‘Mr Plum’ named db wine suitcase winner

db reader Julie Janes has won a “virtually indestructible wine suitcase” after regaling us with tales of how she would put it to good use, using the charms of her 25-year-old Figaro convertible “Mr Plum” to win us over.

Mr Plum’s entry
“Mr Plum”

Last week db offered readers the chance to win a “virtually indestructible” VinGardeValise – a suitcase that helps wine lovers bring their beloved bottles home from their travels, kindly donated by its makers.

Costing £229, the VinGardeValise is a rolling hard shell suitcase lined with high-density, temperature-regulating foam that protects bottles while in transit. It weighs around 20kg when packed with a dozen 75cl bottles, making it under the limit for a checked bag with airlines like Air France, British Airways, KLM and Alitalia. The foam cavities are designed to hold an array of different bottle shapes from Bordeaux and Burgundy, to Champagne and Riesling bottles, with special foam inserts for magnums also available. If you only want to take a couple of bottles home, the remaining foam can be removed to make room for other travel essentials.

We asked reader’s to tell us in 500 words or less how you would put the suitcase to good use. Julie Janes’ effort, written from the perspective of her Figaro car named Mr Plum, was universally deemed the most deserving, and certainly the most entertaining. Congratulations Julie, the VinGardeValise is on its way to you.

You can read Julie Janes’ full entry below (and above).

“My name is Mr Plum and I am a Nissan Figaro. I would love to enter your competition to win a nice new suitcase (especially if it can hold wine or bottles of water for me when I overheat a little bit!). I am 25 next year so old enough to enter your competition. I like going on car rallies with my other Figaro friends from the Figaro Club and this year I went to Scotland which was a very long way for a small car like me with a little eBay Tartan suitcase on the back that got very wet when it rained (it rained a lot in Scotland). You can see me ( Mr Plum) in the picture above with soggy suitcase. A new posh suitcase would be fantastic, and I would let my owners use a space or two for their wine bottles, and we weather gear!). Wouldn’t it look lovely on my lIttle rack on the back. i would be very very proud with such a nice case and it wouldn’t get wet!

“I can also show all my Figaro friends at the next car rally which is in Belgium next year _ and they would be very interested i’m sure! I could fill it with beers and wine! I think my owners like Merlot. They were going to call me “Merlot” but I didn’t like that name, so Mr Plum I am. I am also going to the Ace Café event in April so I could wear it then! And when I go on little journeys where i LIVE. 

“Well, even if I don’t win, I would be very happy to model a case for you, as I am quite retro and I think my chrome bits would look really nice with your wine suitcase, and when I’m not travelling I can put all my cleaning cloths in it. 

“Best wishes and beep beep from Mr Plum.”