It's not just the mass market that is raising funds for Comic Relief by selling wine. Justerini & Brooks is just about to mail thousands of their customers with a special offer of 32 of their generally impeccably-chosen wines on offer by the unsplit case. They are generously donating a full 15 per cent of the case price to Wine Relief. The wines vary from the pink version of Ch Teyssier 2003, Jonathan Maltus of St Emilion and Barossa (The Colonial) at just under £120 a case to wines such as the delicious Barolo Azelia 1999 at £324. The more you spend, the more goes to seriously worthwhile, long-term projects in Africa and the UK. For more details see www.justerinis.com
Innovative newish wine merchant Stone Vine & Sun (q v) is also offering a special Red Nose Tasting Case, four bottles each of three wines we hacks have particularly praised, a Cotes du Rhone 2003, the Morgon 2003 I included in my Christmas selection and a Cotes du Rhone Villages 2003, all for £79, £8 of which goes staight to Comic Relief. See more at www.stonevine.co.uk
Other wine merchants, please take note. It's not too late to do something too. In fact Leon Stolarski www.lsfinewines.co.uk has also just contacted me to say he is joining the effort, as have PMH Wines.