Naked, I plunged …

[french frank]

Having had three generous vouchers for Naked Wines recently (the latest £75 from BT, in addition to two free digital handsets), I thought I'd investigate and registered my voucher. I looked at what they had to offer (interesting) but didn't want to invest £20 every month for a regular splurge on the nectar of the vine, so crept away.

When I got a couple of reminders that I had registered my voucher (I knew this) but hadn't spent it (correct), I ventured a reply saying I didn't want to be a regular investor, thank you, and had a friendly reply explaining how to avoid signing up for that. So I did order a case (a Spanish albariño looks interesting), due to arrive on Tuesday. I realise that my £75 discount simply makes up the amount I would have saved if I'd signed up as an 'Angel', but the proof of the wine will be in the drinking. And I approve of their policy of supporting small winemakers. We shall see. The two free handsets will make up for being sold a dummy, anyway

[Dave2002]

Having had three generous vouchers for Naked Wines recently (the latest £75 from BT, in addition to two free digital handsets), I thought I'd investigate and registered my voucher. I looked at what they had to offer (interesting) but didn't want to invest £20 every month for a regular splurge on the nectar of the vine, so crept away.

When I got a couple of reminders that I had registered my voucher (I knew this) but hadn't spent it (correct), I ventured a reply saying I didn't want to be a regular investor, thank you, and had a friendly reply explaining how to avoid signing up for that. So I did order a case (a Spanish albariño looks interesting), due to arrive on Tuesday. I realise that my £75 discount simply makes up the amount I would have saved if I'd signed up as an 'Angel', but the proof of the wine will be in the drinking. And I approve of their policy of supporting small winemakers. We shall see. The two free handsets will make up for being sold a dummy, anyway

For a few seconds I think some might have been excited .....

I normally just throw those Naked vouchers away - but would be interested to know if the wine is any good. In the last few years we have taken to buying some wine directly from France - see Boursot - http://boursot.co.uk/ Seems there's now a UK based website, but I think the operation is still mostly run from France.

We used to enjoy going over staying a night or two, and then picking up wine on the way back. Also it seems that post the ***B*** word we are still allowed to bring back 24 bottles without having to pay extra duty, though the UK's position - like much of what BoJo says and does - is still "muddled" and "fluid".

[french frank]

For a few seconds I think some might have been excited .....

Really?

As I understand, I'm simply getting the (one-off) cut price offered to their regular investors. Next time I'd have to pay the full amount which would be less interesting. Just curious, particularly seeing an albariño on offer.

I think it's the regular contributions that allow them to support the small producers. So the vouchers are just introductory offers in the hope people will sign on - but they've had some bad press because people found they'd signed on without meaning to and finding they were getting docked £20 or £25 per month. I'm not that kind of wine drinker (strictly 125ml per day with my lunch).

[gradus]

I inadvertently signed up to Naked Wines using the £75 voucher and wasn't greatly impressed by the bottles that I received but didn't realise that I was 'saving' £20 a month too. Six months later I noticed that I had £120 with them so ordered from their range and the bottles have all been very good. Their method of scoring wines using members ratings seems to be reliable judging by the drinkability of the bottles we ordered.
NW is neither particularly dear nor cheap and their avowed aim of supporting small growers is laudable.

[french frank]

I inadvertently signed up to Naked Wines using the £75 voucher and wasn't greatly impressed by the bottles that I received but didn't realise that I was 'saving' £20 a month too.

I read some reviews where people said they had inadvertently signed up for a regular payments - much to their annoyance, so I was being a bit careful. NW told me there were some pre-chosen cases that were available for 'outsiders', or you could choose your own bottles, which is what I did: 6 red (3 each of two French ones) and 6 white (3 Italian, 3 Spanish). They were all cheap end, except the albariño which was £15 a bottle. The voucher knocked just over 50% off the advertised prices. Doubt I'll continue to buy there though as the biggest savings are - unsurprisingly - when you fork out a lot regularly.

[kernelbogey]

No experience of Naked Wines: but I find the Wine Society excellent value against all comers. (You have to join to be able to buy.)

[vinteuil]

No experience of Naked Wines: but I find the Wine Society excellent value against all comers. (You have to join to be able to buy.)

... yes, another vote for the Wine Society, a member for over fifty years - and whereas Naked is in the hands of a private equity set-up, the Wine Soc: is more of a co-operative ("Practically a charity!" as my pa would say). Something that shd appeal to fr: fr:

,

[french frank]

whereas Naked is in the hands of a private equity set-up, the Wine Soc: is more of a co-operative ("Practically a charity!" as my pa would say). Something that shd appeal to fr: fr:

Perhaps it's true to say that where the Wine Society is member-oriented, Naked Wines is wine producer oriented, a different ethic. "A winemaker pitches an idea for a wine at the company. If its in-house winemakers like the idea, they pay the winemakers a stipend, not dissimilar to an advance on a book deal.

Naked Wines then fronts the winemaker money to buy (or grow) grapes, along with access to winemaking and bottling facilities. And once the wine is ready, Naked Wines takes care of the marketing and distribution of the wines.".

The NW members are firstly investors, rather than consumers. Riskier, but the 'Angels' (like theatrical angels) have to be pretty keen wine drinkers to put their money behind these ventures.

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

Naked Wines adopts the Kleinesque method of spreading the tidings - by insulting potential customers with the use of the term “wine snobs”.

[Dave2002]

Reverting briefly back to the thread title, where has the habit of adding "Naked" to any topic come from in recent years? We've had programmes like the "Naked Chef" - yet another disappointment, and no doubt some other variants. In the past of course there was use of the phrase "the naked truth" - presumably to mean something of which our current PM is completely unaware.

[french frank]

Reverting briefly back to the thread title, where has the habit of adding "Naked" to any topic come from in recent years? We've had programmes like the "Naked Chef" - yet another disappointment, and no doubt some other variants. In the past of course there was use of the phrase "the naked truth" - presumably to mean something of which our current PM is completely unaware.

I'm not sure, but in this case I think it's something to do with cutting out some of the middlemen. Stripped down business, you might say. As for Alpie's complaint about 'wine snobs', their main target customer is supposed to be younger, possibly less experienced in wine-buying, but given confidence by the assessments of other buyers. People who are insulted at being termed (I think fairly jocularly) as wine snobs are probably aren't the target customer anyway.

[Lordgeous]

Uve tried tham and thought all the wines excellent. Didn't continue because I didn't imbibe enough! But would recommend

[gradus]

Uve tried tham and thought all the wines excellent. Didn't continue because I didn't imbibe enough! But would recommend

I think the fact that on NW you can see how many people endorse a particular wine gives confidence that it is likely to please. Its like buying on a wine writer's recommendation but better because of the number of votes recommending the wine in question.

[vinteuil]

I think the fact that on NW you can see how many people endorse a particular wine gives confidence that it is likely to please. Its like buying on a wine writer's recommendation but better because of the number of votes recommending the wine in question.

... more people like André Rieu than Ida Haendel.

Probably

.

[french frank]

... more people like André Rieu than Ida Haendel.

Except the people likely to commit to buying a case of wine (when they can get cheaper at the supermarket if they want wine) may not have the same relationship with wine as mass audiences have with music. I'd say the British wine drinkers are already a minority.

I'm with Lordgeous and gradus - worth a punt. And no, I probably shan't return, but the Minervois and albariño both look interesting and the case worked out (with voucher) at less than £5 a bottle. The other two I chose - a French Syrah and Italian Pinot Grigio look nothing special but they may be 'subsidising' the other two.