Wine fans swallow 25p-a-bottle rise

DRINKERS who expected their favourite sparkling and still vintages to rise by a few pence this month are in for a shock.

For supermarkets have increased prices by 25p a bottle – much more than the 9p to 7p rises outlined in last year’s Budget. The inflation-linked rise in wine duty came into effect from February 1.

But research by The Grocer trade magazine shows Tesco, Asda, Sainsbury’s and Morrisons have raised prices by 25p on hundreds of brands and by £1 on more expensive wines such as amarone.

Sainsbury’s said ‘prices are determined by a number of factors’ and can fluctuate.