It strikes me that wine is much more expensive in the UK and the US
than in The Netherlands. Yes, we do have VAT (18,5%). But nevertheless
the price of the same bottle in the US and UK can be more than 50%
higher than here in the NL. Of course, shipping to the US costs. But
shipping to the UK should cost more or less the same as to the NL.

Lemme give two examples. A bottle of Primi Rioja costs less than 5
euro in the NL, and almost 8 pounds (12 euro) in the UK. A bottle of
Barros LBV port costs 10 euro in the NL and more than double or even
triple in the US.

Is this some kind of protectionism by the US, stimulating the sales of
'local' wines (Californian etc.)? Are wines sold for a lower price to
Dutch wine merchants than to UK and US wine merchants?

Hannes Minkema
Amsterdam, The Netherlands