Austrian glassware specialists Riedel invite you to join owner and namesake George Riedel and Angelo Gaja for an evening of wine tasting at Bankside’s Vinopolis

Daydreaming about the Mediterranean again; we’ll find any excuse to open a bottle of our favourite Côtes de Provence rosé.

In truth, the event will please anyone with an interest in wine, not just those who have sat basting in beads of their own sweat whilst studying the wine list on dates of yore. Thierry is a character as well as an expert and the private dining room at Angelus is a relaxing environment. Thierry famously considers sommeliers as ‘salesmen of pleasure” and the food, wine and conversation at the press dinner suggest he at least is living up to his own billing.

If you’re all set for food this Xmas but a bit unsure about the wines, Alan Kingsbury has got into the booze early and recommends trying some different grape varieties in order to bring a bit of novelty and cheer to your table this year

Forget the wacky races of Beaujolais Nouveau, says Alan Kingsbury,instead go for the Beaujolais Crus as he did by tasting six of the best to be found.

Named after a town in California, Zinfandel is a characteristic grape variety of the U.S.A with its early ripening fruit producing a juice with relatively high sugar levels. This means that the resulting red wines are rich and powerful and ones that will appeal strongly to all those with a taste for the New World.

2009 was a good year in Fitou. There could be more concentration in the fruit but the winemakers here have clearly gone for elegance and balance; more charm than power, serving as a reminder that wines from the south are working towards comparison with their classic counterparts further north.

We all want to drink responsibly but that doesn’t just mean simply not getting hammered. We should all be drinking wines that are local, so as to cut the carbon footprint, and wines that are well priced, to cut the shopping bills. Welcome to Bordeaux.

The Meat & Wine Co is delighted to announce that its recently launched wine club, The Meet & Wine Club, will be holding it’s third meeting Tuesday 1st September 2009. CALL MY BLUFF MR CHANCELLOR will be the evening’s theme.

‘This summer, from 7th June to 1st August, Carluccio’s will take you back to the ancient vineyards of Sicily with a season of Vini di Famiglia (wines from families) as they celebrate their annual wine festival.