While most of you picked up your festive fizz at wine fairs months ago, there are still a few who have yet to brave the shops. Maybe, you are hoping things will calm down, and you can pop to the grocery store Christmas Eve and pick up that perfect bargain. More likely you will end up with a bland wine for a truly disappointing dinner.

Here are a few Christmas Eve alternatives to find that holiday tipple.

Before 4PM, Monday, December 24th, run to the Oxford Wine Company. If you are lucky they will still have Escarpment The Edge Pinot Noir, from Martinborough, New Zealand. This is a full-bodied Pinot, with hints of smokiness and berries. It has a long luscious finish and matches turkey to game. It is £12.99 and worth every penny.

Before 6PM, go to OddBins on Little Clarendon Street.  Tom Stringer recommends two wines, for Boxing Day when the work is over and you have time to relax. He says the Macrocarpa Sauvignon Blanc 2011 from Marlborough, NZ (£12.00) is really interesting.  It is partially barrel fermented which adds a whole new dimension of complexity - think "brioche finish.”

The 1one Ribera Del Duero Reserva, Spain 2004 at £11.50 is an oaked Tempranillo full of aromatic fruit and red berry acidity.  It has moreish spice and vanilla with a soft complex finish.

If it has gone six, you might just make it to the Grog Shop on Walton Street. At the time of writing they were debating whether to close at 6 or 7PM Christmas Eve.  The Grog Shop has an amazing selection of wine, beer, spirits and fizz. You can find almost anything you need at a reasonable price.  My choice is the Taittinger (£34.99) of course.

After that, go to the Esso Station on Oxpens Road. The good thing is it never closes. Sadly, it doesn’t sell alcohol either. For Christmas try the Lucozade Revive for £1.00. It comes in Cranberry flavour and you will need that extra energy to explain why you did not start shopping sooner. Happy Christmas from all of us at the Oxford Times!