RAISE A GLASS

ANOTHER year has flown and here I am with Christmas gift ideas for drinks lovers. My choices are based on a simple scientific law – I want them myself.

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I Love Champagne (RRP £12.99) is a fabulous guide by Davy Zyw subtitled “Fall in love with 50 of the world’s best champagnes”. There are glossy sections on 50 champagne houses, food tips, history and loads of other info too.

I love The Wine Dine Dictionary (RRP £20) by Victoria Moore. The first section lists foods in an A-Z and offers brilliant wine pairings; then part two, lists wines in an A-Z and suggested foods. It is a must-have for food and wine lovers. In Clean Cocktails (RRP £20) Beth Ritter Nydick and Tara Roscioli share cocktail recipes, all with the emphasis on health. They use low-calorie spirits, fresh juices and natural sweeteners. The title Ginspiration (RRP £9.99, DK.com) is a giveaway. Inside is an A-Z of well-known gin brands, with lots of cocktail recipes and a guide to creating your own flavour-infused gin. All available on Amazon or good book stores.

TALKING OF GIN: A couple of miniature sets to look out for. The Whitley Neill Small Batch Gin Selection (RRP £12.99, Amazon) includes 5cl each of the delicious Whitley Neill Gin, Whitley Neill Quince Gin and Whitley Neill Rhubarb & Ginger Gin. The City of London Distillery Gin

Taster Selection Box (RRP £34.99, Amazon) has five 5cl tipples of premium small-batch artisan gins. Or, here’s a thing, dangle gin from your tree with a pack of Pickering’s Gin-filled Christmas baubles (£30 for 6, baubles.pickeringsgin.com).

SPECIAL TREATS: One Fo(u)r Brut and Brut

Rosé (£10 and £12 respectively, John Lewis) are festive, fizzy and fun; 20cl bottles bubblepacked with Nicolas Feuillatte Champagne. Boozy Berries (£6.50, pinkstergin.com) is a jar of raspberries left over from making Pinkster gin. Pop them in a pudding or dip them in chocolate. The Prosecco

Gift Set (£45, virginiahayward. com) is relaxation in a box and includes truffles from the Secret Truffletier, a bottle of prosecco and a Vineyard Candle.

SERIOUS WINE LOVERS….. In the Chapel Down Vine Lease

Scheme (from £275, chapeldown. com/visit/lease-a-vine) five vines can be leased from the Chapel Down Bacchus vineyard. People can follow the seasons with their vines, take part in the harvest and enjoy a case of wine. The Coravin Mark 2 (£249, coravin.co.uk) is a grown-up gadget. The technology allows you to pour the right amount of wine you want without removing the cork. I guess you’ll love someone lots to buy them this… lifetime membership of The Wine Society (thewinesociety.com, £40) is a snip and there’s a £20 credit towards the first order. A subscription with online Your

Sommelier (from £36 a month) is also a great shout. Each month three French wines arrive from vineyards and there’s tasting notes and regional guides. Enjoy shopping. X