My Dad has a favourite expression at this time of year. Now Bonfire Night is out of the way, he can be guaranteed, at some juncture, to herald the start of the festive season by saying, "It's all downhill 'til Christmas now!"

With Christmas in mind then, the perfect gift for the City of York Council's executive member for leisure and heritage Coun Keith Orrell. The Champ-Eazy (£14.95 from www.waitersfriend.com and Selfridges), which resembles a medieval torture device, takes the fun out of opening a bottle of sparkling wine. Foil, wire and cork can be removed in one movement. Its use nullifies the fizz, sparkle and pop of opening a bottle of Champagne. An analogy with York's 'gunpowder clots' firework display springs to mind.

Sticking with the fast-approaching festive season, John and Andy of HC Wines are holding their Christmas tasting in a couple of weeks. The salubrious surrounds of Heworth Community Centre beckon. It's a building not noted for its architectural splendour but if the tasting is anything like the last one, the wine and company will be good.

Bodegas Langa export manager Javier Garca Flrez, all the way from Spain, will be there on the evening to introduce a couple of wines as well. Tickets, at £6 each, are still available for the do, on the evening of Saturday, November 26. Log on to www.hcwines.co.uk or telephone 07802 641183 to book.

I've sampled two new additions to the HC Wines range, although these may not appear at the tasting.

From the Loire region of France, Domaine Philippe Portier Quincy 2004, is a crisp and dry, seafood-friendly white. It's sauvignon blanc but not of the grass and goosegog New World style. This has honeysuckle aromas with pear, lemon and melon on the palate.

Fans of substantial reds will like the fiery, syrah-dominated Chateau la Bastide l'Optime 2001, from the Corbires appellation in the Languedoc region of southern France. Concentrated and briary, with chargrilled oak, blackberry, raspberry and herbs, it is spurred on by the 20 per cent grenache used in the blend. As you may expect, there are plenty of tannins too.

Tippling term of the week: flinty

Something of a wine writing clich but an apt description for the mineral flavours in some dry white wines. Particularly those of the Chablis area in northern Burgundy.

Domaine Philippe Portier Quincy 2004, £7.75 at www.hcwines.co.uk 16/20

Chateau la Bastide L'Optimee Corbires 2001, £7.50 at www.hcwines.co.uk 17/20

Updated: 16:48 Friday, November 11, 2005