I know some of you like to wait until the last minute to do all your Christmas shopping.  There is nothing like the excitement of choosing between day old flowers, magazines and air fresheners at the petrol station Christmas Eve. For those of you a bit less spontaneous and a touch more organized you might want to think about ordering your wine gifts now.

 

My first suggestion is the Hat Trick Wine Gift from Tanners Wine Merchant. For £29.50 you get a bubbly, a white burgundy and Portuguese red. If you don’t know what is being served or much about the recipient this gift can’t miss.  www.tanners-wines.co.uk

Vintage Roots, the organic wine company in Reading, offers the Festive Essential Six case for £50.  It contains everything you need to start and finish your Christmas dinner, including Prosecco and Port. The best thing is they are all organic and suitable for vegans. http://www.vintageroots.co.uk/Festive-Essential-Six

 

Finally Virgin Wines has a special on Laurent Perrier Cuvee Rose and 4 champagne flutes in a gift box for Christmas. This bubbly is creamy with the classic biscuit flavour, and hints of redcurrant. At £79.99 it’s not cheap, but the limited edition box is definitely stunning. http://www.virginwines.co.uk/

I recommend you start buying your gifts now as most need to be ordered the first week in December and the Laurent Perrier is limited in numbers. After next week, I will be checking out locally bought wines from Aldi to the Esso station so last minute shoppers won’t be left out.

 

• Tuesday, 4 Dec., Patrick McGrath MW, is presenting a Champagne Taittinger dinner tasting at the Cherwell Boathouse. Tickets are £49.95 per person; contact Theo Sloot, theo@oxfordwine.co.uk.

• Saturday, 8 Dec, 3 – 6pm
it’s the Christmas Spirits fair at the Oxford Wine Company on Botley Road. There will be a huge range of spirits suited to the cold weather and dark nights to taste! Expect a selection of rums, Cognacs, whiskies, tequilas and maybe even a few liqueurs! This is a free event with a 10% discount on spirits and liqueurs purchased that day. For more information contact lee@oxfordwine.co.uk