I KNOW some wine drinkers have a permanent red nose, but those of you with more respect for your body can always buy a plastic one for Red Nose Day this year.

You can also swell the Comic Relief charity coffers by buying vino at a number of well-known stores because Wine Relief is back. So far the initiative, which began in 1999, has raised £2 million pounds for the world's most vulnerable people.

The participating outlets are Sainsbury's, Co-Op, Threshers, Tesco, Waitrose, Somerfield, M&S, Majestic and Morrisons. Each donates ten per cent from the sale of selected wines, from January 31 to March 16. These are some of my favourite one liners'.

In the red corner: Zonte's Footstep Shiraz Viognier 2004 (Somerfield £7.99, 19/20) is full with spicy, rich, berry fruit and a little perfume, and was a top-rated drop in this column last year.

South Africa's pinotage grape is not everyone's cup of tea, but I like it. Beyerskloof Pinotage 2005 (Sainsbury's £5.99, 18/20) is astonishingly good for the price. It's spiky stuff, with smoky oak, brambles, chocolate and aniseed.

In contrast, but from the same country, Origin Fairtrade Cinsault Merlot 2006 (Threshers £6.99, 17/20) is an easy-going wine. Mainly cinsault, it has cassis aromas and ripe plum flavours.

Zamora Zinfandel 2005 (M&S £6.99, 18/20) from the Lodi region of California is of an easier style, too, laden with juicy blackcurrant and raspberry flavours and some oak notes.

In the white corner, M&S Petit Chablis 2005 (M&S £7.99, 17/20) is as fresh as a daisy with melon aromas, zesty fruit and minerals. Or try a dry style of riesling from the Alsace, Philippe Zinck Riesling 2003, Vin d'Alsace, (Majestic £6.49, 16/20). This has a hint of the varietal characteristic petrol notes, lots of food pairing acidity, citrus fruit and minerals.

For something different, Gobelsburger Grüner Veltliner 2005 (Waitrose £6.49, 18/20), from the Kamptal region of Austria, is excellent and reasonably priced. It's bone dry, light bodied and slightly effervescent, with lots of mineral-infused pear and peach sherbet flavours.

If you can't chose between red and white, Misty Bay Shiraz Rosé 2005 (Morrisons £4.99, 17/20), from South Africa's Western Cape, is great sub-fiver glugging, and will keep most people happy with its dry, crunchy, peppery, strawberries and cranberries.