Naked, I plunged …

[kernelbogey]

I'd say the British wine drinkers are already a minority.

I disagree: I think supermarket availability (+foreign travel) has democratised wine drinking - albeit at the cheaper end of the market. (So maybe fine/middle range wine drinkers are a minority.)

[french frank]

I disagree: I think supermarket availability (+foreign travel) has democratised wine drinking - albeit at the cheaper end of the market. (So maybe fine/middle range wine drinkers are a minority.)

I'd have to look back and check what I said earlier . My feeling is that in this country a larger percentage of wine drinkers are 'fine wine drinkers' than in wine-producing countries where wine drinking is more matter of course; and good cheap wine is also readily available - both in supermarkets and locally produced 'vins ordinaires' in rural areas. I don't mean that the majority of wine drinkers here choose those legendary 'fine wines' over supermarket plonk.

It isn't my experience that the UK has become a predominantly wine drinking country just because they now have access to supermarket wines. If one goes to a pub (which I don't), do the majority choose wine/the grape over other drinks?

[kernelbogey]

If one goes to a pub (which I don't), do the majority choose wine/the grape over other drinks?

Not the majority - I merely contend that the balance has shifted hugely (although of course that depends on what pub you go to ).

[Barbirollians]

I tried them once . Found the wines ordinary and forgettable, They previously had owned Majestic Wines and did not do it any favours. It is recovering under new owners.

The Wine Society is excellent and supports lots of smaller producers - Laithwaites also has lots of very ordinary wines .

[french frank]

I tried them once . Found the wines ordinary and forgettable, They previously had owned Majestic Wines and did not do it any favours.

Other way round: Majestic bought Naked Wines.

It is recovering under new owners.

According to the FT, both are now doing better.

The Wine Society is excellent and supports lots of smaller producers - Laithwaites also has lots of very ordinary wines .

I hold no special brief for NW: I just thought I'd try them as I was given a handsome voucher. Case of my own pick arrives tomorrow. Allegedly.

[Barbirollians]

The CEO of Naked Wines became the CEO of Majestic as I recall.

[french frank]

The CEO of Naked Wines became the CEO of Majestic as I recall.

True. It still isn't true to say that "Naked Wines had owned Majestic" when it was Majestic which bought the, smaller, Naked Wines (for £70m according to Wiki). As I read it, the match was considered a good one for Majestic because they were mainly store-based and NW were online. MW wanted to expand its online operation and they chose to appoint the NW CEO as their new CEO.

As Wiki explains it: "In 2019, Majestic announced that the business would be restructured. The 'Majestic' business, including the 200 stores, brand, Calais and on-trade arms, was sold to private equity firm Fortress for £95m. Fortress re-hired John Colley as Chief Executive. Majestic Wines PLC was renamed to Naked Wines. Effectively, the previous shareholders of Majestic became shareholders of Naked Wines, and the Majestic business gained new shareholders."

But, as I say, the proof of the pudding … I chose 4 cheapish young wines and I'm not expecting them to be the best I've ever tasted, but at the price I paid (courtesy of BT!) including delivery to my door, I doubt I shall be as disappointed as you have been . 'Blessed is he that expecteth nothing, for he shall not be disappointed.'

[Barbirollians]

True. It still isn't true to say that "Naked Wines had owned Majestic" when it was Majestic which bought the, smaller, Naked Wines (for £70m according to Wiki). As I read it, the match was considered a good one for Majestic because they were mainly store-based and NW were online. MW wanted to expand its online operation and they chose to appoint the NW CEO as their new CEO.

As Wiki explains it: "In 2019, Majestic announced that the business would be restructured. The 'Majestic' business, including the 200 stores, brand, Calais and on-trade arms, was sold to private equity firm Fortress for £95m. Fortress re-hired John Colley as Chief Executive. Majestic Wines PLC was renamed to Naked Wines. Effectively, the previous shareholders of Majestic became shareholders of Naked Wines, and the Majestic business gained new shareholders."

But, as I say, the proof of the pudding … I chose 4 cheapish young wines and I'm not expecting them to be the best I've ever tasted, but at the price I paid (courtesy of BT!) including delivery to my door, I doubt I shall be as disappointed as you have been . 'Blessed is he that expecteth nothing, for he shall not be disappointed.'

In reality it operated as a reverse takeover. Naked wines's methods were imported into Majestic and the quality of the wines sank . Thankfully , Majestic is on the way back up if nowhere near the great retailer it was in the 1980s and 1990s.

[french frank]

In reality it operated as a reverse takeover. Naked wines's methods were imported into Majestic and the quality of the wines sank . Thankfully , Majestic is on the way back up if nowhere near the great retailer it was in the 1980s and 1990s.

Just don't blame NW for being taken over! It seems the respective consumer bases of the two companies were a bad fit, Majestic a High Street retailer, NW an innovative business style closer to a 'cooperative'.

So Majestic, having bought NW, has now sold out to Fortress Investment. In the end we're just talking business finance, not the quality of wine.

[Barbirollians]

Just don't blame NW for being taken over! It seems the respective consumer bases of the two companies were a bad fit, Majestic a High Street retailer, NW an innovative business style closer to a 'cooperative'.

So Majestic, having bought NW, has now sold out to Fortress Investment. In the end we're just talking business finance, not the quality of wine.

I hope your wines are good but I don't buy Naked Wines model as a co-operative . They bought lots of ordinary wines and marketed them very hard with up front discounts and traps into repeat buying !

I would recommend joining The Wine Society to anyone - £40 with £@0 0ff your first order and the wines are generally excellent and interesting across all price ranges .

[kuligin]

I totally agree the WineSociety is to be highly recommended. There is a tendency to somewhat exaggerate in their marketing, and they seem to give a preference to wines with higher alcoholic levels, a recent Red Loire from Bourgueil was 14.5%!

But the web site and literature are helpful and the range is wide enough to satisfy most tastes, and the quality is higher and price a little lower than the competition in my view.

[french frank]

I hope your wines are good but I don't buy Naked Wines model as a co-operative . They bought lots of ordinary wines and marketed them very hard with up front discounts and traps into repeat buying !

Hope you have a good lawyer I've absolutely no problem with criticism of NW. I bought as a one off and have no intention of doing so again. I just like a life of adventure.

Can report on the first wine: a very young Pinot Grigio delle Venezie from Sacchetto which I had to accompany another adventure: trying friend Martin's panzanella salad (which I had never heard of) and in similar fashion I fiddled around with the recipe and ignored advice

The wine was maybe initially slightly roughish rather than soft (it was 2020), tangy and with a back taste of apple. On balance I think I just preferred the wine to the salad. And at a fiver, I'm not w(h)ining. When the whole case is gone, it'll be back to the Coop. Excitement over.

Disclaimer: Please note this is not in any way a recommendation (I don't do recommendations in matters of taste - people should do their own research).

[antongould]

Hope you have a good lawyer I've absolutely no problem with criticism of NW. I bought as a one off and have no intention of doing so again. I just like a life of adventure.

Can report on the first wine: a very young Pinot Grigio delle Venezie from Sacchetto which I had to accompany another adventure: trying friend Martin's panzanella salad (which I had never heard of) and in similar fashion I fiddled around with the recipe and ignored advice

The wine was maybe initially slightly roughish rather than soft (it was 2020), tangy and with a back taste of apple. On balance I think I just preferred the wine to the salad. And at a fiver, I'm not w(h)ining. When the whole case is gone, it'll be back to the Coop. Excitement over.

Disclaimer: Please note this is not in any way a recommendation (I don't do recommendations in matters of taste - people should do their own research).

well done ff and - I am ready to hide under the bed ...... Lady Gould and I both have £20 monthly payments going to Naked .... neither of us are wine experts and are lucky enough not to miss £40 per month ..... we even fall for their unsubtle marketing ploys like sticking a free magnum in our basket when we have made say 4 payments .... we are sorry and awash with shame and will only drink Bargain World sugar free cola until Sunday ..... !!!!!!

[french frank]

Lady Gould and I both have £20 monthly payments going to Naked

Crumbs, anton, you two must put it away! As a lone drinker I find a bottle lasts for a week. Good job the stuff I drink doesn't spoil

[Barbirollians]

What were the others like FF ?