Your local off-licence may have special offers at this time of year. Here are a few plucky picks
It's easy to pick up wine when you're at the supermarket, but it can be more fun to browse the shelves of your local off-licence - or the website of an internet- based merchant. All of them offer good deals on bottles that could be perfect for your festive parties.
O'BRIENS
The chain's 27 branches are focusing on over 50 wines - or just short of one in 10 of its range of exclusive wines - for Christmas. The whites are particularly impressive. The soft and well-balanced Chanson Mâcon-Villages 2006 (€10.99 or two for €20) is perfect for a party. Brocard Chablis 2006 (€13.99, down from €15.99) is elegant with attractive floral notes. The New Zealand producer , known for its intense Sauvignon Blanc (€15.99), also does a brilliant, lip-smacking, appley (€15.99). Schloss Schönborn Erbacher Marcobrunn Spätlese Trocken 2005 (€15.99) has a more measured orchard feel. Delicious, as is the rich and elegant Chilean Novas Chardonnay-Viognier 2006 (€13.99) and 's yeasty Sereole 2006 (€12.99).
O'Briens' reds also have wide appeal, particularly the rustic Domaine de Nizas Le Mas Rouge 2003 (€9.99), the chocolaty Rasteau les Hauts du Village 2001 (€14.99, from €17.99), the heavyweight, flavour-rich Torbreck Grenache-Shiraz-Mourvèdre 2005 (€12.99, from €19.99) and the quality Uruguayan Bodegas Juanicó Preludio 2002 (€20).
ENOWINE
Yvonne Connolly of Enowine, in the IFSC, and Monkstown, Co Dublin, suggests for white party wine Emina Verdejo, 2006, Rueda (€12.95), Parès Baltà Blanc de Pacs 2006, Penedès (€10.95) and Zilzie Selection 23 Chardonnay 2006, Victoria (€9.95). Among reds, she suggests Valdelosfrailes Joven, 2006, Cigales (€10.50) and Parès Baltà Mas Petit 2005, Penedès (€10.95). See www.enowine.ie.
WAREHOUSES
Clare Devaney of Cellars: the Big Wine Warehouse, on Naas Road, Dublin 12, has numerous party wines. She suggests Mademoiselle L Haut Médoc 2004 (La Lagune) (€10.99), La Vendimia Rioja 2006 (€10.99), Joseph Drouhin Fleurie 2005 (€12.99), Chapoutier Belleruche Rouge 2005 (€8.99), Louis Latour Beaujolais-Villages Chameroy 2005 (€8.99), Louis Latour Mâcon-Lugny 2005 (€9.49) and Villa Maria Private Bin Sauvignon Blanc 2007 (€10.99). The minimum purchase is 12 bottles, which can be mixed. Devaney promises 5 per cent off if you bring this article with you; www.thebigwinewarehouse.com.
Peter Boland of Cases, on Tuam Road in Galway, sells wine three ways. "You can buy a single bottle at a good price. Or you can buy a mixed case of 12 bottles at a reduced price. Or you can buy a full case of 12 at an even better price." His €155 Christmas case includes red and white wine, Champagne, sherry, port and dessert wine. See www.cases.ie.
WINE ON THE WEB
Online shopping has come of age: we are said to be second only to Germany for buying online, whether on dedicated sites, such as www.wineonline.ie and , mail-order offshoots, such as and www.jnwines.com, and shop-based sites, such as . Paddy Keogh and his team at Winesdirect.ie have made an amazing recovery from the fire at their HQ a few weeks ago. They offer a full range of seasonal gifts and cases. For parties, Keogh recommends Domaine des Chezelles Touraine (€10.30), Four Sisters Sauvignon- Semillon (€12), Bergerie de l'Hortus Sauvignon Blanc- Chardonnay- Viognier (€12.95), Terre Mégère Merlot (€10.15), Four Sisters Shiraz (€12) and Bergerie de l'Hortus Syrah-Mourvèdre (€12.75). Last orders December 14th.
LAST ORDERS AT MITCHELL'S
"I suppose you could say it'll be like the last-chance saloon for some people - the last time they'll do the Christmas wine shopping in Kildare Street," says Peter Dunne of the Dublin institution Mitchell & Son, which is moving to Baggot Street next summer. To mark this final stand, the wine merchant has put together a collection of Christmas gifts, from a two-bottle pack of Prosecco to a half-case of Bordeaux first growths. "Party catering has always been an important service of Mitchell's, and we have a great range of party wines, glass hire, delivery and collection - and staff if required."These wines include Cuvée d'Or (€9.95), a blend of five grapes of the Gascony region, the good-value Alto Rio (€12.50), which is round and soft without losing the classic Rioja edge, and - Dunne's favourite - La Chapelle, from Languedoc, "made from 50-year-old Carignan vines and a bargain at €9.95". www.mitchellandson.com.