Fancy saving £857? (17-07-08)

That's exactly what one lucky bidder saved when a 6 bottle case of Chateau Mouton Rothschild Pauillac 2002 was sold at auction today.

With its upfront and flamboyant style, this famous Cabernet Sauvignon is unlike its contemporaries. Well-endowed, powerful and rich, the monster-sized 2002 vintage is already regarded as one of the finest Moutons ever produced.

And, with a price tag of £1608 for 6 bottles, the cost is a bit of a monster as well.

But, with no reserve and a starting bid of just £1, it's you, the customer, who sets the price with Virgin Wines Auctions. And picking up £1608 worth of wine for £751 isn't to be sniffed at.

And you don't have to be in the market for Mouton Rothschild to grab a bargain. With hundreds of lots going under the hammer each week - and cases selling for under £50 on a regular basis - there are plenty of deals to be had.

So, why not visit the only on-line wine auction site in the U.K. right now and bid on a bargain. You've got nothing to lose!

Oh, and if you're after 6 bottles of Chateau Mouton Rothschild Pauillac 2002, another case is due to be auctioned starting at 2p.m. this coming Wednesday.

Rosé overtakes white wine sales (15-07-08)

Finally, even that stronghold of wine traditionalists, France, is coming to recognise that modern Rosé is a serious product. Shock! Horror! Rosé has even overtaken white wine in volume of sales in France!

Here at Virgin Wines, this comes as no surprise. Over the past 5 years, we have seen sales of Rosé rise by an astonishing 458%.

Modern Rosé is a totally different animal from the over-sweet, alcoholic fruit-pastilles of the past and has been re-invented as a sophisticated, elegant and fun wine. Quite frankly, Rosé brings a smile to your face. They're light enough to be enjoyed on their own or as an aperitif but with the extra depth that means they won't be overwhelmed by a barbecue, unlike most whites.

Don't be surprised then if, the next time you're visiting friends, you're offered a glass of Rosé. In fact, it's about time to discover just how delicious the new style of Rosé really is. Click here to see an assortment of Rosé wine and, while you're there, why not add a few bottles to your next case. I promise you'll be back for more!

You Ain’t Seen Nothing Yet (11-07-08)

Virgin Wines has always prided itself on using technology to provide you, the customer, with the best on-line shopping experience possible. And now we’re going even further.

We have upgraded the software that is at the heart of our site and will be introducing loads of new facilities over the next few months.

What this means for you is that the site will be much more tailored to your individual taste – your own personal wine shop, in fact.

Derek Hardy, IT Director, Virgin Wines said: "We've been looking forward to Blue Martini version 9.0 for a while now, so we're really pleased to have completed the upgrade on schedule. The new suite has some great new functionality which takes care of the minutiae, allowing us to really focus on making our service better both for the customer and for us."

Watch this space!

Wines of the Month Decanter Magazine August 2008 (03-07-08)

Two of our wines are featured in the "Wines of the Month" section of the August edition of Decanter Magazine.

The Landelia, Single Vineyard Malbec 2005 from Mendoza, Argentina was described as "A tasty Malbec that offers a pleasant surprise on the palate, as the nose is very dark and full of toasty oak. On the palate it is a far fresher wine, with plenty of raspberries, touches of blackberries and hints of fresh plums."

The Seghesio Sonoma County Zinfandel 2006, from California received the following review: "The Seghesio winery was founded in 1895, nine years after the family emigrated from Piedmont. Today it is one of the finest producers of Zinfandel and this, though not the flagship wine, boasts succulent, chocolate-dipped fruit."

Both bottles of wine were rated three out of five stars.

The Landelia Malbec is currently available from Virgin Wines for £8.49 and the Seghesio Sonoma County Zinfandel for £13.99.

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