GREAT WINES AT HARD DISCOUNT PRICES? IN ITALY EVERYONE’S UP IN ARMS - IN FRANCE, IT’S A RESPECTED CHOICE. AND WHAT IF IT ISN’T A SCANDAL FOR LITTLE KNOWN BRANDS?

Champagne under 10 euros a bottle, Bordeaux just over 3 euros: in France it is a reality that comes to life on a site that collects the best deals offered by the hard discounters in the country. Scandal? Not at all. It happened in Italy too, but it was immediately scandalous that important wines such as Brunello, Barolo and Amarone could be sold at “discount” prices... and what if wines at discount prices was not such an outrageous idea for the little-known brands? The site: www.les-bonnes-promos.com groups the cheapest food chain outlets across France. The Champagne sold on the site is Ph De Villeran, at a penny less than 10 euros and is offered at that price for five days, by “Franprix”, a hard-discount store that offers products at rock bottom prices, such as 2008 Bordeaux Rouge at 3.35 euros.