Widely available through independent off-licences and wine shops. Now an essential part of the Wilson armoury . . .they don't break quite so easily, and they fit neatly into dishwashers!

2 A wine weekend, 595

Why not send your best friend off to a wine weekend in Ballymaloe House, to join wine expert Mary Dowey (above) on voyage of discovery. See details on www. ballymaloe. ie.

3 Terroirs Gift Pack, 80

Terroirs, on Morehampton Road in Donnybrook have a brilliant collection of gifts, wines and edible goodies.

Gift pack containing . . . a bottle of Chateau Pierre Bise Coteaux du Layon 2003, a little container of Castaing French Foie Gras de Canard, a box of Chapon chololates, and a wine quiz.

4 Wine Books

'The World Atlas of Wine', (Mitchell Beazley, 55) remains the best single book on wine, or 'The Wine Emperor' by Elin McCoy (Grub Street, 26.90) a biography of wine guru Robert Parker makes for a compelling read.

5Chateau Leoville-Barton 1985, 180 Berry Bros & Rudd, Harry Street, Dublin 2

Forget about decanters, glasses, drip-stops and corkscrews . . . what a wine-lover craves most of all is wine! A single bottle of something special is always better than half a dozen ordinary wines. Berry Brothers is the place to go.