France

[ladyh]

We are thinking of going over to France next week for a couple of days. The trip is partly to complete our first channel
crossing and to purchase some wine for our daughters
engagement party. Which port is the best to make for with these two objectives in mind.

 

[Scillypete]

Out of where?

 

[AIDY]

depends where you're based..... /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif more detail required

 

[jhr]

If heading over from Kent or East Sussex, go to Calais - lots of desperate booze hypermarkets vying for non-existent day tripper business .

If going from the Solent area - Cherbourg: take a taxi to Auchan (big hypermarket above Town) or the Wine Merchant next to the Yacht Club is OK, although it was closed last time I was there. Their main branch is a walk into Town but they deliver to Chantereyne. There's also a great cave in Saint Vaast, whose name escapes me at the moment, but someone will be along to tell you in a minute.

If leaving from the West Country, then Brittany is the obvious choice. You don't get the same proliferation of booze hypermarkets catering for thristy Brits, but there are some nice caves in some of the ports: I seem to remember one in Trébeurden that had a good choice available.

As a rule, you'll only find a wide range of Antipodean and New World wines in the big Calais Warehouses...

 

[sailorman]

St Vaast M Gosselaen ( spelling )

 

[jhr]

That's the one; thanks!

Website here - excellent Deli as well. /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

 

[sailorman]

& he does deliver + a free hat if you spend enough /forums/images/graemlins/ooo.gif
his Own Black Label bordeaux is well recomended

 

[AIDY]

trouble with N brittany every town is up a hill /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[Sailfree]

[ QUOTE ]
trouble with N brittany every town is up a hill /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

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So its easier to get the wine down the hill!

 

[AIDY]

not if you've started drinking it before the decent !

 

[Sailfree]

[ QUOTE ]
not if you've started drinking it before the decent !

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Its very light to carry if you have drunk enough.

On a serious point unless you are a wine buff try tasting them. Both Normandy Wines in Cherbourg Marina and Majestic wines in the supermarket complex will let you. Push the one you like to the front and ones you don't like to the back. Then ask the price - you can get some surprising results. We bought some very cheap white and red at majestic for £1.95 a bottle. I intend to go back to complain as I did not buy enough!! Take sterling cash or uk cheque to Majestic Wines in Cherbourg as they always have a very favourable exchange rate. Credit Cards are charged in Euros and exchange rate depends on the CC provider.

If you do the wine tasting please indicate the quantity you are interested in before you start as Normandy wines stopped doing it for a while as so many british boat crews got sloshed tasting the wines and then bought either none or only a couple of bottle.

at majestic I always load up with the beer and a few cases of wine that i know I am going to buy before I ask to taste - then they know you are serious. If you only want a couple of cases each join the order together as once over £70 (IIRC) you get a free taxi back to the marina.

Normandy wines deliver to the boat, Majestic give you a taxi and they will unload your order at the top of the pontoon ramp and you carry it down yourself.

Normandy Wines tend to be exclusively French wines but Majestic have new world wines as well - generally about £1.80 per bottle less than UK prices.

 

[ladyh]

Sorry for the delay we are leaving from Gosport.

 

[AIDY]

either st v if time allows for lock gates or cherb then.... have a good trip.

 

[Sailfree]

As its your 1st Xchannel crossing i would go for Cherbourg not St Vaast.

Cherbourg has 24hr access.

St Vaast has a lock and you have to anchor outside until open. Once open water inflow can cause mayhem at first. Also St Vaast you have the Barflour race to deal with.