Alphabetical order by category - click the question
to go to answer
If you don't find the answer here, go to Contact Us (above) and email the appropriate
department.
Air/Rail Arrivals
I am visiting France by air/rail. How do I get my wine purchases
back home?
Buying
When I visit a vineyard, am I expected to buy anything?
What if I can't find a wine I like?
Can I buy these wines from my home?
How much can I save buying wine from the vineyard?
Driving
I have heard that the road traffic accident rate in France
is very high. Is this true?
Everyday needs and Emergencies
Where can I find information about shop opening hours,
post offices, banks and emergency help?
Holidays / Vacations
Can you arrange a holiday / vacation for me - can I book
with you?
Language
Do I need to speak French to use your lists?
Login
I have a password but how do I log in?
I have changed my email address. Do I need to update my login name?
I can't log in
Organic
Do you list any organic wines?
Password
I submitted your Sign Up form but have not received my password
I entered my password details but can't get in to Premier
Pages
I have forgotten my password
Personal Details
Can I see or change the details you hold about me as a member?
Postal Address in France
How do I interpret a French postal address?
Promotional Codes
What are the 'promotional codes' referred to on the Sign Up
page and why can I not make it work?
Property
Can you help me buy a holiday or retirement home in France?
Replies to Emails
How long will it take for you to reply to my email?
Sign Off
What happens if I forget to sign off from Premier Pages and
just close my browser?
Sign Up
I am having trouble signing up
I have signed up but I have not received my password
Updates
Do your lists change, or can I get all the information
I need in one visit?
Vineyards
Why don't you include the 'big name' vineyards in your lists?
Why don't you just list every vineyard?
You ask me to make an appointment before visiting your
vineyards. What if I just turn up?
Web Address
Why do I get a warning page telling me I have opened an
internal page when I go into Winedrive?
Why does your web address sometimes show as wine-drive.co.uk?
Wine
Your lists do not include my favourite wine/vineyard
Can you help me find a wine?
Can I check out which wines are on your lists before I sign
up?
What is the price range of wines on your lists?
I am visiting France by air/rail.
How do I get my wine purchases back home?
A typical case of wine will weight about 8 kilos, so you probably won't want
to carry several cases as hand baggage. If you are a WineDrive subscriber, you can ask the vineyard to ship to our collection point near Calais, then take a cheap day-return trip from just £15 to collect it later.
For more information, go to Question: Can I buy these wines from my home?
When I visit a vineyard, am I expected
to buy anything?
No. You only buy wines which appeal to your taste. However, our vineyards welcome
WineDrive subscribers because they are seen as genuine wine lovers who would
only spend their holiday visiting vineyards if they intended to buy at least
a few bottles. We are sure that given the choices our producers offer, you will
find something which appeals to your taste.
What if I can't find a wine I
like?
We think this is unlikely. Our producers are very knowledgeable and highly experienced.
They will understand your reactions and will recommend alternatives which may
not be on our lists. They will also be happy to refer you to other local producers
if they think their wines would be more to your taste.
Can I buy these
wines from my home?
UK Residents
You can only bring wine back to the UK from France if it is for your personal
consumption and you carry it with you. If you subscribe to Premier Pages, you can order wine direct from the vineyard from home and have it shipped to our collection point near Calais. An alliance with FerryCheap.com gives you day-return Channel crossings from just £15. Paying vineyard prices and even allowing for delivery to Calais means you can save from about £2 to £20 or more per bottle for acclaimed and award winning wines.
You cannot ask the vineyard to ship the wine direct to your UK address unless you have successfully applied in advance to HM Revenue and Customs for authorisation as an 'Occasional Importer'. Occasional importers are defined as 'approved to receive EU consignments on a one-off basis, or from time to time, in the course of their business.' The application must be made in advance and include written information about the consignment. UK duty must be paid in advance or guaranteed.
You will need to know exactly what you intend to import before you apply. Full details of the rules and regulations surrounding such imports can be found on the HM Revenue and Customs website, www.hmrc.gov.uk under Forms and Publications, reference number 204.
Some vineyards use an importer, in which case, you may be able to make an arrangement to buy their wines through that importer in the UK. You will, of course, have to pay any Excise Duty, VAT, handling and shipping costs.
USA Residents
As well as Federal limits, there are varying State limits on the amount of alcohol
you can bring into the USA. The rules will therefore vary according to your
port of entry. You should check the regulations effective at your return port
of entry while planning your trip and note any duty payable or other implications
if you exceed duty-free limits. At the time of writing, there were no limits
in New York. It is illegal to send alcohol by mail, so the only way to import
a quantity of wine would be to have the vineyard ship it via a licensed importer.
You would then collect from the importer or have it delivered to your address
covering any costs involved including Duty. You can find more information on
the U.S. Customs Service website, www.customs.gov, selecting Importing &
Exporting.
Canadian Residents can find Customs information on http://www.cbsa-asfc.gc.ca/menu-e.html
Other Countries
Many of our vineyards have access to wine importers in various countries and
may be able to arrange shipping for you. If you want your wine purchases shipped
direct to your home, you must check the relevant regulations with the authorities
in your country before attempting to import wine from France.
How much can I save buying wine
from the vineyard?
Buying direct from the vineyard can save you transportation and warehousing
costs, retailer's profit margin, marketing costs, import duty and taxes
(subject to the customs regulations of your home country). Compared to UK retail and mail order prices, you can save from about £2 to £20 or more per bottle of acclaimed and award winning wine.
You can find more information by clicking 'Lower Prices At Vineyards' link from the 'Travel News & General Information' button or the 'Buy Wine order from home' buttons at the top of this Page
I have heard that the road traffic
accident rate in France is very high. Is this true?
The authorities are tightening up on speeding and drink-driving offences to
try to reduce the accident rate which is one of the one of the worst in Europe.
However, this should be kept in proportion. Traffic volume is significantly
increased by private and commercial vehicles from other countries such as Spain,
Italy, Belgium and Germany. More than 4.5 million vehicles enter France each
year from the UK alone. If you obey the rules and drive according to the conditions
and within your own limitations, there is no reason why you should encounter
any road traffic incident.
Where can I find information
about shop opening hours, post offices, banks and emergency help?
The telephone number for emergency calls to Fire, Police or Ambulance in France
is 112
You can find information about Currency, Banks, Stamps, Post Offices, Shop opening times, Public and School Holidays, Pharmacies, Doctors and using public Telephone booths in our Public Holidays section from the 'French Lifestyle' or 'Travel News General Information' buttons above.
I have a password but how do
I log in?
Go to the Member's Login button
at the top of the page.
See also:
I have changed my email address. Do I need to update
my login name?
I can't log in
I have changed my email address.
Do I need to update my login name?
We use your login as your contact address for emails and our newsletter, so
if you don't update it, you will not receive any communications from us. You
old address will still get you into Premier Pages, but you are advised to use
the My Account and 'Edit Profile' option to update your details as soon as possible.
When you have done this, you must use the updated address to login as your old
address will be deleted from our system.
See also:
I have a password but how do I log in?
I can't log in
I can't log in
Do you have a firewall installed? It can sometimes prevent a browser going past
a login. Check if it can be configured to allow approved sites.
Have you entered the correct password? Your password has four digits followed by two letters in upper and lower case (with no spaces). Some browsers are case sensitive, so try using the correct case as shown in your original password notification. Also, check that you have not confused a zero with a letter ' o ' or ' O ', or an upper case ' i ' with a lower case ' L ' ( in some typefaces, they can look almost the same on-screen). Make sure you type your password rather than cutting and pasting. If you have forgotten your password, please go to the Forgotten Password link on the Premier Login page.
Have you recently changed your email address? Your username is your email address. You must use the exact address you entered on the Sign Up page when you joined winedrive.com, so if your email address has changed, try using your old one as the username.
If you still can't get in, go to the Contact Us page and use the Support link. We will test your password and get back to you.
See also:
I have a password but how do I log in?
I have changed my email address. Do I need to update my login name?
Do you list any organic wines?
There are a number of bodies regulating organic agricultural production in France.
As their criteria vary, it tends to be difficult to define exactly what meets
the standards you may be accustomed to. However, there are now many eco-friendly,
environmentally aware producers. Vineyards are turning to traditional production
methods or applying bio-dynamics. This includes eliminating chemicals or using
only materials which are environmentally friendly. About half the vineyards
on WineDrive lists use environmentally friendly techniques. They are indicated
by a green wine glass symbol. The producers will be delighted to discuss this
with you in more detail.
See also the 'Eco-friendly wine' page in our Wine section.
I submitted your Sign Up form
but have not received my password
If you live in the UK and have paid by cheque, you will not get password notification
until your cheque has been received by us. If you paid by credit card, notification
is automatic. This can be delayed if the system is busy or Internet traffic
is heavy. Please allow at least an hour or two. If you have not received your
password by then, send your email address and full name to Support here: CLICK TO EMAIL.
Do you use AOL?
AOL frequently blocks automated or bulk emails. This means that AOL users may
not receive the automatic notification of login and password. If you use AOL
and you think your messages from us are not getting through, CLICK TO EMAIL and send us your full name, date of registration and your telephone number so
we can call you if your AOL tries to block our reply.
What happens if I forget to sign
off from Premier Pages and just close my browser?
The system will 'time out' and automatically log you off.
I am having
trouble signing up
If you make a format error entering your email address, our system may reject
it. Also, if the email address has a spelling mistake, you will not be able
to login to Premier Pages unless you type your address with the same mistake.
If you cannot get the system to accept your address, make sure it is all in lower case, does not have any spaces and that any 'dots' and '@' symbols are correctly entered.
Certain information is required by our system as indicated on the sign up page. You must enter that information.
If you are still having problems, CLICK HERE TO EMAIL and send us full details so we can help.
I entered my password details
but can't get in to Premier Pages
Do you have a firewall installed? It can sometimes prevent a browser going past
a login. Check if it can be configured to allow approved sites.
Have you entered the correct password? Your password has four digits followed by two letters in upper and lower case (with no spaces). Some browsers are case sensitive, other are not. Try both. Also, check that you have not confused a zero with a letter ' o ' or ' O ', or an upper case ' i ' with a lower case ' L ' ( in some typefaces, they can look almost the same on-screen). Make sure you type your password rather than cutting and pasting. If you have forgotten your password, please go to the Forgotten Password link on the Premier Login page.
If your subscription has not expired:
Have you entered your correct email address as your login? It must be the exact
address you entered on your Sign Up page.
If you still can't get in, go to the Contact Us page and use the Support link. We will test your password and get back to you.
I have forgotten my password
Use the Forgotten Password link on the Premier Login page.
Can I see or change the details
you hold about me as a member?
Yes. From Premier Pages, go to My Account and use the 'Edit Profile' option.
Remember that your login name is your email address which we use if we need
to contact you and for sending your newsletter.
How do I interpret a French postal
address?
The French have their own standard layout for postal addresses which can make
finding an address in rural France something of an adventure. This is why WineDrive
Premier Pages give you exact driving directions. You can find out how to interpret
the address on the 'Addresses Explained' page in our 'Routes and Driving' section. A more
detailed explanation can be found under each wine region in Premier Pages.
What are the 'promotional codes'
referred to on the Sign Up page and why can I not make it work?
Promotional codes are 'special offers'
which give a membership discount. If you have a promotional
code, enter it in the box at the top of the Sign Up page, click "OK' and the subscription
price will change. The code must be entered exactly as it appears in the offer.
It may be a word or a combination of standard characters and numbers. There
must be no spaces or punctuation.
Please make sure the code is confirmed and the price has changed before proceeding, otherwise, you will be registered at full price.
If you have done all this but you think the system has rejected you or charged you the wrong amount, send your email address and full name HERE briefly explaining your problem.
Also, check that the offer has not expired.
Can you help me buy a holiday
or retirement home in France?
We strongly advise that you talk to an English or English speaking lawyer experienced
in overseas property matters before committing to any purchase. There is a saying
in France and elsewhere that when buying property abroad, the English 'leave
their brains at home'. We hear far too many horror stories of buyers who take
risks they would never dream of taking at home. WineDrive does not include the
sale and purchase of property abroad.
How long will it take for you to
reply to my email?
WineDrive's offices are in England and France. We work normal office hours.
We will always try to reply within 24 hours but please allow extra time at weekends
or during holidays. We do check our systems out of hours. If your request requires
some research, we may have to contact third parties which could take longer.
If submitting a Canada/USAssist form, please allow up to five days for a reply.
Do your lists change, or can
I get all the information I need in one visit?
WineDrive currently has more than 1,350 pages of information all of which are
subject to updating. Vineyard information is updated immediately we are informed
of any changes by the owner. Important changes are sent to subscribers by email
or included in our newsletter. Road/traffic information is highlighted in the
'Travel News Latest' page and detailed in the 'Travel News' section in Premier
Pages. Otherwise, you should check the pages relevant to your next visit to
France before you set off.
Why don't you include the 'big
name' vineyards in your lists?
The 'big name' vineyards are multinational corporations which produce wine in
large volumes for world-wide export. Their importers buy in large quantities
at discount prices and the vineyard is unlikely to undercut these agents by
selling direct. Also, we see no point in travelling all the way to France just
to buy what you can find in your local supermarket or store. However, if you
want to visit a major producer, we will be happy to advise Subscribers if facilities
are available.
You may find one or two names on our lists which are familiar. However, the wines they offer the visitor will be different from those exported in volume.
In the Champagne region, many global 'household' names are part of multinational corporate groups and operate shops with tour facilities for tourists, although some must be booked in advance. Others do not accept visitors.
Why don't you just list every
vineyard?
We have references for more than 6,000 vineyards and 8,000 wines. Some welcome
visitors, others do not. Some are part of very large corporate groups while
others a tiny, family concerns, selling to a small local market. The object
of WineDrive is to identify those vineyards which offer a quality product and
welcome the casual visitor, so you don't waste you holiday time driving around
France on fruitless tasting visits.
You ask me to make an appointment
before visiting your vineyards. What if I just turn up?
You may still be able to buy, but you are unlikely to meet the owners and get
the help and service expected. In a few cases, you may not find anyone available
to serve you.
Your lists do not include my
favourite wine/vineyard
We list hundreds of wines and types of wine from all over France, so if your
favourite is not shown, you should find a similar wine from one of our producers.
Alternatively, you can use our special wine search service called 'WineSniffer'
which is available free to all members. Go to 'Wine and Vineyards' (above) then click the WineSniffer link on the left
to read more.
Can you help me find
a wine?
We have a special wine search service called 'WineSniffer' which is available
free to all Premier Pages subscribers. Go to 'Wine and Vineyards' (above) then click the WineSniffer link on the left
to read more.
Can I check out which
wines are on your lists before I sign up?
Go to 'Wine and Vineyards' (above) then click the 'Wine List' link (left)
Why do I get a warning page
telling me I have opened an internal page when I go into Winedrive?
Your search engine has directed you to a specific WineDrive page by-passing
the master frameset which includes all site navigation facilities. To avoid
this in future, use www.winedrive.com
What is the price range
of wines on your lists?
Go to 'Wine and Vineyards' (above) then click the 'Wine Prices' link on the left
to read more, or go to 'Buy Wine Order From Home'.