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| WineDrive is in two parts. These pages are an introduction to more
than 1,350 pages which can be accessed using the Home link
above. If an answer below applies to main site content, clicking
MORE FAQ will take you direct to those pages. |
Frequently Asked Questions about WineDrive
Alphabetical order by category - click the question to go to answer
Air/Rail Arrivals
I am visiting France by air/rail. How do I get my wine
purchases back home?
Buying
When I visit a vineyard, am I expected to buy anything?
What if I can't find a wine I like?
Can I buy these wines from my home?
How much can I save buying wine from the vineyard?
Driving
I have heard that the road traffic accident rate in
France is very high. Is this true?
Everyday needs and Emergencies
Where can I find information about shop opening
hours, post offices, banks and emergency help?
Free Registration
What does registration do for me and how do I apply?
Holidays / Vacations
Can you arrange a holiday / vacation for me - can I
book with you?
Language
Do I need to speak French to use your lists?
Login
I have a password but how do I log in?
I have changed my email address. Do I need to update my login name?
I can't log in
Organic
Do you list any organic wines?
Password
I submitted your Sign Up form but have not received my password
I entered my password details but can't get in to
Premier Pages
I have forgotten my password
Personal Details
Can I see or change the details you hold about me as
a subscriber?
Postal Address in France
How do I interpret a French postal address?
Property
Can you help me buy a holiday or retirement home in
France?
Replies to Emails
How long will it take for you to reply to my email?
Security
I tried to sign up for Premier Pages but I did not see
any security message or padlock symbol. Is your Sign Up secure?
Sign Off
What happens if I forget to sign off from Premier Pages
and just close my browser?
Subscriptions
Why a subscription?
How do I renew my subscritpion?
Updates
Do your lists change, or can I get all the information
I need in one visit?
Vineyards
Why don't you include the 'big name' vineyards in your
lists?
Why don't you just list every vineyard?
You ask me to make an appointment before visiting
your vineyards. What if I just turn up?
Web Address
Why do I get a warning page telling me I have opened
an internal page when I go into Winedrive?
Why does your web address sometimes show as wine-drive.co.uk?
Wine
Your lists do not include my favourite wine/vineyard
Can you help me find a wine?
Can I check out which wines are on your lists before
I sign up?
What is the price range of wines on your lists?
Answers:
I am visiting France by air/rail. How do I get
my wine purchases back home?
A typical case of wine will weight about 8 kilos, so you probably won't
want to carry several cases as hand baggage. Some of our vineyards can
arrange to have your wine shipped but this is subject to certain regulations.
For information about shipping wine, go to Question: Can
I buy these wines from my home?
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When I visit a vineyard, am I
expected to buy anything?
No. You only buy wines which appeal to your taste. However, our vineyards
welcome WineDrive subscribers because they are seen as genuine wine lovers
who would only spend their holiday visiting vineyards if they intended
to buy at least a few bottles. We are sure that given the choices our
producers offer, you will find something which appeals to your taste.
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What if I can't find a wine
I like?
We think this is unlikely. Our producers are very knowledgeable and highly
experienced. They will understand your reactions and will recommend alternatives
which may not be on our lists. They will also be happy to refer you to
other local producers if they think their wines would be more to your
taste.
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Can I buy
these wines from my home?
UK Residents
You can only bring wine back to the UK from France if it is for your personal
consumption and you carry it with you. You cannot ask the vineyard to
ship the wine to you (or order more from your home or on-line) unless
you have successfully applied in advance to HM Customs and Excise for
authorisation as an 'Occasional Importer'. Occasional importers are defined
as 'approved to receive EU consignments on a one-off basis, or from time
to time, in the course of their business.' The application must be made
in advance and include written information about the consignment. UK duty
must be paid in advance or guaranteed.
You will need to know exactly what you intend to import before you apply.
Full details of the rules and regulations surrounding such imports can
be found on the HM Customs and Excise website, www.hmce.gov.uk under Forms
and Publications, reference number 204.
Some vineyards use an importer, in which case, you may be able to make
an arrangement to buy their wines through that importer in the UK. You
will, of course, have to pay any Excise Duty, VAT, warehousing and shipping
costs.
USA Residents
As well as Federal limits, there are varying State limits on the amount
of alcohol you can bring into the USA. The rules will therefore vary according
to your port of entry. You should check the regulations effective at your
return port of entry while planning your trip and note any duty payable
or other implications if you exceed duty-free limits. At the time of writing,
there were no limits in New York. It is illegal to send alcohol by mail,
so the only way to import a quantity of wine would be to have the vineyard
ship it via a licensed importer. You would then collect from the importer
or have it delivered to your address covering any costs involved including
Duty. You can find more information on the U.S. Customs Service website,
www.customs.gov, selecting Importing & Exporting.
Canadian Residents can find Customs information on www.ccra-adrc.gc.ca/customs/individuals/canadians-e.html
Other Countries
Many of our vineyards have access to wine importers in various countries
and may be able to arrange shipping for you. If you want your wine purchases
shipped direct to your home, you must check the relevant regulations with
the authorities in your country before attempting to import wine from
France.
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How much can I save buying
wine from the vineyard?
Buying direct from the vineyard can save you transportation and warehousing
costs, retailer's profit margin, retailer's marketing costs and import
duty (subject to the customs regulations of your home country). When we
checked the prices of 30 wines from 24 different appellations offered
online in the UK and compared them with our Premier Pages vineyards, we
found the online prices (including delivery) were as much as 488% of vineyard
costs. You can find more information by clicking 'Lower Prices At Vineyards'
link from the winedrive.com Home Page, MAIN
SITE.
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I have heard that the road
traffic accident rate in France is very high. Is this true?
The authorities are tightening up on speeding and drink-driving offences
to try to reduce the accident rate which is one of the worst in Europe.
However, this should be kept in proportion. Traffic volume is significantly
increased by private and commercial vehicles from other countries such
as Spain, Italy, Belgium and Germany. More than 4.5 million vehicles enter
France each year from the UK alone. If you obey the rules and drive according
to the conditions and within your own limitations, there is no reason
why you should encounter any road traffic incident.
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Where can I find information
about shop opening hours, post offices, banks and emergency help?
The telephone number for emergency calls to Fire, Police or Ambulance
in France is 112
You can find information about Currency, Banks, Stamps, Post Offices,
Shop opening times, Public and School Holidays, Pharmacies, Doctors and
using public Telephone booths in our Public Holidays section (main menu
- left)
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What does registration do for
me and how do I apply?
You can apply to register free from the Register Free link in the Home Page
sub-menu (MAIN
SITE). Once registered, you will receive lists of road works and possible
travel delays by e-mail as soon as we receive them, together with wine news
headlines. Some e-mail management systems refuse grouped e-mails. Also,
we are aware of reports that AOL blocks certain e-mail even if it is authorised.
You can opt out of receiving emails at any time using the link on each email
or by going to our Opt-Out page under 'Terms & Conditions'.
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Can you arrange a holiday /
vacation for me - can I book with you?
Go to our Holiday Rentals, Gîtes and Hotels section and you will find
information and links for booking rental property and hotels in France.
Winedrive provides all the information and links you need to choose the
vineyards, plan your route and book ferry crossings and accommodation.
We do not sell holiday packages or tours.
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Do I need to speak French
to use your lists?
Most of our producers speak English and some also speak German. Our lists
show the languages spoken so it is easy to spot a potential language problem
while you are planning.
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I have a password but
how do I log in?
Go to the Premier Login button on the top menu bar (under the vineyard
picture at the top of the page - MAIN
SITE).
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I have changed my email
address. Do I need to update my login name?
We use your login as your contact address for emails and our newsletter,
so if you don't update it, you will not receive any communications from
us. You old address will still get you into Premier Pages, but you are
advised to use the My Account and 'Edit Profile' option to update your
details as soon as possible. (MAIN
SITE)
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I can't log in
Has your subscription to Premier Pages expired? Subscriptions last for
twelve months from the date your payment is received by us. If so, you
will need to go to the Sign-up page and take out a new subscription.
If your subscription has not expired:
Have you entered your correct email address as your login? It must be
the exact address you entered on your Sign Up page.
Have you entered the correct password? Your password has four digits
followed by two letters in upper and lower case (with no spaces). Some
browsers are case sensitive, other are not. Try both. Also, check that
you have not confused a zero with a letter ' o ' or ' O ', or an upper
case ' i ' with a lower case ' L ' ( in some typefaces, they can look
almost the same on-screen). Make sure you type your password rather than
cutting and pasting.
Do you have a firewall installed? It can sometimes prevent a browser
going past a login.
If you still can't get in, go to the Contact Us page and use the Support
link (MAIN
SITE). We will test your password and get back to you.
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Do you list any organic wines?
There are a number of bodies regulating organic agricultural production
in France. As their criteria vary, it tends to be difficult to define
exactly what meets the standards you may be accustomed to. However, there
are now many eco-friendly, environmentally aware producers. Vineyards
are turning to traditional production methods or applying bio-dynamics.
This includes eliminating chemicals or using only materials which are
environmentally friendly. About half the vineyards on WineDrive lists
use environmentally friendly techniques. They are indicated by a green
wine glass symbol. The producers will be delighted to discuss this with
you in more detail.
See also the 'Eco-friendly wine' page in our Wine section of our MAIN
SITE.
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I submitted your Sign
Up form but have not received my password
If you live in the UK and have paid by cheque, you will not get password
notification until your cheque has been received by us. If you paid by
credit card, notification is automatic. This can be delayed if the system
is busy or Internet traffic is heavy. Please allow at least an hour or
two. If you have not received your password by then, use the 'support'
link on the Contact Us page
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What happens if I forget
to sign off from Premier Pages and just close my browser?
The system will 'time out' and automatically log you off.
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Why a subscription?
Please see the 'Subscriptions' page on Premier Pages menu, MAIN
SITE
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How do I renew
my subscritpion?
Go to the 'My Account' section in Premier Pages and select 'Renew Subscription'
(MAIN
SITE). Your subscription expiry date always appears in the Welcome
back message at the top of your Premier Pages window.
If your subscription has already expired, you will not be
able to access Premeir Pages. Go to the 'Sign Up' page and follow the
on-scren sign up and payment proceedure.
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I entered my password details
but can't get in to Premier Pages
Have you entered your correct email address as your login? It must be
the exact address you entered on your Sign Up page.
Have you entered the correct password?
Your password has four digits followed by two letters in upper and lower
case (with no spaces). Some browsers are case sensitive, other are not.
Try both. Also, check that you have not confused an upper case ' i ' with
a lower case ' L ' ( in a sans-serif typeface such as Arial, Helvetica
or Verdana, they appear on screen as I and l ) or a zero with a letter
'o' or "O". Make sure you type your password rather than cutting
and pasting.
Do you have a firewall installed? It can sometimes prevent a browser
going past a login.
If you still can't get in, go to the Contact Us page and use the Support
link. We will test your password and get back to you.
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I have forgotten my
password
Use the Forgotten Password link on the login page.
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Can I see or change the details
you hold about me as a subscriber?
Yes. From Premier Pages (on our MAIN
SITE), go to My Account and use the 'Edit Profile' option. Remember
that your login name is your email address which we use if we need to
contact you and for sending your newsletter.
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How do I interpret a French
postal address?
The French have their own standard layout for postal addresses which can
make finding an address in rural France something of an adventure. This
is why WineDrive Premier Pages give you exact driving directions. You
can find out how to interpret the address on the 'Addresses Explained'
page in our Routes section. A more detailed explanation can be found under
each wine region in Premier Pages.
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Can you help me buy a holiday
or retirement home in France?
We strongly advise that you talk to an English or English speaking lawyer
experienced in overseas property matters before committing to any purchase.
There is a saying in France and elsewhere that when buying property abroad,
the English 'leave their brains at home'. We hear far too many horror stories
of buyers who take risks they would never dream of taking at home. WineDrive
does not include the sale and purchase of property abroad.
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How long will it take for you
to reply to my email?
WineDrive's offices are in England and France. We work normal office hours.
We will always try to reply within 24 hours but please allow extra time
at weekends or during holidays. We do check our systems out of hours.
If your request requires some research, we may have to contact third parties
which could take longer. If submitting a Canada/USAssist form, please
allow up to five days for a reply.
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I tried to sign up for Premier
Pages but I did not see any security message or padlock symbol. Is your
Sign Up secure?
The information you enter on the Sign Up page is the only information
we hold. You can update or change this any time using the My Account and
'Edit Profile' option in Premier Pages. If you opt to pay by credit card,
you are immediately transferred to the WorldPay secure system where you
will see the security confirmations and symbols before being invited to
enter you credit card details.
If you live in the UK and opt to pay by cheque, you do not enter any
payment details on screen. You will see a form which you print off and
mail to us.
Further information about WorldPay and security can be found under 'On-Line
Payments' in the About menu on our MAIN
SITE
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Do your lists change,
or can I get all the information I need in one visit?
WineDrive currently has more than 1,350 pages of information all of which
are subject to updating. Vineyard information is updated immediately we
are informed of any changes by the owner. Important changes are sent to
subscribers by email or included in our newsletter. Road/traffic information
is highlighted in the 'Travel News Latest' page and detailed in the 'Travel
News' section in Premier Pages. Otherwise, you should check the pages
relevant to your next visit to France before you set off.
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Why don't you include the
'big name' vineyards in your lists?
The 'big name' vineyards are multinational corporations which produce
wine in large volumes for world-wide export. Their importers buy in large
quantities at discount prices and the vineyard is unlikely to undercut
these agents by selling direct. Also, we see no point in travelling all
the way to France just to buy what you can find in your local supermarket
or store. However, if you want to visit a major producer, we will be happy
to advise Subscribers if facilities are available.
You may find one or two names on our lists which are familiar. However,
the wines they offer the visitor will be different from those exported
in volume.
In the Champagne region, many global 'household' names are part of multinational
corporate groups and operate shops with tour facilities for tourists,
although some must be booked in advance. Others do not accept visitors.
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Why don't you just
list every vineyard?
We have references for more than 6,000 vineyards and 8,000 wines. Some
welcome visitors, others do not. Some are part of very large corporate
groups while others a tiny, family concerns, selling to a small local
market. The object of WineDrive is to identify those vineyards which offer
a quality product and welcome the casual visitor, so you don't waste you
holiday time driving around France on fruitless tasting visits.
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You ask me to make an
appointment before visiting your vineyards. What if I just turn up?
You may still be able to buy, but you are unlikely to meet the owners
and get the help and service expected. In a few cases, you may not find
anyone available to serve you.
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Your lists do not include
my favourite wine/vineyard
We list hundreds of wines and types of wine from all over France, so if
your favourite is not shown, you should find a similar wine from one of
our producers. Alternatively, you can use our special wine search service
called 'WineSniffer' which is available free to all Premier Pages subscribers.
Use the WineSniffer link on the left to read more.
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Can you help
me find a wine?
We have a special wine search service called 'WineSniffer' which is available
free to all Premier Pages subscribers. Use the WineSniffer link on the
left to read more.
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Can I check
out which wines are on your lists before I sign up?
Please see the 'Wine List' page on the Wine or Premier Pages menu on our
MAIN
SITE
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Why do I get a warning
page telling me I have opened an internal page when I go into Winedrive?
Your search engine has directed you to a specific WineDrive page by-passing
the master frameset which includes all site navigation facilities. To
avoid this in future, use www.winedrive.com
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Why does your web address
sometimes show as wine-drive.co.uk?
We use a number of domain names (web addresses) and our site uses more than
one server. The best route to WineDrive is to use www.winedrive.com
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What is the price
range of wines on your lists?
Please see the 'Wine Prices' page on the Wine or Premier Pages menus on
our MAIN
SITE
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