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

Independent 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

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