Wine Box: The case for a case

Snobby, elitist one-upmanship - or practical common sense? Class-conscious zealots might once have sneered at 'toffs' buying wine by the case, but ordering cases has, at last, lost its outdated stigma. Consider: eight for dinner and no wine in stock. That's maybe a dozen bottles - a lot to carry. Why not plan further ahead? If you, like me, detest the supermarket trawl and wail over the hernia acquired lugging bottles upstairs, you might enjoy buying wine on a larger scale. Choice has never been better and the bulk-buy market is littered with bargains.

Most merchants and good wine shops will advise on mixed cases, cases for drinking and for keeping, wine styles and wines to match the foods you enjoy. The dunce behind the counter is a rarity; trade training and product knowledge is good, and improving. Before you buy, check handling charges, transport arrangements and time taken for delivery. Here are a few wines worth testing. I shall be back with more case suggestions in a few weeks. If you're an irregular drinker, remember: a full wine rack is more attractive than an empty one.

Rosso Conero Riserva Vigneti del Parco 1997, Rosso Conero DOC (Laithwaites, 0870 444 8383, £11.79 bottle, £139.95 case). Voluptuous, dark, juicy, if a little pricy, Italian from the acclaimed 1997 vintage. Hand-picked, single-vineyard Montepulciano grapes matured in a combination of barrique and French oak barrels create heady cherry, plum and dark chocolate flavours in this classy red. No easy pick for big-red novices but well worth chucking into a mixed case - something Laithwaites is good at. Take the good advice you will be offered. Lots of other dynamic and unusual wines like this on its lists. Worth checking out.

New World Classics Case (Balls Brothers, 020 7739 1642, £96.50). A terrific cross-section of top-flight New World winemaking at a good price. Case consists of three bottles each of: vibrant, herbaceous Allan Scott Sauvignon Blanc, 2000 (white, New Zealand), spicy, ripe Mitchell Peppertree Vineyard Shiraz, 1999 (red, Australia), rich, brooding CK Vineyards Zinfandel, 1999/2000 (red, California) and robust and gutsy Longridge Bay View Pinotage, 1999 (red, South Africa). Diverse, powerful selection.

Young's Brewery (020 8875 7008; www.youngs.co.uk) is nifty at case mixing. Three bottles each of these will give a good winter-red selection. Rich, soft Merlot Cabernet 2000 Domaine la Condamine l'Ev?que (£5.75); intense, savoury Savigny les Beaune 1998 Vieilles Vignes, Domaine Claude Marechal (£12); potent, peppery Pinehurst Pinotage 1999 (£5.95); ripe, fruity Gigondas Domaine Raspail-Ay 1998 (£9.45). Free delivery for orders over £85. Wines can be sent to nearest Young's pub free for collection.