Ditch the Booze Cruise for a Grands Crus Crossing 

Enjoy a wide selection of high-quality French wines and duty-free advantages by heading to Calais’ two professional and savvy wine merchants.

For wine lovers for who quality primes over quantity, then a trip over to Calais Vins and Olivier Vins & Compagnie, two of the finest wine shops in Calais and Frethun, is a must. Both boutiques are stocked with France’s finest vintages  – Pomerol, Chablis, Nuits-Saint-George…and more  – as well as French spirits and champagnes, offering a selection of more than 4,000 wines, beers and spirits across both locations. 

An on-site sommelier allows clients to indulge in a tasting or two at the bar while owners Jérôme Pont and Olivier Vermisse boast 25 years of experience curating a refined selection of wines in their shops. They have both built long-established relationships with French winemakers and family domaines from Burgundy down to Provence and the team even takes part in the Champagne vendanges every year! 

Guilt and duty-free shopping  

Non-EU residents wishing to return home with a bottle or two or even cases of delicious French wines benefit from a 15% tax return on their purchases. For instance, for a Châteauneuf du Pape sold at €72, customers who claim back tax end up paying €61,20. “With the duty-free opportunities when purchasing in France, the best savings are to be had on high quality wines,” explains Calais Vins. 

Both shops have partnered with Global Blue and Skipthetax allowing an easy and quick way to request the tax refund. Customers from Calais Vins and Olivier Vins & Cie start the process when they embark in Calais or Frethun at both the Eurotunnel terminal and the ferry port. With the full tax refund paid directly within 3-4 days. 

Free ferry trips for UK customers 

Thanks to a partnership with P&O ferries, the wine merchants are able to offer their customers free ferry crossings. A pre-order of €300 worth of wine entitles clients to a free day-trip ferry crossing, while an order of €700 unlocks a luxurious three-day getaway. 

P&O passengers can enhance their journey further with a complimentary bottle of Saint-Estèphe Château Serilhan 2018 when purchasing tickets for P&O Ferries’ club lounge. This exclusive promotion is available only to P&O customers. 

For more information, visit www.wine-calais.co.uk. 

Calais Vins 

Rue Gutenberg, 62100 Calais ; Phone: +33 (0)3 21 36 40 40 

Open daily from 09.00am to 07.00pm. On Sundays and French bank holidays from 10.00am to  

06.00pm. Easy and free parking in front of the shop.  

Olivier Vins et Compagnie 

CD215, 62185 Fréthun 

Open daily from 09.00am to 07.00pm. On Sundays and French bank holidays from 10.00am to  

06.00pm. Easy and free parking in front of the shop.