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Independent Wine Merchant of the Year 2007

0845 194 7720

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Fine Wines
The Fine Wine Service provides easy and instant access to a comprehensive range of fine wines from the world's greatest estates. We are also one of the UK's leading specialists in offering the latest vintages 'en primeur'. Call or email our Fine Wine specialists for expert, helpful advice on what to buy, when to drink or any other aspect of fine wines.
Fine Wines

Storing your wines

All wines purchased from us can be stored in a 19th century grade II listed industrial building in Burton-upon-Trent. The temperature and humidity within the cellars are ideal as the metre-thick, red brick walls ensure a constant and steady environment all year round. Security is provided by heavy oak doors with the significant ironmongery favoured by Victorians along with state-of-the-art CCTV cameras that monitor every angle and corner of the building, inside and out.

All the cases are clearly marked with your name and address and only customer reserves are stored at this facility. Our current rate is £7.95 per case per year which includes insurance at replacement market value but for further details of charges and our full terms and conditions please see below.

We can also now offer a bonded storage service for all wines purchased from our pre release offers. The wines are stored in the same secure facility free of UK duty and VAT. Please contact our fine wine team for further details.


Storing information

Which wines can be stored?Charges and statements
How to put your wines into storageWithdrawal of wines from storage
InsuranceWhere will my wine be stored?
Premiere Member?Variation of terms and conditions

Which wines can be stored?

Only wines purchased from Laithwaites can be stored. Storage can only be requested at the time of purchase or when the second instalment on a pre-release wine is paid. We regret that we cannot collect wines for storage from customers' addresses.

Unmixed 12-bottle cases or part cases, if listed as such, can be stored. Please note that part cases will be chargeable at the full case rate. Certain specified mixed pre-release and fine wine cases may also be stored.

Charges and Statements

Rent and insurance will be charged at £7.95 per case per annum inclusive of VAT and is payable annually in advance.

The annual rental period will be 1st May - 30th April. Wine put into storage six months or less before the annual renewal date will be charged at £4.00 per case. Storage for part year in excess of six months will be chargeable at the full annual rate per case. No part year refunds will be made. An initial administration fee of £1.00 per case will be charged for each new case that is put into storage.

Statements and renewal invoices will be issued prior to the renewal charge date and will include updated recommended drinking times. All wines that are not requested to be withdrawn before the renewal date will automatically incur the following year's charge. Credit cards that were originally used to store the wine will be debited the relevant renewal amount.

You will be charged the normal £6.99 delivery rate for each withdrawal (ie a single charge for one or more cases). Charges are subject to review. You will be notified in advance of any changes.

We make every effort to contact you on an annual basis, to check whether you would like to remove or keep your wine in storage. We will contact you by writing to the last known address on our records. Follow-up contact will be made by telephone and again in writing. A final letter will be sent by recorded delivery. If we are unable to make contact with you, your wines will be sold at current value and the proceeds, net of costs of disposal and cost of storage accrued, will be credited to your account.

How to put your wines into storage

For pre-release wines, return your second instalment invoice indicating that you wish to store the wine and enclosing the first year's rental with your payment. Alternatively, you can telephone and ask to speak to a Customer Services Adviser on 0845 194 7722 who can make all the necessary arrangements.

For all other wines, please ask your Customer Services Adviser when ordering. Please remember that you can only put wine into storage at the time of purchase. You will receive written confirmation of every case received into storage.

Withdrawal of wines from storage

If you would like information on your wines at any time during their storage please call a Customer Services Adviser on 0845 194 7722 who will be happy to help.

To help you decide when to withdraw your wines, your annual statement will include an update of the recommended drinking times for each wine.

If you wish to withdraw some or all of your wines please call and ask to speak to a Customer Services Adviser who will make the necessary arrangements. Please allow 14 days for delivery.

All stored cases, including mixed pre-release cases, can be withdrawn only as a complete case and not as single bottles.

Wines will not be withdrawn or delivered from storage until all monies due to Laithwaites have been received and cleared in full.

You will be charged the normal £6.99 delivery rate for each withdrawal (ie a single charge for one or more cases).

Insurance

Your wine will be fully insured at all times. Claims will be met on a replacement value basis.

The safety of the wine in transit and its condition when it is finally delivered to you are covered by our normal insurance guarantees. Claims should be made within three months and will be met on a replacement value basis.

Wines withdrawn from storage after their recommended drinking times are guaranteed only against loss or breakage in transit. We cannot guarantee the condition of wines withdrawn after their recommended drink by date.

Where will my wine be stored?

Your wine will be stored separately from normal stock in a secure, duty-paid facility managed by storage specialists Vinothèque.

All storage records will also be maintained separately.

Each case is individually stored under your own customer number.

Premiere Members

If you are a Premiere Member, and your order qualifies, your two free wines will be delivered to you when you place your order. Premiere free wines cannot be stored.

Variation of terms and conditions

These terms and conditions are subject to variation. You will be informed in advance of any such changes.

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