Pairing chocolate and wine is emerging as a party season favourite. Although we’re well past Chocolate week it’s a trend that that’s appeared partly thanks to the wine trade’s obsession with food as much as it is to do with our love for indulgence at this time of year.

Getting to grips with dry whites with fish and chunky reds with beef is elementary by most people’s standards but there is a fine line between loving the sound of two of our favourite festive groceries pairing perfectly in one sitting and actually achieving the balance perfectly in practice. Here are a couple of ideas to try to sweeten up your food and wine repertoire….

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When you think of Portugal what springs to mind? If you asked Mr Bouquet he’d say golf and sand, if you asked Brother Bouquet he’d say stolen wetsuits and surfing. And if you’d asked me even a couple of years ago I’d have said Mateus rosé and post A-level sun. But for most in the wine-know, unsurprisingly, they’d say Port and corks, and with good reason. The country’s cork trees account for 50% of the world’s total cork production, and of course, Port can only be labelled as such if it’s made in Port-ugal!

Without doubt, in terms of growth in reputation and excitement Portuguese still wines have become the next big wine thing in the UK. ………