Buying wine online in France and Germany: the biggest shops

In the first two instalments of this column we stayed at home: first the Italian online wine shops, then the apps and marketplaces that operate in Italy. Now we cross the Alps. The reason is simple: France and Germany have some of the biggest online wine shops in Europe, with catalogues that struggle to exist here: Bordeaux, Burgundy, Champagne, but also German and Austrian labels. The problem is knowing what to expect on the other side of the border: who really ships to Italy, how much it costs, and what happens with taxes?

To find your bearings, just keep two questions in mind. The first: was the shop born to sell to the public, or is it a world apart, made of auctions and rare vintages? The second: does it have a site designed for Italian customers, or do you have to fend for yourself? You will find the answers below, shop by shop, after a short practical section on excise duty. We report public data and users’ voices, which should be read for what they are: individual experiences.

Shipping costs are indicative, checked in October 2026. Where there is no reliable source on delivery to Italy we say so: the check is done in the basket, before paying.

Buying from abroad

The question that always comes back: if I buy wine from a shop in another European Union country, do I have to pay duties or excise on arrival? For customs duties the answer is no: there are none within the EU. For excise the matter is more interesting, but for the buyer it is almost always a non-issue.

The European rules on distance selling of excise goods to private individuals, as described by the European Commission and by the Your Europe portal, put the burden on the seller: excise is paid in the country of destination, so in Italy, and before shipping the shop must register with that country’s authority and guarantee payment, usually by appointing a fiscal representative. It is not up to the person ordering.

There is also a detail that simplifies everything: in Italy wine has an excise rate of zero (the table of the Agenzia delle Dogane e dei Monopoli, reported by Fisco e Tasse, confirms it). It remains a matter of paperwork for the seller, not an extra cost for you. Spirits and beer are a different story, as excise does exist there.

As for VAT, since 2021 a single EU threshold of 10,000 euro of distance sales applies: above it, VAT is that of the customer’s country, paid through the OSS one-stop shop, while excise remains due at destination even with the OSS, as Il Sole 24 Ore points out. In practice: check that the price at checkout is the final one and that you are not asked for sums on delivery. If a foreign shop asks you to deal with taxes or paperwork yourself, that is a warning sign. This is not tax advice; for large amounts or regular purchases it is worth talking to an accountant.

Vinatis

Vinatis is the discreet giant of French online wine. Founded in 2002 in Annecy, it was taken over in December 2022 by the Castel group, a family-owned colossus born in Bordeaux. According to the investment bank that handled the deal it has about 5,000 items across wine, champagne and spirits, six sites and customers in almost thirty countries. Turnover is around 68 million euro (latest available figure, 2022).

For those living in Italy there is an Italian version of the site. On shipping the sources we found are not consistent: an offers portal speaks of free delivery above 150 euro with arrival in 3-4 working days, but the same page also mentions free shipping depending on the number of bottles. The real threshold can be read in the basket. From users’ voices, largely dated, come fast deliveries, solid packaging and a customer service that usually makes up for breakages, almost always blamed on the courier. Some users have reported doubts about prices (fair, but not always the lowest) and about a range that some find uneven outside its strong areas.

Best for those looking for a generalist shop, with plenty of French items and competitive prices, to fill the everyday cellar.

Millésima

Millésima is Bordeaux in the most literal sense. Behind it is the Bernard family, in the Bordeaux wine trade since 1928; the Millésima brand dates from 1988 and Fabrice Bernard, the fourth generation, has led the company since 2017. Turnover in 2024 was around 49 million euro, with 92 employees. In its cellars in Bordeaux it holds about two and a half million bottles, sells in over 120 countries and runs some twenty national sites, recently including Sweden and Croatia.

Its strength is the high end: great châteaux, special formats and above all en primeur, the preview purchase collected a couple of years later. Orders leave Bordeaux every day and the declared standard delivery takes up to eight working days, with paid express courier. We did not find a verifiable rate for Italy, so it should be checked on the site. We found few recent independent reviews, and we prefer not to invent a picture that is not there.

Best for those buying top-level Bordeaux, perhaps to invest in future vintages or for important gifts, and are in no hurry.

Twil

Twil (The Wine I Love) is an enthusiast’s idea, born in 2015: a site and an app that put producers and consumers in touch, complete with a virtual adviser (“Demandez au sommelier”) and tasting evenings for the most loyal customers. It presents itself as the first French wine marketplace. In 2021 the business press spoke of a catalogue of over 500,000 French labels listed and about 30,000 wines for sale, and of turnover more than doubling in 2020. We found no recent turnover figures.

On shipping to Italy and on rates the sources we consulted are silent, and useful reviews are missing: Twil remains the most elusive name of the group, interesting for those who want to discover small French producers.

Best for those who love hunting for small producers and are not afraid of a site in French.

iDealwine

The French round closes with a name unlike the others: iDealwine. Founded in 2000 by three friends who met at the Paris Stock Exchange, it has been online since 2001 and, since 2014, has been the largest wine auction house in France according to the Conseil des Ventes Volontaires. In 2025 it sold wine worth 58.3 million euro, with over 650,000 registered members and the site also available in Italian.

The part that matters to those living here is clear: for Italy shipping costs indicatively 19.90 euro for up to twelve bottles, with arrival in 3-7 working days (29.85 euro for express), with more time for the islands. Bottles stay in a warehouse in France with thirty days of free storage, after which a small daily fee applies. On auctions, remember that buyer’s commissions are added, and that bids are binding. We have not read any independent opinions.

Best for those looking for old vintages, rarities and bottles no longer on the market, or who want to compare market prices.

Hawesko

Hawesko is the German heavyweight. The Hamburg holding company was founded in 1964 and has been online since 1999; in 2025 the group closed with around 622 million euro of turnover (preliminary figures, down 3%), of which 193 million from e-commerce. Besides the shop that bears its name it controls other brands, including Jacques’ Wein-Depot, the network of neighbourhood wine shops (about 300 stores in 2017) designed for people living in Germany.

In Germany shipping is indicatively 6.90 euro, free from 24 bottles, with delivery in 3-4 working days. On shipping abroad the information we found is old and does not include Italy: before getting your hopes up, a direct check is needed. Users, in testimonials that are not very recent, appreciate the tidy site, the vast choice, the packaging and the advice; the paper catalogue delivered to your home is one of its historic traits.

Best for those who already know German and want German and Austrian wine from an institutional name, subject to confirmation of delivery.

Vinello

Vinello is based in Dresden and is a wholesaler and retailer of wines and spirits with a very wide international range and, among the options, in-store collection. We found neither a founding year nor turnover.

On reviews, to be read with caution, the picture is lively. Users recommend it for its choice and fast shipping. Some users have reported doubts about delays, unclear tracking, failed deliveries with local couriers and customer service that is not always reachable. Customers from the United Kingdom have complained of excise, VAT and customs added after the order: that is why the question of taxes matters, and we discuss it in the final instalment. From Italy, staying within the EU, surprises of this kind should not occur, but delivery to our country is not verified.

Best for those looking for a very wide range and who can ask for help in German or English.

Belvini

Belvini was founded in 2005, is based in Radeberg, in Saxony, and over time has passed to large groups: in 2018 Dr. Oetker took a stake, in 2021 Henkell Freixenet acquired the remaining 20% and became its sole owner. At the time Oetker came in, turnover was in the double-digit millions of euro, with no precise figure.

Those who review it appreciate the speed of shipping, the prices and the choice. Some users have reported doubts about customer service, with emails and phone calls left unanswered during a system changeover, and in one case a wine different from the one shown. We found no confirmation of the countries served or of costs to Italy.

Best for those who want a generalist German shop, with a big group behind it and prices generally considered fair.

At a glance

Shop	Size	Shipping	Best for
Vinatis	About 68 million euro (2022), 5,000 items, Castel group	Italian site; threshold to check in the basket	Everyday cellar
Millésima	About 49 million euro (2024), 2.5 million bottles	Up to 8 working days; Italy rate to check	Bordeaux and en primeur
Twil	Marketplace of 30,000 wines, turnover not public	Italy not verified	Small French producers
iDealwine	58.3 million euro in sales (2025), auctions	Italy: about 19.90 euro for up to 12 bottles	Rare vintages and auctions
Hawesko	About 622 million euro (group, 2025)	Germany 6.90 euro; Italy not verified	German and Austrian wines
Vinello	Dresden; economic data not found	Italy not verified	Very wide range
Belvini	Henkell Freixenet group; turnover not public	Italy not verified	German generalist

Our take

There is no absolutely right shop: there is the one that is right for how you buy. If you want an Italian-style alternative with French convenience, Vinatis is the most natural starting point. If your world is Bordeaux, Millésima is at home; if you are after bottles that no longer exist elsewhere, iDealwine is another story, as long as you read the commissions and auction rules carefully. Twil is for the curious. The Germans, from Italy, are a trip to be checked case by case: their strength is choice and scale, but on shipping to Italy public information is scarce, and it is best to write to the shop before trusting it. The advice for everyone: a small first order, after reading the costs and terms in the basket.

In the final instalment we move across the Channel and across the Atlantic, to the United Kingdom and the United States. There, between customs and Brexit, the rules change quite a lot.

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