Decent wine in Patong?

[Dori]

Originally Posted by JudgeHolden

Is there any shop that sells decent imported wine in Patong? Being a big fan of that particular beverage, it has always been difficult to get hold of good wine while in LOS.

Sure, you can always get that overpriced bottle of Barolo or Barbaresco at the Italian restaurant around the corner, but that's usually even more expensive than at home.

It would be nice to be able to keep a couple of white Burgundy bottles in my hotel fridge on this November tour of duty...

wbr,

For my 2cs worth, I always pack 3-4 bottles per person (wrapped securly) from home when I travel. I have also been knowen to pack cask red as well, (4x4ltr casks). My wife & I are red lovers and always take what we like to Thailand from home. Without being a snob or high nose, we enjoy reds that are priced around the $15AUD price range. In Phuket town @ Super Cheap, I have seen the same bottles for about 1200BHT wich is about 400% mark up. It is always a risk with customs at the thai end, but you will only have to pay the duty on what you carry.

btw, If I drink white, I really like the Sam-Blonks from the Maryborough district (NZ'ers, please excuse the spelling ), this area seems to have the perfect soil and climate to produce the crispest, dryest finest, white wine.

And finally,, even some of Australia's chepest clean skins ($3aud) you can find that are opened NOW ready to drink, sh!t all over their international competition.

But hey, I am biased

on on

Bookie

[whuakito]

Originally Posted by nelsonone

I'm sure I've had a bottle of that Orpheus wine Sammy....do they export??

maybe I've had it in Italy....haven't been to Sicily though

yes Nelson, they do export it in the US. don't know in ozz, though.

[inthemode]

Envision wine shop in Surin has good wine for retail sale, also you can find some decent wine at Top's in the central mall. Also someone gave a link to Black Forest and they are quite good especially Italian.

Most of Carrefour wine I wasn't too impressed with.

Look at the south african sav blancs for whites with good prices they are a bit like the NZ one's but cheaper.

[keith67]

Originally Posted by Dori

For my 2cs worth, I always pack 3-4 bottles per person (wrapped securly) from home when I travel. I have also been knowen to pack cask red as well, (4x4ltr casks). My wife & I are red lovers and always take what we like to Thailand from home. Without being a snob or high nose, we enjoy reds that are priced around the $15AUD price range. In Phuket town @ Super Cheap, I have seen the same bottles for about 1200BHT wich is about 400% mark up. It is always a risk with customs at the thai end, but you will only have to pay the duty on what you carry.Bookie

The duty x10 if they are in a good mood or x15 or 20 if they are not and they will take them off you too, could become very expensive wine that you don't get to drink.

[Dori]

Originally Posted by wanttogobacknow

The duty x10 if they are in a good mood or x15 or 20 if they are not and they will take them off you too, could become very expensive wine that you don't get to drink.

Let say 8 bottles (x4 pp) @ $150 total, if I get caught and at worst the bottles are confiscatd, it's not that an expensive risk.

[Benjy]

No, you have to pay the fine - so you'll be paying $3000 or going to Jail, which seems fair enough to be honest, The Thai economy runs from taxes, a fair whack of it is on luxury items.

I'm sure that you aren't offering to pay the extra money that it costs in your country for the cheaper things in Thailand.

[Dori]

One year I did get pulled up. I had 4 x 4ltr casks of wine plus a box of 100 pre printed stubby holders (the wet suit type) I had made here in Aus for a party I was hosting. Customs were not interested in the wine at all and all I lost was 4 stubby holders, 1 each for the customs guys who searched me + 1 ea for their supperiors. All they wanted to know is where and when was the party so they could crash for a free feed. This was 3 years ago for my wifes 40th and our 12 annaversary.

[Dori]

Originally Posted by Benjy

No, you have to pay the fine - so you'll be paying $3000 or going to Jail, which seems fair enough to be honest, The Thai economy runs from taxes, a fair whack of it is on luxury items.

I'm sure that you aren't offering to pay the extra money that it costs in your country for the cheaper things in Thailand.

Customs in LOS are pretty fair, as long as your not too greedy and what your bringing with you is for personnal consumption and not for retail sale, they are fairly forgiving.

As for te thai economy running on taxes, hmmmm, I hope this term is being used loosley

[LivinLOS]

Originally Posted by Dori

Let say 8 bottles (x4 pp) @ $150 total, if I get caught and at worst the bottles are confiscatd, it's not that an expensive risk.

Totally not true.. If they want to they cn hit you with really harsh fines, not simply confiscate..

Originally Posted by Dori

One year I did get pulled up. I had 4 x 4ltr casks of wine plus a box of 100 pre printed stubby holders (the wet suit type) I had made here in Aus for a party I was hosting. Customs were not interested in the wine at all and all I lost was 4 stubby holders, 1 each for the customs guys who searched me + 1 ea for their supperiors. All they wanted to know is where and when was the party so they could crash for a free feed. This was 3 years ago for my wifes 40th and our 12 annaversary.

so you got lucky but that was also back a bit..

Originally Posted by Dori

Customs in LOS are pretty fair, as long as your not too greedy and what your bringing with you is for personnal consumption and not for retail sale, they are fairly forgiving.

As for te thai economy running on taxes, hmmmm, I hope this term is being used loosley

when the new airport started there were some tales of people caught with just a few 100 cigs over and having multi 1000 USD fines basically losing thier entire holiday money and having to return home early.. It seemed like a bit of a scam but I happened anyway