My consumption shot up in summer thanks to a weeklong trip to Jerez, where I swigged heroic amounts.

However, this year started on a brighter note - I drank a few snifters of fino on New Year's Eve.

2. Drink more Riesling, and Austrian Riesling in particular Good marks on this one. I have drunk plenty of very high-quality Riesling from Germany and Australia, and all the Austrian Riesling I can find. A trip to Vienna in spring confirmed to me that Austria produces worldclass Riesling; sadly not enough of it reaches our shores. However, it is heartening to see that Dunnes Stores, Superquinn and O'Briens all now import some excellent versions.

3. Drink more Portuguese wine Here I come up covered in glory. There was a visit to Estremadura, and a very good wine fair here in Dublin, both of which really brought home the high quality of Portuguese wines.

There are some real bargains out there. My best discovery was the Arinto grape, a variety responsible for some great dry white wines.

4. Drink more sweet wine I have failed fairly miserably on this one. I have just got out of the habit, and need to get back in to the groove. A half-bottle of dessert wine will keep me going for three or four nights. Not having a great sweet tooth, I often prefer a glass by itself or with blue cheese.

Lustau Jarana Solera Reserva Fino Sherry Hirsch Riesling Zöbing Kamptal 2004, Austria Quinta de Pancas Touriga Nacional 2000, Portugal Clos du Portail 2004, Graves Supérieur (also sold under the Mitchell's Gold label)

Stockists Euro9.50 per half bottle from Brechin Watchorn, Ranelagh and Terenure; Dicey Reilly's, Ballyshannon; Enowine, IFSC & Monkstown;

Power & Smullen, Lucan Euro17.99 from Jus de Vine, Portmarnock; The Corkscrew, Chatham Street Limited stocks at Euro35 from Donnybrook Fair, Donnybrook; The Corkscrew, Chatham Street; Terroirs, Morehampton Road Euro14.50 from Anderson's, Glasnevin; Mitchell & Son, Kildare Street and Glasthule; Douglas Food Company, Donnybrook; French Flair, Tralee

Description A more full-bodied style of fino, with a lightly aromatic nose, and intense flavours on the palate of grilled nuts and green olives, with a delicious savoury tang and a bone dry finish Hirsch is the guy who makes it, Kamptal the region and Zöbing the town.

A gorgeous fresh, nervy crisp mineral wine with vibrant apple fruits and a bone dry finish. Weighing in at a mere 12% alcohol, lightness itself A magnificent savoury dry wine, with delicious firm ripe damson fruits, great elegance on the mid-palate, and excellent length A delicious fresh dessert wine, the core of rich honeyed fruit balanced perfectly by some orange peel and even orange juice.

Consistently one of the bestvalue dessert wines in the country

Drink with The only wine to drink with tapas - almonds, Spanish ham, tortillas etc, and also great with crab A grilled sole on the bone, or a bowl of prawns with mayonnaise A roast loin of pork with plenty of herby stuffing Try it with a refreshing fruit salad or a pear tart. Also perfect instead of a dessert

Score 15/20 15/20 16/20 14/20