Online wine retailers slash prices in January sales

Online retailers are leading the way in slashing prices for the January sales, offering up to 60% discount, while for the high street merchant it's back to business as usual.
 
Slurp, having just announced record sales over the Christmas period, is offering up to 60% on selected lines, while Tesco Wine by the Case is offering up to 50% discount on over 50 lines.
 
Other 50% off deals come from Virgin Wines and Laithwaites Wines, with Naked Wines, offering a free £50 voucher on a case worth £89.99 or more. 

Dr Jeremy Howard, chief executive officer of Slurp, said: "We can offer huge discounts, because we sell such a large range and we need to move on stock.
 
"We're offering reductions on wines of older vintages where we need to move to another year and also damaged label stock - a lot of people don't mind what the bottle looks like as long as the juice inside is good."
 
On the other side of the coin, Ben Stephenson owner of Hanging Ditch in Manchester, said he will continue running his multi-buy Christmas offers throughout January, but has no plans for a sale.
 
"We had really good sales over Christmas, so we don't need to clear any stock, plus sales don't do anything to improve business or maintain cash margins.
 
"A lot of people come into the sales in Manchester anyway, and we act as a respite from that, where people can just come in sit down and enjoy a good glass of wine."
 
John Hodges owner of Dorking independent merchant, The Vineyard said he has no need to clear the decks of wine because Christmas business was good.
 
"We do run occasional offers, but usually in partnership with the producer.
 
"As a rule we don't hang on to old stock, so we have no dead lines that we need to offload."
 
Online offers include:

• Tesco Wine by the Case - 50% on discounts on well-known brands such as Cordorniu 1551 vintage Brut at £42.00 per case as opposed to £84.00, making it an equivalent of £7.00 per bottle.
 
• Thirty wines are on offer at Tesco Wine by the Case, at less than £30 for six bottles - it includes the likes of First Cape First Selection Shiraz, at a bottle price of £4.74.
 
• There are some bargains to be had with Marks and Spencer offering up to 50% off bin-end wines online and top sellers, such as its Fleurie from the acclaimed 2009 Beaujolais vintage, which is reduced to £8.99 per bottle.
 
• Waitrose Wine Direct is offering around 25% off -  its bargain offer is New Zealand's Wither Hills, Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc at 33% off,  reduced to £6.32.