Wine Snobs and lovers snigger at the idea of buying ‘cheap’ wines in the supermarkets which do stock some decent wines, at even more decent prices-like the current deal at Tesco for Jacquart Champagne for less than a thousand rupees, makes it a great buy for UK readers and our viewers passing through London at this time of the year- frequent disruptions due to volcanic ash notwithstanding.
 Jacquart non-vintage wine from Reims, France is decent champagne, usually available in Retail at around $40. If available at the duty-free shops, it would perhaps be more expensive- since wines and champagnes are hardly a good value at such rip-off places (actually, one can’t blame them-with such high rentals!).
When you fly Business Class in Lufthansa, you may drink as much as you like of this dry but fruity bubbly with elegant flavours of peaches and apricots and typical brioche-like aromas. But normally it is available in £ 27.50 at Tesco. The current promotion at 50% discount makes it available at only £13.74 (£1=Rs.68.21)
The only catch is that you have to buy a full case. But as with all Champagnes, there are only 6 bottles in a case. So if a couple is traveling together, they can be checked in. Normally 3 bottles of wine and champagne are allowed without any hassle at the airport though the customs people are known to be more reasonable with people indulging in the ‘sophisticated’ healthy habit.
The price of £ 165 a case of 6 bottles, includes all taxes. It would be interesting to know if the taxes can be refundable at the airport. It would be even more interesting to know what the price for the consumer could be, if the hotels imported duty free -it is a fairly well respected and known brand. Even the duty-free shops could import, stock and sell and prove me wrong!
Subhash Arora
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