's probably not worth it.

(all IMHO)
Click to expand...

I went into it with a wine industry mate a couple of years ago and £8 was the level where there was no point in booze cruising. It's the £3-£5 range where it really works.
The idea of a trip to Rheims to get the pop direct is a fantastic idea but the UK supermarkets in January will get close to matching the prices. But going to France is sooooo much more fun.

Either way it's time for fun! Enjoy.

Ps. Is it your wedding?
 
General Stores Oostende delivery "In the good old days" yet another 14,000 bf in € cheques

OostendeMay1994_zpsb9e297c5.jpg
 
Worth it? Cher bourg, yes. Go for the Carrefour or similar.

JP is made and should be avoided.

Champagne look for NM on the label and find best value. Buy one and try in car park. Lidl usually winner on taste value.

Look for the Aime du Terroir in Carrefour. Usually good value. Get a copy of Hugh Johnson pocket guide or similar to choose grape varieties.
 
flaming said:
Later this year......I am throwing a party that will require the purchase of a significant amount of wine.
Click to expand...

Wow!

Even with your superior knowledge of racing, sail trim and access to an Élan 37, that's a tall order to make Cherbourg and back today!

Fair play to you :)
 
xyachtdave said:
Wow!

Even with your superior knowledge of racing, sail trim and access to an Élan 37, that's a tall order to make Cherbourg and back today!

Fair play to you :)
Click to expand...

I did wonder if anyone would spot that...!

Thanks all for the advice, plenty of food for thought, quite taken with TK's idea, but would probably need a bigger car, which would probably ruin the economics of it...
 
Ikon
dom said:
Take proof with you of the non-commercial party/event you are having as Customs and Excise will likely question you if you travel by car (see https://www.gov.uk/duty-free-goods/arrivals-from-eu-countries). French non-supermarket stores will generally deliver FOC to yachts (assuming decent size order), but be aware trolleys of booze down a pontoon could easily trigger a call from French to UK Customs.
Click to expand...

As stated above - it depends on how you are travelling. Earlier this year we drove over to Calais on a 'freebie' three day crossing to stock up. We came back with just short of 300 bottles with no issues whatsoever. All of the wine was good quality and MUCH cheaper than buying over here. Our only problem now is storing the stuff. The bilges are full, the lockers are full and there is still wine in the car - not the best way to cellar the stuff but we are getting through it quite quickly so long term storage issues should be resolved soon...
 
flaming said:
I did wonder if anyone would spot that...!

Thanks all for the advice, plenty of food for thought, quite taken with TK's idea, but would probably need a bigger car, which would probably ruin the economics of it...
Click to expand...

Not if you get shed loads of cigs too. Very sellable in yer local.
 
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