THE WINE MERCHANT. An independent magazine for independent retailers
Issue 127, August 2023
Dogs of the month: Norman & Colin Derventio Wines, Malton
Consumers bemused by big increase in wine prices Independents find that even some trade customers are unaware of August duty hike that adds at least 44p to a bottle
© Adrian Davies Photography
I
ndependent merchants are being
forced to justify big price increases on
their wines to customers as the August
duty hike comes into effect.
Retailers are finding that consumers, and
even some trade customers, have either
forgotten that the increase was coming, or else were unaware of it in the first place.
Although the headline duty increase is
44p, many wines will see prices jump far higher than that as suppliers also apply inflationary increases.
Hannah Wilkins of Vineyards in
Sherborne, Dorset, says: “I was looking
at prices and I saw a wine that I’m now
buying for the same price that I was selling it for five years ago.
“I look back at what the duty was in
1998, as opposed to what it is now, and I’m absolutely appalled by it.
“The winemakers aren’t making any
more money. That’s all I care about,
because we’ve got to look after the people that are making the stuff.”
Dean Pritchard of Gwin Llyn Wines in
Gwynedd says wine merchants “have just
become tax collectors for the government”.
He adds: “It’s going to be hard enough for
retailers – we’re just passing on the cost. But I feel for the restaurateurs with the
Continues page 2
Boutique hotel welcomes Feral Pig to the premises Not many hotels have their own on-site specialist wine shop. But Llys Meddyg in Newport, Pembrokeshire, is a rare exception thanks to the arrival of Dave Cushley's Feral Pig Wines, which has opened where its dining room used to be. Story: page 6.