It's the time of year when the alcohol flows freely and we splash out on wine and fizz to get us in the party spirit.
But how do we decide which wines offer flavour, individuality and value for money from the myriad on display on supermarket shelves? Never fear, the wine man himself, Oz Clarke, is on hand to offer expert tips to point us in the right direction. Renowned for his phenomenal palate and being in tune with what wine drinkers really want, Clarke has travelled the world over the past year to keep up to date with the changing world of wine. And first up is champagne. "You have to have some fizz in the house if you want to have fun," says Clarke - although it doesn't have to be the real thing. For those on a budget he recommends Spanish Cava, saying: "It's absolutely unbeatable." According to Clarke there are great offers on Cava at Christmas time with supermarkets cutting the price to as little as £3.99 a bottle. The trick with the cheaper fizz is to get it as cold as possible. "The colder the more fun," Clarke says. "The bubbles get smaller and smaller and crackle on your tonsils. "The tip for getting Cava really cold at Christmas is to get a big bowl and fill it with ice and water, or even your bath, then add cooking salt. "This will reduce the temperature several degrees, so you can keep the fizz at zero temperatures. Then you hardly notice if it is a £10.99 bottle or a £2.99." If you want to upgrade, however, Clarke recommends Seaview Chardonnay, which is available from Oddbins at £8.99 - "It's as good as champagne," he insists - or Bluff Hill Sparkling from Marks and Spencer for £7.99. So what is the best wine to go with the turkey? "For Christmas dinner you can't beat New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc. My mum and I have it with the turkey. You can have half a dozen bottles on the table if you have a lot of guests." He suggests Montana Sauvignon Blanc from Oddbins for £6.49. "This is a smashing drink. It's great by itself and it's great with the turkey." For a cheaper wine Clarke's choice is Tesco's Unwind Sauvignon Blanc for £4.99. "The great thing about this wine is it's got a screw-top," says Clarke. "This is the way the future is going. There are so many problems with corks ruining wines, making it like old socks." For those who want to trade up Clarke recommends South African Sauvignon Blanc, Neil Ellis, £7.99 from Safeway. He believes that oaky wines are "not very useful at Christmas" but if you like that style then he recommends Safeway's Pergola Oaked Viura for £3.99 which "has an oak flavour that is not too overpowering". Clarke adds that although you can get decent dry whites for £2.99, for reds you really need to go up a quid or two. A good juicy red to have on the table at Christmas is AlmuRan from Marks and Spencer for £3.99. For countries to watch out for Clarke advises: "Look out for South American reds - from Chile and Argentina - they are soft, gentle and juicy." He recommends Sainsbury's Chilean Red - a bargain at £2.99, Marks and Spencer's Rio Santos Bonarda from Argentina for £3.99 and Chilean Quiltro Merlot from Oddbins at £4.49. "The flavour is all about black - black plum and blackberry, black treacle, black chocolate and pepper." Clarke is also a fan of Portugal. "Not many people know about Portuguese wines but they have their own grape varieties which have the flavour of cherry cake - perfect for Christmas time. The softness of sponge cake, combined with the sweetness of red cherries with a tang of acidity, splash of balsamic." His choice is Sainsbury's Senda do Vale for £5.99. For dry sherry with your mince pies Clarke recommends Matusalem Oloroso from Waitrose for £10.99 which has a very old vintage and is great as a present. And for a sweet wine to serve with Christmas pudding why not try Boutari Visanto from Oddbins at £8.49. "Rich and sweet with a dash of balsamic vinegar." Clarke's final tip is that wine should be served in nice big glasses which he says make excellent gifts too. "You get more in, you feel more generous and more open," he says. "It's also better for the wine as you can slosh it around a bit, the smells build up and you can have a real good sniff of it." TOP FIVE WINES - Christmas Gifts 1 1999 Joseph Cabernet Sauvignon-Merlot, Australia, £16.99, OzWines 2 1999 The Aberfeldy, Tim Adams, Australia, £16.99, OzWines 3 2000 Shiraz, Tim Adams, Australia, £8.99, Tesco 4 2000 Bandol, Chateau de Pibarnon, France £17.91, Anthony Byrne 5 1999 Shiraz, Brothers in Arms, Australia, £13.45, Tanners TOP FIVE WINES - under £5 1 2001 Carmenere Gran Verano, Chile, £4.49 Safeway 2 2000 Pedras do Monte Castelao, £4.99, Bottoms Up, Somerfield, Thresher, Wine Rack 3 2000 The Society's Chilean Merlot, Chile, £4.95, The Wine Society 4 2001 Costieres de Nimes, Chateau Guiot, France, £4.99, Majestic 5 2001 Malbec, Valdivieso, Chile £4.99, Bibendum :: Oz Clarke Pocket Wine Book 2003 is published by Time Warner Books and Websters (£10) and get a Wine Buying Guide free, available now. | 
