The world of wine falls into two very distinct categories — the big brands making easy drinking accessible wines to please as many as possible, and the smaller producers that make wines in their own way and as best they can but with little or no thought to what the market wants — if they like it, why shouldn’t others?

Valentine’s Day is in a few days so this week’s column offers some gift suggestions, both conventional and more unusual.

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

One question I am often asked is what is Ireland’s best selling wine and the answer — Santa Rita 120 — probably shouldn’t surprise you, writes Leslie Williams.

The neighbours of a woman allegedly harassed by a garda have told a jury about posters found around their estate accusing her of corruption and branding them drug dealers.

There is a tendency among wine enthusiasts to constantly refer to the beauty of vineyards and wine regions, but some of this I think comes from the fact that we feel so at home in these magical places that produce our favourite sustenance.

Liverpool have abandoned their hopes of signing Virgil van Dijk and apologised to Southampton for “any misunderstanding” over their interest.

Pope to make pilgrimage to the Portuguese town for the centenary of the Virgin Mary’s ‘apparition’, writes Barry Hatton.

Now in truth the grape never went away, it was really the fat oaky styles that we abandoned, says Leslie Williams.

A glass security barrier will be built around the Eiffel Tower to protect it from terror attacks.

Welcome to 2017, the Trump Presidency is only weeks away and we still don’t know what is happening with Brexit but at least we have wine to get us through, writes Leslie Williams.

The world of wine is a large place and columns like this I hope help distil it down to a manageable size.

The autumn is wine fair season in Irish supermarkets. Aldi was first out of the blocks last Sunday with an intriguing selection of wines from around the world at their usual low prices. 

If you are grilling at home any of the southern Rhones below will work well. I’ve included one white in case you are cooking fish or would like an aperitif.

This weekend I will be at Ballymaloe House near Midleton for the Kerrygold Ballymaloe Literary Festival of Food and Wine.

South African wine doesn’t feature on this page all that often for the simple reason that there is not that much imported here compared to other countries, and a lot of what I have tasted is either not worth writing about, or is too expensive for the quality.

French president Francois Hollande says private security firms have hired an additional 3,000 people for the European Championship football tournament.

Barcelona star Neymar has seen assets worth almost €45m including a yacht, a jet and several properties frozen by the authorities in Brazil.

Pope Francis has canonised the Catholic Church’s first married couple in modern times, declaring the parents of St Therese of Lisieux saints in their own right.

The second wife of the Co Limerick man Jason Corbett — was one of only two people questioned so far about his violent death — has taken to Facebook to try and win back her stepchildren.

Amid conflicting reports about their whereabouts, the two Limerick children at the centre of a bitter custody battle in North Carolina were last night believed to have been on their way to Ireland.

The family of Jason Corbett, the Limerick man who died in what police describe as a “domestic disturbance” in his home in the US, said last night they have now decided to repatriate his body as soon as possible.

The foreign affairs minister was last night urged to intervene in a custody battle involving two Limerick children. They are in the care of a woman in the US who has been questioned by police about a head wound which claimed the life of their father.

In recent days the vineyards of Champagne and those of the Cote d’Or in Burgundy were both given United Nations World Heritage Status for the continuity and quality of their wines and ancient vineyards.

Acclaimed film director Jim Sheridan has become unwittingly embroiled in a bitter legal dispute over his much anticipated and much delayed biopic, Sheriff Street.

I am often asked where I like to buy my wine and the honest answer is (and should be), everywhere. However I must confess a bit of a bias towards the independent sector.

Time once more for A Taste of West Cork Food Festival (September 5 to 14), celebrating the produce and food culture of The Menu’s spiritual hinterland of West Cork, kicking off with a Taste of West Cork Gala Dinner at the Inchydoney Island Lodge and& Spa. 

SPRING was late this year.

Manager Tito Vilanova has down played the standoff between David Villa and Lionel Messi during Barcelona’s hard-fought 2-0 victory over Granada.

West Brom have inquired about signing striker Obafemi Martins on loan – but his current club Rubin Kazan are only interested in a permanent deal, it is understood.

Ireland’s young guns experienced the cruel side of football against Portugal on Saturday but today’s duel with Ukraine (4pm) presents a chance to resurrect their U19 UEFA finals aspirations.

Common antibiotics could be “resuscitated” to make them more effective against resistant bugs, say researchers from University College Dublin (UCD).

NELSON VALDEZ had the quality to clinically punish bad defending as Shamrock Rovers were frozen out in Kazan last night.

Rubin Kazan 4 Shamrock Rovers 1

Shamrock Rovers manager Michael O’Neill saluted the best team he has come across in European competition after seeing Rubin Kazan ease their way to Europa League victory in Tallaght.

SADLY, no heroics from Shamrock Rovers on Irish football’s long-awaited debut in the group stages of European competition.

Shamrock Rovers 0 Rubin Kazan 3