The truth about wines

I welcome the reduced wine prices following Malta's accession to the European Union, at least when I stock up at a wines and spirits wholesaler, but I can't say the same when I dine out.

I usually like to complement a good meal with a nice bottle of wine but I don't like being ripped off. I had this experience once again at one of my favourite and one of Malta's top restaurants recently when I was charged Lm7 for a bottle of a popular Spanish wine. The following day I went to my wholesaler and bought the same bottle for Lm2.28, VAT included.

Now I ask, why is it necessary for a restaurant to mark up its wines by 207 per cent? There was no wine waiter, even though when there is, this is usually a name and not a real connoisseur.

I trust these restaurants are declaring these sales on their VAT returns and subsequent income tax returns.