On the grapevine

Fiendish Wine Quiz: If your entry for the Fiendish Wine Quiz is lying half finished on the dining room table, why not ring one of our splendid independent merchants and let them have a go at a question or two? The deadline is January 11 so you still have time to get your entry in the post. Sadly this year there is no trip to a vineyard as the prize, but a six-bottle case of wine has been put together which will provide excellent drinking for the winner.

Retrain for vineyards: The pandemic has had a devastating effect on many people’s lives and jobs so if you feel like taking the plunge and learning something new, Plumpton

College in Sussex is offering a free retraining programme on viticulture. A one-week course will provide students with enough experience to know whether they want to pursue a career in growing grapes and learning about wine. Many students from the first course, which ran in September, have already found jobs in vineyards in the UK. These courses are not just for youngsters. If you are changing careers a life in a vineyard might just suit you.

Whisky galore: It is Burns Night on January 25 and if you feel like greeting the occasion with bagpipes, haggis and some poems you will definitely need some decent whisky to lighten the mood. The Wright Wine Co in Skipton (www. wineandwhisky.co.uk, tel 01756 700886) has one of the best selections of whisky in the region, so pop in there when you are passing, or give them a ring to find the right spirit for your dinner. Latitude in Cherry Tree Walk, Leeds (www.latitudewine.co.uk, 0113 245 3393) has a fabulous range as well.