I found myself with a small window of free this time past weekend and decided to make the trek across the border. I hit up Target and Trader Joe’s in Bellingham for a few necessities and thought it would be interesting to task myself with a project during my escapade. Now, I love a stress-free aimless meandering around Target as much as the next person, but there was a question that had been nagging me. I’ve always known wine to be cheaper in the US, but by how much exactly? And with the exchange rate these days, would there actually be any savings? I wanted to answer the age old question: is it worth it to travel down south for wine?
Keep in mind that taxes, tariffs and import charges play a big role in determining how much we pay for wine on either side of the border. It’s impossible to compare apples to apples. But here’s a quick snapshot of my findings:
| Wine | Target price ($U.S.) | $CDN conversion | B.C. Liquor Store price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Naked Grape Chardonnay | $6.99 | $9.13 | $8.79 * |
| Robert Mondavi Private Selection Cab Sauv | $8.49 | $11.09 | $15.99 |
| Trapiche Malbec | $8.99 | $11.74 | $15.99 |
| Apothic (Red, White & Crush) | $8.99 | $11.74 | $15.49 |
| Cupcake Red Velvet | $9.99 | $13.05 | $13.79 |
| DaVinci Chianti | $11.99 | $15.66 | $16.49 |
| Louis M Martin Cabernet Sauvignon | $14.99 | $19.58 | $29.99 |
| Santa Margherita Pinot Grigio | $19.99 | $26.12 | $17.99 * |
| La Crema Pinot Noir | $21.99 | $28.73 | $33.99 |
| Moet & Chandon Champagne | $47.99 | $62.70 | $64.99 |
* All in, this wine is cheaper to buy in BC
And just for giggles, I did the same thing at Trader Joe’s. For the most part, wines were cheaper at Trader Joe’s versus Target. They had a more diverse selection and their displays were far more appealing.
| Wine | Trader Joe's price ($U.S.) | $CDN conversion | B.C. Liquor Store price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chateau St. Michelle Riesling | $6.99 ** | $9.13 | $15.49 |
| Alamos Malbec | $7.49 ** | $9.79 | $13.99 |
| Apothic Red | $8.49 ** | $11.09 | $15.49 |
| Beaujolais Villages Louise Jadot | $10.99 ** | $14.36 | $21.99 |
| Oyster Bay Sauvignon Blanc | $11.99 | $15.66 | $17.99 |
| Bonterra Organic Cabernet Sauvignon | $11.99 | $15.66 | $19.99 |
| 7 Deadly Zins | $12.99 ** | $16.97 | $22.99 |
| Kim Crawford Sauvignon Blanc | $12.99 | $16.97 | $18.99 |
| E Guigal Cotes do Rhone | $12.99 | $16.97 | $22.99 |
| Veuve Clicquot Champagne | $46.99 ** | $61.39 | $65.99 |
** This wine was found at both Target and Trader Joe’s but was cheaper at Trader Joe’s
Now at first glance, you would likely say that yes, it is worth it to travel south to save a few bucks. But I completely disagree. When it comes to our hard earned nickels and dimes, I want to spend wisely. Even if I had time to spare, and gas to burn, I wouldn’t go to the U.S. to purchase wine. At least not at these two retailers. And there is one, big, huge, glaringly obvious reason why: CUSTOMER SERVICE. Oh….and supporting our own economy. But I want to talk about customer service.
I didn’t see a single employee in the wine section of the two stores I visited. No one stocking shelves. No one to ask if they would recommend a Rioja Reserva or a Cotes du Rhone. No one to ask if they’ve tried something I was interested in. This is not a big deal to some, especially those who know what they want and buy it time and time again. But I like to converse and question. Clerks who work at government B.C. Liquor Stores are always available and know exactly what is in their stores and where it to find it. Save-On-Foods stores that now have wine sections have specialized wine advisors to help you with your selections. And boutique private stores, well, the employees there are basically wine geniuses. I once had someone at Liberty Wine Merchants in Ladner tell me the differences between a Torrontes grape grown at 1,000 feet in Argentina versus 3,000 feet. I mean, really? That’s just amazing!!
I suppose it comes down to how you value your time and money. I might think differently if I were to spend more than 24 hours in the U.S. and know that I would be exempt of duty. But even then, it’d have to be for a bottle that I know I couldn’t get in Canada.
I’m not exactly a huge proponent of buying local. I understand the importance of it and have definitely put more effort into doing it the past few years. But when the local product (in this case: customer service) is so blatantly superior than that of its competitor (the U.S.), it’s a no brainer as to where I’m going to buy our wine for years to come.
