Wine: Pontebello Pinot Grigio, Australia — €7.99

BRACE yourselves, the rumours keep coming that wine is going to go up another 50c in the Budget. 

Any readers in Limerick City could do worse than have a word with Minister for Finance Michael Noonan and ask him why he is trying to put small wine importers out of business.

Once the independent importers are gone many of their best customers — the independent off-licences — will not be far behind. I might sound pessimistic but there have already been significant job losses in the sector in the last two years and there will be more after Christmas.