Food and drink news

California dreamin’… Beringer, No 1 brand in the US, is a great example of the new generation of really good wine being made across a variety of styles on America's West Coast. Its latest Stone Cellars range, made from premium Californian grapes, really hold their own with food. The Cabernet Sauvignon 2005 is fruity and quaffable, great with sausages or a cheeseboard; Chardonnay 2007 is crisp and full of peach, apple and tangerine flavours to complement poultry and seafood while Zinfandel/Chardonnay Rose 2007, left - my favourite - is a revelation with spicy Asian food and will be a brilliant Christmas aperitif. £6.99; www.beringer.com

The smell of real coffee! Candles on a food page? Well, yes, in this case as Nespresso (whose coffee machines are highly rated by Delia) have brought out a range of candles from countries along the coffee route that smell good enough to eat. I tend not to like sickly smells, so love the Bois De Maragogype, an intriguing and addictive Nicaraguan scent of the light wood of the coffee tree, malted and lightly roasted. Its pared-down masculine presentation would make it the perfect gift for a man (an old flame, maybe?!). £27 each; visit www.nespresso.com for stockists.

Dolce Vita delectables from Nudo Italophiles will love Nudo’s stylish hamper tins: packed with dinky 250ml tins of olive oil flavoured with chilli, lemon oil and manadarin oil, plus extra virgin from Nudo’s groves in Le Marche, described by the BBC as ‘Italy’s finest cold-pressed oil’. Add organic tapenade, chilli salsa, almond pesto and sun-dried cherry tomatoes and it’s a real treat for any serious cook (£48.95). You can also adopt an olive tree (£65) for which you receive a 3m x 3m plot, all the extra virgin olive oil from your tree and a trio of Nudo’s flavoured oils. Visit www.nudo-italia.com for details.

A smooth Singleton If you dismiss whisky as harsh and strong, think again. The Singleton of Dufftown is a rich, smooth-tasting and well-balanced whisky, matured in American (bourbon) and European (sherry) oak casks. Its gentle character would make it an ideal gift for someone new to whisky-drinking. This particular 12-year-old dram is easy to drink on a cold evening: I detected rich dried fruit, stewed apples, toasted hazelnuts and brown sugar, but none of the throat-catching harshness of some more complex whiskies. £28.69 (special offers during Dec) from Sainsbury's, Morrison's, ASDA, Oddbins and whisky specialists.

Fabulous French cookware Having always, always used a roasting tin, I wasn’t sure what to expect when I cooked the family chicken in an Emile Henry roaster from the company’s Flame range, made from stylish black ceramic. And you know what: the end result was even juicier and more flavourful than normal. The ceramic was a great heat conductor on the hob for making gravy too…an instant hit! You can use these roasters – and the cocottes, clay pot, fondue sets and tagines – on any heat source, in the oven and from freezer to hob or oven; £46. Visit www.emilehenry.co.uk for more.

Grow your own? If you know anyone who’s thinking of growing their own veg, why not buy them a yearly subscription to www.growveg.com – just £15? Once you’ve drawn up your garden plan you receive bi-monthly emails to tell you when to sow and plant out the vegetables in your plan, a planting list showing how many plants you need so you can raise or buy the right number, crop rotation advice and a copy of your original plan to build on next year. Such a clever idea for any budding vegetable grower!

Cheddar of choice Mature Cheddar is often fairly underwhelming but Cathedral City’s new Vintage 20 is a cut (or should that be a slice) above many others I’ve tried, probably due to years spent perfecting its development and maturation. Its depth of flavour is the result of 20 months’ ageing – well-rounded and mellow – and, not surprisingly, it won a gold medal at the 2007 World Cheese Awards. From major supermarkets; £2.59 for 200g. Visit www.cathedralcity.co.uk for more.

No nuts... just chocolate There’s something cruel about Christmas if you have a food intolerance as, all too often, you have to miss out on festive treats. Not any more. Those kind people at No Nuts, Just chocolate have made a range of chocs that are nut-, gluten-, egg-free and Kosher. They also offer milk- and lactose-, sugar- and soya-free versions so whatever your intolerance, it’s covered. Yes, I hear you say, but what do they actually taste like? Surprisingly good is the answer – so well worth trying.Visit www.nonutsjustchocolate.com