PMC wrote:
Blob, do you have a particularly expensive taste in wine? Wine has got to be cheaper per unit than beer.
This is what I was thinking. I buy cases of red wine, and the odd 5L box for when people come over, in France. And a decent bottle might set you back say 6 quid (e.g. Fleurie, Moulin-a-vent, Chateauneuf du pape), which would cost 10 or 12 quid here.
But you can by some really good wines in the £4-£7 bracket, Aussie, Kiwi and Saffer wines, Californian and S American...
I particularly like the Kiwi Sauvignon blancs (Malborough region) as well SAfrican ones. (If you can find it, try Firefinch, absolutely gorgeous). And there are a ton of drinkable Chardonnays on the market.
I avoid German wines like the plague (perhaps I've never tried a good one?). The Germans sure know how to make a good beer though!!!
BTW, from French supermarkets, you can get a drinkable 5L Bergerac for about 8 Euros, perfect for guests/drunk people who wouldn't appreciate the expensive wine, or me when I'm drunk, who cannot appreciate expensive wine :-)
