From the main course to the pudding, wine columnist Leslie Williams has the perfect drinks list for the festive season 

Back to southern France again this week, as I find myself enjoying the wines from here more and more.

This week I’m focusing on the Languedoc and largely the wines of Domaines Paul Mas which is imported by Cork-based Karwig wines. I toured all their vineyards a few weeks ago and was once again charmed by this part of France.

My selections this week are from the Lidl French wine sale plus some new Alsace wines from Karwigs in Carrigaline, Co Cork — Chateau d’Orschwihr.

Once again this week I want to encourage you to shop local and to emphasise this I’m giving over the column to a profile of one of Cork’s relatively unsung wine heroes: JJ O’Driscolls Superstore in Ballinlough.

With Christmas just a few hours off, Leslie Williams has a guide to the best wine stocking fillers that will suit any meal over the coming days.

To get a feel for the world of wine you need to get a feel for geography and do a bit of driving – perhaps from Napa to Sonoma, from Bra to Barbaresco or take a drive up the D2 from Bordeaux through Margaux, St. Julien, Pauillac and St. Estephe. 

Ireland and Spain have had many connections throughout history but one you might have overlooked is Spain’s contribution to Ireland’s most famous drink — whiskey.

We are at mid-summer point now and the sunshine, up to now, has been rather absent.

Sad news to report as in case you didn’t hear the legendary Cork-based wine importer Joe Karwig died suddenly on October 26.

When I tell people that I write about wine they immediately ask “how do I get a job like that?” The answer I generally give is that I have no specialist skills but I do think about the wines I taste and drink a lot more than most people.

GIVEN the glorious weather of the past few weeks rosé wines don’t need much extra promotion from me as they are selling out everywhere.

ALTHOUGH increasing numbers of us buy our wine at the supermarkets, this week I want to encourage you to remember the independent wine shops who can often provide more variety and unusual styles.

IT’S that time of year again and the calendar is stuffed with delicious events.