Most of the wines on offer come from large producers who can easily afford to shift a couple of thousand bottles and get their brand name known via the publicity the vendors produce. But the small producers with say 15 hectares of vines will find it impossible to get any shelf space at a price they can afford to offer.
Some claim that the "foire" prices are what the wines should be sold at throughout the year, underlining the over-pricing generally prevalent. It is tempting to buy wines for special occasions coming up (such as Christmas and New Year), or to beef up your cellar for the years to come, but many experts believe you will not be getting any real bargains.
If you do decide the bottles on offer are worth the price, you are advised to look for wines with a good independent rating, such as Hachette, rather than the seller's "Coup de Coeur" rating, which probably means "we've plenty of this with a good profit margin".
The many smaller "caves" offer advice and more hand-made or specialist vintages at year round prices, dealing often with producers they trust to produce quality year on year.
Finally, don't forget that many local producers offer good quality wines direct from the vineyard or market stalls, with expert advice and a chance to taste before you buy.
And, of course, all in moderation.
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