Wine: The independent importers under threat thanks to Fine Gael

I wrote recently about the difficulties facing small wine shops given the predatory pricing in the supermarkets and chain stores. This week I want to focus on the companies that supply many of these shops, the independent importers.

In October, the Spit wine festival was held in Dublin featuring some of Ireland’s best small importers, the ones that supply the independent wine shops that feature here most weeks.

They and the shops they supply are under threat thanks to Fine Gael’s policies. These importers can’t supply the supermarkets due to the tiny margins and the fact that the winemakers they buy from often make small quantities.