I just wanted to let everyone know that I am auctioning off a wine domain.

CABSAUV.COM

Open to all bidders, just follow this link to the auction.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=110215929615&ssPageName=STRK:MESE:IT&ih=001

good article - you must have spent a great deal of time researching.

fixed price elements such as dry goods are a major factor. high oil prices are driving up the cost of many elements such as glass, paper, transport, etc. These can make a big difference to the winery gate price of wine, which translates to much higher market prices.

There is also a cumulative effect here in the UK. Many years of taking the pain (to be polite) and being forced to accept 4-5p duty rises, means that there is very little margin for producers. Duty is supposed to be a tax on the consumer, not the producer.

If you combine the two, and the prospect that Duty will, once again, rise, and this time probably even more substantially, producers are saying enough is enough.

Prices will go up. I don’t think it is really right to be marketing the wines on the basis of “stock up now before the rise”, but it might save you some money in the short term. The question is, will it last, so will it really make a difference, or will you just have to get used to paying another 50p a bottle?

I suspect these rises are here to stay for the medium term.