If you sampled the delights of New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc which was my one of my other recent recommendations, then this Chilean version will be the perfect contrast.

Too often, this grape underperforms in Chile, tasting flabby, over-fruity and ultimately dull. This young, fresh example is quite different. Named for the Yali wetlands which border the vineyards, this wine is also a gesture in the direction of planet protection. It’s a product of Vina Ventisquero and they are making generous contributions to the preservation of vital wetland regions worldwide.

The charming green bird on the label gives a clue to how this wine does literally ’sing’ on the palate. It has a distinctive, tart acidity, found in the very finest Sauvignon Blanc.  But it also tastes of lime and lemon, with a perfumed backnote which makes you think of lychee or white peach. The finish is quite short, as it is a very young wine with no pretensions to keeping and aging.

Serve this with a fresh spring salad or a stir fry and see how it adds zing to a simple dish. Or sample with seafood such as oysters or mussels to make a change from Chablis or Muscadet.

Yali Sauvignon Blanc 2009, £6.49 (down to £4.49 from 2-23 February at Majestic and Tesco)

ROZ COOPER: BIOGRAPHY

Roz began her wine career in California, leading wine tours and tasting wines for a wine warehouse near San Francisco. She then ran her own California wine import business in the UK and subsequently became assistant editor of Decanter magazine, then wrote various books on wine including The Wine Almanac. Since then, she has written wine columns in many publications and edited books and magazines, including The Italian Magazine. She’s passionate about green issues including organic and biodynamic winemaking and also works on a voluntary basis with the Galapagos Conservation Trust.

Les Trois Vallees, according to the official website, consists of the resorts of Courchevel, La Tania, Méribel, Brides-Les-Bains, Les Menuires - Saint Martin, Val Thorens and Orelle and is the largest skiing area in the world, linked together by ski runs and 180 ski lifts, with 600km of interconnected slopes.

All that skiing potential has been condensed into bit-sized chunks in the excellent little Snow Finder guide called simply “Les Trois Vallees”.

Fitting snugly into your back pocket, this easily transportable book has been compiled with help from expert skiers who recommend the best areas to both ski and enjoy the aprés ski atmosphere.

Every resort has favourite runs recommended - whether off piste, red, black, blue or green, so all levels of skiing ability are catered for. With two sets of friends of Risk Collective off to Scotland and Canada skiing this half-term, we know how important it is not to waste your week finding the best places to ski/eat out – a handy guide like this helps you make the most of your holiday – however much experience you have on the slopes.

Les Trois Vallees cost just £2.99 and you can but one direct from www.wave-finder.com

Pink is the colour so often associated with Valentines Day and many lovers choose pink Champagne or a similar fizz to celebrate; yet we are still in the depths of winter, and it’s still cold! How about warming up with a glass of rich, dark sherry made with the intensely coloured and flavourful Pedro Ximenez grape? Sipping this by a fire, with a box of top quality chocolates, is a definite recipe for sophisticated romance.

Sherry has fallen out of fashion to some extent in recent years, and this is a great shame, particularly for those of us who live in cold climates. There is nothing more sumptuous than a full-flavoured, aged sherry to ward off the chill. This example, from famed sherry producers Harveys, has been produced in the time honoured fashion from wines aged in a solera, a system of stacked barrels which are warmed in the sun for literally decades - the wines are gradually transferred as they age and the result is that depth of flavour which has notes of molasses and candied fruit. The original solera for these wines was started in 1919. So, be original this Valentines Day and share a small and perfectly formed bottle (50 cl) with the one you love.

Harveys Pedro Ximenez, Waitrose £19.99 per bottle.

ROZ COOPER: BIOGRAPHY

Roz began her wine career in California, leading wine tours and tasting wines for a wine warehouse near San Francisco. She then ran her own California wine import business in the UK and subsequently became assistant editor of Decanter magazine, then wrote various books on wine including The Wine Almanac. Since then, she has written wine columns in many publications and edited books and magazines, including The Italian Magazine. She’s passionate about green issues including organic and biodynamic winemaking and also works on a voluntary basis with the Galapagos Conservation Trust.

I heard an interesting piece of research recently – apparently if your teenager spends a lot of time on social sites such as Facebook and they get stuck into playing all the little games and applications you can find on there, they are more likely to be depressed than someone who does not use Facebook. This is according to a report published in The Journal of Adolescence and the test subjects were 83 teenage girls.

Interestingly, many of my friends are addicted to Facebook and applications such as Mafia Wars, Pet Ville and Farmville. They also lead fulfilling and very busy lives. I wonder if this reasearch also applies to older and middle aged women? Are we going onto social sites as a hobby and to keep in touch with out friends? Or is the amount of time we spend on these sites indicative of our state of mind?

I know that I enjoy catching up with people I am never likely to phone in my busy life and I am linked to many old friends on Facebook whom I would never have got back in touch with if the site was not out there. And my son enjoys playing the games - so do I in a spare moment. I am not aware of any depressive feeelings as a result in either of us! Food for thought…

If you have ever travelled to South America you will know that life is played out quite differently from our warm and comfortable existences here in the UK.

Not only is life simpler and closer to nature than our often over-complicated world can be, but it is also more colourful, and the division between rich and poor can be off the scale.

This new book The House On The Sacred Lake is one woman‘s tale of life and adventure in one of the poorest countries in South America - Bolivia.

Margaret Joan Anstee travelled to Bolivia in 1960 as the UN’s resident representative, became a trusted advisor and friend to presidents and her love affair with the country remains undimmed by the passage of time. She tells of her personal journey of discovery, the turbulant political world of Bolivia and the warmth of her friends and neighbour.

This is a fascinating insight into one of the world‘s least understood regions of the world and a Rick Collective must-read.

The House On The Sacred Lake is by Margaret Joan Anstee and published by Book Guild Publishing. It costs £17.99.

If you have a cool £2,495,000 to spare you might like to invest in this rather special new home on the prestigious Wentworth Estate in Surrey.

Golfing fans will love the fact that the house is right next to the famous golf course and everyone else will fall in love with the sheer amount of space this new home offers – it has five bedrooms, each with its own bathroom – how fabulous is that!

A games room which could be used as your own personal gym and a cinema room will keep even the most bored teenager occupied. The wine cellar will satisfy the rest of us and and encourage you to use the dining room for dinner parties!

For more information about White Ridge contact Barton Wyatt on 0134 484 3000 or visit www.bartonwyatt.co.uk.

There is something just irresistible about New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc. This winery has been in existence for 65 years, yet most of us think of these wines as a recent arrival on our shores, and our palates. Fact is, this grape is perfectly suited to growing conditions in the lovely Marlborough region and there is a depth of flavour and style which is hard to find in other southern hemisphere Sauvignon Blanc, such as those grown in Chile. The most famous region for this grape is Bordeaux in France and also the Loire Valley, where it yields Sancerre and its cousin, Pouilly Fumé.

So how does a New Zealand Sauvignon compare with its French version? The cliché is to call it ‘cat’s pee under a gooseberry bush’ (!) In France, the delicate ‘green pepper’ aroma is contained and subtle, in Kiwi land it is forceful and fragrant. Take your pick, but if you fancy a wine which will taste equally brilliant with a Thai curry or a grilled sole, then this is just right for you. Serve well chilled and relish its long, complex finish which delivers just the right amount of acidity to counterbalance any richness in a dish. It’s a class act.

Nobilo Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc 2008, £8.49 Asda, Morrisons, Tesco

ROZ COOPER: BIOGRAPHY

Roz began her wine career in California, leading wine tours and tasting wines for a wine warehouse near San Francisco. She then ran her own California wine import business in the UK and subsequently became assistant editor of Decanter magazine, then wrote various books on wine including The Wine Almanac. Since then, she has written wine columns in many publications and edited books and magazines, including The Italian Magazine. She’s passionate about green issues including organic and biodynamic winemaking and also works on a voluntary basis with the Galapagos Conservation Trust.

This amazing villa can be found in Albufeira, in the Algarve region of Portugal.

It sits at the top of a hill which gives it panoramic views over the sea.

The villa is built on one level in its own landscaped gardens and has a tennis court, heated swimming pool and all the luxuries you could only dream of… Plus it is only a 30-minute drive to Faro airport – so you can pop over for the weekend!

It will set you back just under £4 million at 4,500,000 euros from Unique Living.

Oh no! Not another wine with one of those cheery, jokey labels, I hear you cry. From pawprints on the neck capsule to a sketch of a pooch with its owner, this wine is begging for your attention, but in rather an appealing way. Despite its name, Charlotte’s Chardonnay is emphatically not a dog.

From Tuchan, a village in the heart of the exciting new world of winemaking in the Languedoc region of southern France, this wine expresses all that is most impressive about the way this area has reinvented itself. The wine is affordable, but not ridiculously cheap; it is fun, but not too silly. Best of all, it tastes fresh, fragrant and attractive, with that ‘meadow grass’ scent of quality Chardonnay and none of the heavy oiliness often associated with wines from the so-called New World. It has a delicate finish which deserves understated food to accompany.

This would be great for a convivial lunch get together; try it with clam chowder or other creamy fish dishes such as that English classic; fish pie. This is a versatile white wine which would also pair well with simple pasta dishes like ricotta and spinach tortellini or good old macaroni cheese.

Le Dog de Charlotte, Chardonnay 2008, Vin de Pays d’Oc, £5.49, www.morrisons.co.uk

ROZ COOPER: BIOGRAPHY

Roz began her wine career in California, leading wine tours and tasting wines for a wine warehouse near San Francisco. She then ran her own California wine import business in the UK and subsequently became assistant editor of Decanter magazine, then wrote various books on wine including The Wine Almanac. Since then, she has written wine columns in many publications and edited books and magazines, including The Italian Magazine. She’s passionate about green issues including organic and biodynamic winemaking and also works on a voluntary basis with the Galapagos Conservation Trust.

According to The British Nutrition Foundation a typical Christmas dinner clocks up close to 1,500 calories, so it’s hardly surprising many of us will be turning to sports in the New Year to ‘offset’ our excess festive calories.One of the cheapest and most effective forms of exercise that gets you outdoors as well is running. The average runner will run off more than 600 calories in one hour - all you need is some decent running clothes, a good pair of trainers and a positive mental attitude to brave the winter weather! But if you’re thinking of running your way into the New Year, don’t forget to read these safety tips for running in winter first.

Wear high viz clothing

Be seen or be, well, squashed potentially. As the sun sets before 5.30pm in January and most of February, it’s likely you’ll be running in the dark quite often during these months and it’s important other road users can see you out of the corner of their eyes to avoid nasty accidents. Although most sports shoes and some running clothing can contain reflective parts, high viz clothing really is a must if you want to be seen to be safe. There are a lot of choices on the market now and not all high viz items are garish yellow!

Don’t be a victim

Running alone in the dark brings another potential danger of setting yourself up as a victim to malicious individuals. For that reason, try to run with a buddy, tell someone when and where you are running, vary your routes and avoid deserted areas. Taking a mobile phone and some money is always a good idea too, in case you need to be picked up or take a bus home.

Stay warm and dry

Layering your running clothing is key in winter, as it means you can start fully clothed and take off layers to avoid sweating too much and losing vital body heat. You’ll warm up quite quickly, so if you’re leaving the house toasty warm, you’ve probably got too much on - it’s best to start off feeling slightly chilly. A long-sleeved running top and running tights topped off with a wind-proof running jacket, hat and gloves make for a good winter running wardrobe. Go for light-weight, breathable, windproof and waterproof fabrics that wick moisture away from your body. Running gear specialist Brett Bannister from SportsShoes.com says: “Remember, you’ll need extra motivation in winter, so getting this right will give you that extra push. The hardest bit is getting yourself outside of your warm and toasty indoor environment, but once you’ve done it, you’ll never come back feeling worse.”

Beware of snow and ice

Although running in the snow can be a magical experience, beware of the potential hazards lurking underneath. Opt for fresher, softer snow and avoid anything too hard-packed or icy. While running outside has more mood-boosting value than indoor exercise, you can weather-proof your winter running by investing in a treadmill. You can buy a decent one for around £100 from eBay, so if you have the space this may be a worthy investment!

And for your winter running wardrobe, the January sales couldn’t have come at a better time. Now you really don’t have an excuse not to get running …

Image: Copyright Carl_C on Flickr