DRINK DIFFERENT - PORT/BANYULS

Christmas more than any other time is when the port comes out, with a big proportion of sales coming at this time of year.  A glass of chilled tawny port can be a surprisingly refreshing drink, but if you are after the silky sweetness and weight of a proper vintage port, you will be looking at some serious money.

It’s not an exact equivalent, but if it’s unctuousness you’re after, it’s worth trying a Banyuls.  Originating in Roussillon in France, right down by the Spanish border, it is made exactly the same way as port, adding brandy before the fermentation has finished to lock in unfermented sugar.

Slightly lower in alcohol than port, and certainly easier on the wallet, Banyuls has character and sweetness in spades, and is one of the few wines which go with chocolate – so perfect for the indulgent festive period.