Holiday homes full of festive spirit

The areas that are famous for some of the best Christmas tipples are also great spots to buy property, finds Liz Rowlinson

When you pass the port this Christmas (to the left, naturally) or warm an after-dinner glass of Cognac between your hands, you will be savouring the result of several centuries’ worth of fine-tuned production.

In many cases, the ancient processes behind the creation of vintage wines and spirits are still very much part of local life in their homelands, from festivals in the community to toast the grape harvest, to