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 Gone are the days when you could pick up a Gaja Barbaresco for $230 or a Luce from Frescobaldi at $160. The Maximum you can spend at the Delhi Duty Free Shop has gone down to $120 (premium Champagnes like Dom Perignon excluded).
This too for a relatively less known Spanish Crianza wine Matarromera 2008 from Ribera del Duero which is priced at $120 (Rs. 7700). (Wine-Searcher lists the average global price at Rs. 1400 for Crianza. Strangely, the wines displayed were Crianza whereas the price tag shows higher quality Riserva sells for around Rs. 2000 overseas. Take That! I wonder how many are made suckers every month.
 There are as usual, some other glaring anomalies in pricing where the wine costs more than the local market prices with 150% customs duty, varying excise duty and VAT of 20%. The ubiquitous Prosecco DOC from Sartori is priced at $26 (Rs. 1664) when it retails in Delhi for Rs. 1300. Indian made Chandon Brut Rose is priced higher at $26 (1664) when in the local market with excise duty and VAT retails for Rs. 1400 in retail. The Chandon Brut at $21 is close to the Delhi Retail Price.
Mouton Cadet from Rothschild is priced at $20 (Wine-Searcher price Rs. 1500) whereas the Cadet d’Or from South of France, retailing for almost half the price is also listed at the same price of $20. The hapless customer with no knowledge can be made to part with twice as much cash for the South French wine of much more basic quality. Incidentally, Mouton Cadet Reserve at $26-28 is a decent choice to pick up as is the Mouton Cadet from Bordeaux.
 Interestingly, just because Prosecco is getting popular, all of them at the DF shop list for around $20 or so. I chanced across the same label at the Doha airport where the choice is limited but the price was $12.43!! I saw Zonin Extra Dry on sale at a supermarket in Conegliano at €3.99! (Regular price is under €5.49).
No wonder, my head spins when I pass through the Delhi Duty-Free Shop and I cringe.
Incidentally, Gaja Sito Maresco red wine from Langhe in Piedmont at $60 is still a decent price, if you are looking for a good quality red wine. (Wine-Searcher lists at around Rs. 3000). And the last I passed through the section a couple of weeks ago, every product from Pernod Ricard was being sold at 10% discount, including the New Zealand wines-at least some incentive to pick up a couple of bottles of their higher end wines.
Subhash Arora |