The Times Christmas cocktail

The Frankenfood that improves you

The future of food includes baby purée to improve brain power, beauty drinks to smooth wrinkles and chocolates to help you slim

The 100 best winter wines

So you thought you wouldn’t be able to find anything drinkable for £3.99? Think again . . . this is your lucky year

Best winter wines: Whites for under £6

Best winter wines: under £12 whites

Best winter wines: under £25 white

Best winter wines: under £8 whites

Best winter wines: under £6 reds

A dozen of the best red wines Including a star buy Shiraz for under a fiver

Best winter wines: under £12 reds

Best winter wines: sweet, fortified, sparkling

Pub champion: The Ship Inn, Banff

A fine local with good beers and sea views that was used as a key location for the film Local Hero

Best winter wines: under £25 reds

Best winter wines: under £8 reds

The dos and don’ts of wine-making

As the Government funds courses for the British wine industry, we go back to basics of how to get home-grown wine right

Can England make good wine?

Our wine has enjoyed a vintage year, but the industry has much to learn. Now the Government is pouring £1.6m into classes

The moment: a rum do

A wine cellar filled with memories

After inheriting his father’s cherished wine collection, Jonathan Aris discovered a pastime that became a passion

Pub champion: Shave Cross Inn

This inn near Bridport in Dorset has a thatched Grade II listed skittle alley

Sugar and spice and all things warming

Try these hot drinks with a heated kick and sugary snacks to protect you from the cold and chills on Bonfire Night

Pub champion: Star Inn

If staying at home is the new going out, you might as well go to a pub that feels like home

Jane MacQuitty: Amarone

This dry and mighty red makes perfect winter drinking. When it is good it is very, very good, but beware nasty imitations

How perfume improves wine

Wine and perfume have a lot in common. No wonder they are teaming up — with delectable results

Should we put bottle tops in the recycling?

We put our wine bottles in the recycling box but what about the screw tops on the bottles? Where should they go?

Radar: the moment

Alcohol-free beer

Pub champion: The Harp, London