While The Menu has dragged offspring around a few ‘open farms’ in his time, he usually ends up in a staring match with an equally bored animal, both largely marking time.

THERE was an embarrassment of riches at the annual New Zealand wine fair last week.

IF you haven’t yet stocked up yet for tonight’s fun, there are still plenty of options for festive fizz and I take a look at some of the best value ones below.

ON a recent visit to Fine Wines, I encountered two faces of Australian red wines: Rich, robust wines from Rutherglen, and exquisite upmarket numbers from the brilliantly inventive D’Arenberg winery.