You’re off in your summer season hols, disembark from the practice or the ferry in Calais and, for many vacation makers, you rush off in the direction of sun-drenched south of France. However… there’s a intelligent little detour that canny travellers know of — a cease in Calais that turns your journey into a part of the vacation itself. Welcome to Calais, the place your French journey can start not simply with a croissant, however with some wonderful wine, beer, and spirits to pop in your automobile boot – on the way in which to your vacation – in addition to on the way in which house.
One of the best wine retailer in France (most likely)…
For hundreds of years, Calais has been the gateway to France for British travellers. The port metropolis formed by commerce, warfare, and cultural alternate. Fiercely contested between England and France throughout the Hundred Years’ Warfare (1337-1453), as we speak it’s a spot of straightforward crossings and heat welcomes.
In recent times, it has additionally grow to be a savvy cease for wine lovers. With UK alcohol costs rising and responsibility constructions shifting, a cease off in Calais presents the possibility to purchase distinctive wines at refreshingly down-to-earth costs at two wine superstores designed with travellers in thoughts.
At Calais Vins, close to Calais port, you’ll shortly realise this isn’t your common wine store – it’s an unlimited cave à vin (wine cellar) on a grand scale – in actual fact the greatest wine retailer in France and the most effective (most likely). You’ll discover the whole lot right here – there greater than 4000 merchandise in inventory from elegant Chablis and zesty Sauvignon Blancs to easy-drinking reds, Champagne and naturally, loads of rosé for these lengthy lunches that stretch into night. For the intense wine purchaser, the cabinets carry uncommon property bottles that UK retailers inventory selectively and worth at a premium: Whispering Angel, Guigal, Louis Latour, Joseph Drouhin, Grand Cru Château Talbot, Mouton Rothschild, Lafite Rothschild, Domaine Trapet, Marcel Deiss. “In actual fact, we’re the closest wine store to Britain for distinctive grape varieties” says — Jérôme Pont, supervisor of Calais Vins.
However it doesn’t cease at wine. There are spirits from throughout France and past together with cognac, whisky, gin, and a cracking choice of beers too. And at Olivier Vins et Compagnie which is subsequent to the Le Shuttle terminal you’ll additionally discover an infinite choice of wines, beer, spirits plus a connoisseur grocery retailer. The identical 4,000-reference catalogue, the identical relaxed welcome — and the identical pre-order system at wine-calais.co.uk in case you’d like your bottles ready for you on arrival.
How a lot are you able to truly convey again?
Greater than most individuals realise. UK customs allowances for alcohol introduced again from France are beneficiant sufficient for a correct store. Right here’s what every grownup can convey house:
Beer: 42 litres per grownup (roughly 74 pints)
Nonetheless wine: 18 litres per grownup (24 commonplace 75 cl bottles)
Glowing wine, port, fortified or drinks as much as 22% ABV: 9 litres per grownup (12 × 75 cl bottles — or cut up proportionally with spirits)
Spirits over 22% ABV: 4 litres per grownup (5 commonplace 70 cl bottles)
The glowing and spirits allowance works as a shared quota — so you possibly can cut up it nonetheless you want, say 4.5 litres of Champagne and a pair of litres of armagnac.
Costs, VAT refunds, and the true financial savings
Costs are sometimes considerably decrease than within the UK — after which there’s the VAT refund on prime. Calais Vins and Olivier Vins have partnered with World Blue and Skiptax to let British clients reclaim round 15% VAT on their purchases earlier than boarding. The employees will stroll you thru it — it takes minutes.
“It was not the reply, to only give a ‘Gallic shrug’ to the brand new realities of Brexit. We’re right here to assist our clients. So now we may give them a tax-free voucher that enables them to reclaim the VAT as quickly as they embark in Calais. It’s vital, there’s round 15 % VAT that may be reclaimed on purchases from Calais Vins” Olivier Vermisse, supervisor, Olivier Vins says.
There are two methods to say:
World Blue — accumulate your Tax-Free Type on the until, then scan the barcode on the PABLO kiosk within the ferry port constructing (after customs) or within the Eurotunnel passenger constructing. Carried out.
Skiptax — obtain the free app earlier than you journey, scan your passport, scan your receipt in retailer, then scan the barcode on the departure terminal. The refund lands in your account inside 48 hours.
Skilled Recommendation with a Private Contact
What makes the expertise even richer is the staff headed up by Jérôme at Calais Vins and Olivier at Olivier Vins. You’ll get wonderful recommendation that’s sensible, unpretentious, and tailor-made, whether or not you’re stocking up for a fortnight within the Dordogne or just searching for one thing particular to convey house. Jérôme’s staff will information you thru the appellations, counsel meals pairings, and level you in the direction of bottles you merely received’t discover at house.
Don’t overlook the beer — severely
Right here’s what most travellers miss completely. The Nord-Pas-de-Calais and Hauts-de-France area has a sensational craft beer tradition that by no means makes it onto UK grocery store cabinets. Calais Vins and Olivier Vins carry beers from unbiased native breweries — brewed inside an hour’s drive of the store — that you just can’t purchase on-line or in Britain. This is without doubt one of the real discoveries of a Calais cease.
Among the many breweries to look out for: Brasserie 3 Monts from Saint-Sylvestre-Capelle, whose 3 Monts is a benchmark bière de garde. Brasserie du Pays Flamand (Merville), with the award-winning Anosteke and Bracine. Brasserie Goudale (Arques), whose vary runs from the accessible Goudale blonde to the hefty Belzebuth. Brasserie Castelain (Bénifontaine) with Ch’ti, probably the most emblematic beer of the Nord. And Brasserie du Détroit, primarily based in Calais itself, brewing L’Ascette — about as native because it will get.
Additional alongside the shelf: Christophe Noyon brasseur (Tardinghem) with the coastal-inspired 2 Caps, Blanche de Wissant, and Noire de Slacke; Brasserie du Goulot (Wimereux) and its daring La Baston; Brasserie Thiriez (Esquelbecq) with the normal Blonde d’Esquelbecq and Rouge Flamande; Brasserie des 4 Écluses (Dunkerque) with La Cunette and Bastion 14; and Brasserie Saint Germain (Aix Noulette) whose Web page 24 and Hildegarde have quietly constructed a following amongst French beer lovers.
Ask on the tasting bar. The English-speaking staff will navigate you thru types, strengths, and which of them journey greatest.
Excellent Draft followers — this one’s for you
In the event you’ve invested in a Excellent Draft house draught system — that intelligent Philips machine that chills a 6-litre pressurised keg to 2°C and pours pub-quality pints in your kitchen — then a cease at Calais Vins actually is a should. The store shares a full vary of Excellent Draft 6-litre kegs, and the financial savings in comparison with UK grocery store costs are, frankly, spectacular.
Take Leffe Blonde: round £38.95 in UK supermarkets (2026), versus roughly €23.50 at Calais Vins — and when you’ve claimed your 15% VAT refund, that drops to the equal of about £17. That’s a saving of over £21 on a single keg. Stella Artois follows an identical sample, saving you round £17 per keg after the refund. Even the premium choices — Kwak, Goose Island IPA, Tripel Karmeliet — are available in noticeably cheaper than at within the UK.
Every keg holds 6 litres, which works out at round 10.5 pints. At Calais Vins costs with the VAT refund utilized, that places your pint of Stella at roughly £1.79, and your Goose Island IPA at beneath £3. Not dangerous for a draught pour in your individual kitchen.
And right here’s the bit that makes the maths actually work: beneath UK customs guidelines, your beer allowance is 42 litres per particular person — which is strictly 7 Excellent Draft kegs. Fill your quota, declare the VAT refund on the terminal, and also you’re driving house with a severely well-stocked beer fridge at a fraction of the UK worth. You possibly can even browse and pre-order the total keg choice on-line earlier than you journey, so your order is able to accumulate if you arrive.
When you’re there — cheese, bread, and the total French expertise
Proper subsequent door to Calais Vins sits the legendary Philippe Olivier fromagerie — certainly one of France’s most celebrated cheese affineurs — and a bakery. Wine, cheese, bread: all inside just a few metres of one another and minutes from the port. There are worse methods to start out or finish a vacation.
Calais Vins and Olivier Vins are open every day 09:00–19:00, Sundays and French financial institution holidays 10:00–13:00 and there’s straightforward and free parking in entrance of the retailers
So this summer season, if you go by Calais with the promise of your vacation stretching forward, don’t simply drive on, cease off and fill up. After which on the way in which again, cease and inventory once more!
Discover out extra on the Calais Wine Superstore: calaiswine.co.uk
