Travel tales

Aoife Ryancontacted us about Fergus Mulligan's article last week about buying wine in France

We have bought wine in France since a pre-wedding trip in 2004 that saved us €2,000 against hotel prices.

I was surprised that you didn’t mention the Majestic outlet in the E Leclerc hypermarket in Cherbourg, which trades as Wine and Beer World. It is an excellent store with many well-known wine and beer brands that we are used to buying at home.

Also, there’s a great hotel called the Ambassadeur on Quai de Caligny, beside Le Mistral, which is very reasonably priced and spotlessly clean. We’ve stayed here every time we’ve been to Cherbourg, and it has never disappointed.

One final point: if you use Auchan regularly, it’s worth signing up for its loyalty card, as it offers great deals in store, such as two bottles of Martini for the price of one, when you produce your card at the checkout.

After seven trips in five years, we are huge fans of buying wine in France (our wine racks pay testament to that), and it’s one of my favourite trips every year.

Gerry Morrisseygot in touch after reading the same article

If you are as interested in quality as quantity in Roscoff, by far the best and most pleasant wine shop is Roscoff Wine Seller, just outside the port.

It is an Oddbins-style operation with many wines available for tasting and enthusiastic and helpful English-speaking – and in some cases English – staff. A vastly superior experience to a hit-and-miss expedition to a hypermarket.

It’s a shame you missed it.