When’s the right time to start thinking about Christmas? Everybody has their signal, the Oxford Street lights going on usually start things off for me but Christmas songs on the radio before December is a no-no. Mr B and I are hosting both our families on Christmas Day this year, it’s going to be a snug affair in our little London house but as it’s the first time we’ve done it I’m definitely starting to plan things way earlier than usual.

Adapting to my new role as Christmas-maker-in-chief will be quite different to my usual role as Vino-topper-upper but as my bump will be getting in the way of my usual Christmas Cheer this year I’ll be handing over the reigns to Mr B. Here are some words of wisdom I’ll be sharing with him to make sure the glasses are full and everybody has a very merry Christmas!

The Vino Topper-Upper: ………

At this time of year when credit cards are Christmaxed-out and we’re cold and weary from parties and shopping, Chez Bouquet I’m looking for a wine that both comforts and tempts but isn’t diametrically opposed to the balance on my bank statement!

Infrequently referred to as a region where luxury and affordability meet, Bordeaux can in fact be just the place to look for that reassuringly priced wine hug that’s perfect for a cold Christmas night in. Dourthe’s Croix des Bouquets 2010 (£10 from Oddbins) not only has a great name but is temptingly affordable and comfortingly different in style.

A classic white Bordeaux blend of Sauvignon Blanc and Semillion its complexity comes from 6 months aging in oak barrels to give an opulent and youthful white wine with fresh apricot and apple aromas. If you’re fed up with hearing that Pinot Noir is the only wine to be seen serving with your turkey then take note; this is the ultimate white replacement.

My personal life, professional life and wine life have been running on a quasi-parallel course of ups and downs. In the former Mr Bouquet and I have decided to sell our flat so we’ve been knee deep in DIY and wretched mess everywhere. The triumph of Mr B’s handy work was gazumped 3 days later by some scum breaking into our building and ransacking the flat upstairs. The relief that our flat was safe and the feeling that fate had dealt us a ‘good time to move on’ hand was erased during our first house viewings which was as shoulder slumping as calculating the value of the wine in a £5 bottle; you’re paying for everyone else to make money and all you’re left with is a filthy headache.

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Introducing Clarky:

With the festive season in full swing the question on the thinking girl’s lips is not so much its time to ditch my YSL’s for Moon boots, but what exactly is the best wine to drink on a hangover?

Granted the notion of hair of the dog is nothing new, but over the past weeks of Christmas parties and lunches I have discovered that certain wines can restore equilibrium to even the most partied out journo and binge drinker, such as myself. Traditionally I am something of a white wine drinker – red’s often leave me with a headache, and the cheaper ones a nasty stain on my teeth. But I have found Red Wine is something of a magic fix when it comes to the hairier of hangovers. ………

If there’s one good thing to come out of the credit crunch it’s the opportunity for us to rethink what we do and the way we do it. This is great news if you’re adventurous by nature, but it may be a bit daunting if you’re a pure bred traditionalist.

When it comes to wine for festive entertaining it’s no different. It’s really easy to get stuck in a rut, weighed down by the security of the tried and tested and under the cosy blanket of tradition. For example, Pinot Noir is widely considered to be the perfect red for a standard British Christmas dinner, and if you’re über traditional then you’ll choose one from Burgundy, the home of Pinot Noir. But if you’re ready to listen to your adventurous side there are loads of great alternatives out there to help you spread your wine wings this Christmas and which, importantly, are 100% credit crunch compliant.

Popolino Rosso 2008 from Sicily is a perfect example at £4.95 from Marks & Spencer. This is the best under £5.00 red wine that I’ve come across in a long time, it’s lovely and light, fruity and aromatic with spiced plums, blackberry fruit and a sweet smokiness on the finish. ………