Summer Savings In Store

06 August 2005 By db staff writer

“standfirst”>We monitor beer prices in convenience stores, as the Co-op ‘goes Italian’ and Asda’s California wine event draws to a close

Its Pimm’s o’clock at Waitrose with a 21% reduction on a litre bottle, down from £16.49 to £12.99. Selected premium wines are also receiving impressive discounts (all offers August 1 to September 4), including Australian Nepenthe Sauvignon Blanc, 25% off at £6.36; Californian Fetzer Sundial Chardonnay and Cabernet Sauvignon, both 20% off to £5.59, and some European offerings such as Villa Antinori 2001 Toscana down £2 to £7.99 and English Chapel Down Flint Dry is down £1 to £5.49.

However, the biggest bargain in the wine aisles is Australian, as usual, with an impressive £3 off the Hardys Crest Chardonnay/ Sauvignon Blanc, down to £4.99. Waitrose is also promoting Portuguese wines including its Trincadeira Alentejo at £5.59 (from £6.99), Duque de Viseu Dão at £3.99 (from £4.99) and Altano Douro at £3.59 (also from £4.49).

There’s an Italian feel to the Co-op’s wines of the month between August 1 and 21 with a Pinot Grigio, down £4.99 to £3.49, and Puglia Primitivo/Sangiovese, down £1 to £3.49, as the white and red wines of the month. Co-op Valpolicella Classico and Co-op Soave Classico are both £1 off at £3.99, while Caldora Sangiovese 2003 is £2 off at £3.99. However, there’s also a new world offering with Beringer Stone Cellars Sauvignon Blanc and Shiraz Cabernet down to £4.49 from £5.99 and Beringer Sparkling White Zinfandel down to £4.99 from £6.49.

If you’re quick, you can catch Asda’s USA event, which ends on August 10, featuring 20% off Californian wines, including Beringer Sparkling White Zinfandel again, this time down from £6.48 to £5.18. Other Californians in the promotion include the Blossom Hill wines, Gallo’s Sierra Valley, Turning Leaf and Coastal ranges, Fetzer and Bonterra, and Paul Masson among others. Asda also has a number of wines on permanent three for £10 (or £3.72 each) promotion including Stowells Chardonnay/Pinot Grigio and its own-label Cava Brut. Asda’s permanent three for £12 wines (£4.52 each) include Jacob’s Creek Semillon/Chardonnay and Grenache/ Shiraz and Kumala Pinotage/Cinsault and Chardonnay/Semillon. Joining the promotion from August 15 will be Blossom Hill Shiraz/Grenache and Chardonnay/Viognier, and Gallo Sierra Valley Shiraz and Grenache Rosé, all offering a saving of £1.56.

At Somerfield it’s 20% off selected Australian wine (August 3 to 30) including Lindemans Bin 65 Chardonnay, down from £5.99 to £4.79; Wolf Blass Chardonnay, down from £6.99 to £5.59, and Hardy’s Nottage Hill Sparkling Chardonnay down from £7.49 to £5.99. Other wines on offer include Spanish Altozano Verdejo and Tempranillo/Merlot on two for £8 instead of the usual £4.99.

Oddbins, meanwhile, has a selection of whites, reds and pinks on a two for £10 offer, including Xanadu Secession Sauvignon Blanc/Semillon and Shiraz/ Cabernet Sauvignon, usually £7.49, and Fetzer Syrah Rosé, usually £6.49.

And in the spirit of convenience, our price-checking mole has been skulking around the beer shelves of the local shops for local people (see table below).