There is still time – just about – to claim some free Sauvignon Blanc, courtesy of our friends at InterLoire.

All 18 wines in the latest Sauvignon Blanc de Loire Ambassadors project have been made available. Simply pick the three that appeal to you the most, email your choices to romain.priore@sopexa.com, and we’ll do our best to send you two bottles of each of the wines you’ve requested, for no fee.

If any of your choices are no longer available, due to high demand, we’ll substitute it for another one of the Sauvignons in the selection.

The offer is only available to UK-based independent wine retailers, so please make sure you include your shop name and address in your email.

The line-up

IGP/Vin de Pays du Val de Loire

1 Brumes de Loire, Caves du Haut Poitou  2 Ackerman, Domaine Ackerman  3 Petit Bourgeois, Domaine Henri Bourgeois  4 EARL, Château du Fresne  5 Jean de la Roche, SA Les Vins Drouet  Frères  6 La Marinière, SAS Les Vignerons de la Vallée du Cher  7 SCEV, Vignoble Cogné

AOP/AOC Touraine

8 Domaine de la Croix Bouquie, Alpha Loire Domaines  9 Pointes d’agrumes, Complices de Loire  10 L’Expression, Domaine de la Renne  11 Domaine de la Renaudie  12 Domaine des Corbillières  13 L’EléganteDomaine Pré Baron  14 AOC Touraine Sauvignon Blanc, Domaine Pré Baron  15 AOC Touraine Sauvignon Blanc, Domaine Joël Delaunay  16 Prestige d’Octavie, Domaine Octavie  17 Villebois Prestige, Domaine Villebois  18 Domaine Guenault, SA Bougrier

This is an InterLoire promotion through Sopexa UK. Information supplied will only be shared with the wine producers of the three wines selected and not with other third parties.

Visit www.vinsdeloire.eu and www.vins-de-pays.info for further information.

What happens when a Majestic arrives on your doorstep? In the August edition of The Wine Merchant, we find out. Five independents who know what it’s like to compete with a rather large and unwelcome neighbour tell their stories. It’s nowhere near as grisly as it sounds.

Also in our fifth issue: a close encounter with Gerry’s of Soho, a fresh look at Chablis, David Williams tracks down David Berry Green in Barolo, and a field trip report from Chile’s recent Pequenas tasting in London.

Plus there’s all the news about comings and goings in the independent sector (mostly comings, to be fair), the usual talking points and tittle tattle, wine reviews, a rather blunt assessment of the London wine fair, and another chance to claim some fantastic wines from the Loire. For free.

As usual we have updates from leading suppliers to the independent sector in our Supplier Bulletin section. There’s more free wine on offer there, but we’re not going to tell you where. Have a read through and you’ll find it.

That’s enough bragging and bold type. Enjoy the magazine, and thanks for your support.