Those who visit the site regularly will know it’s long been my intention to have a regular newsletter. Indeed you may well have signed up and be patiently waiting for it.

Several things have held me back - the technology, too much on my plate, general inertia  -  but above all what to put in it. After all anything newsy appears on the site and/or on Twitter (where I tweet as winematcher and food_writer). There had to be some real benefit for subscribers.

I eventually decided that it needed to include offers - an opportunity to try products or places I had selected at a concessionary rate. The downside is that to start with these deals will only be offered by UK based companies which means that they’re of less benefit to those of you who live elsewhere although you can of course claim the benefit for a UK-based friend or family member. (If it works I’ll try and find partners who will set up a similar scheme for the States.)

To give you an incentive to sign up for the newsletter there’s a prize draw for new subscribers which gives you a chance to win a magnum of Bisol Crede. Prosecco, as you no doubt know, is the new fashionable fizz - great party drinking and for making cocktails such as Bellinis. I’ve visited the estate which is in beautiful countryside about an hour north of Venice and very much liked their wines.  And there’s something about popping the cork on a magnum that makes any occasion feel like a celebration.

All you have to do is to sign up for the newsletter which is free. You should receive your first newsletter by email in early February. The draw will take place on January 25th. For full terms and conditions see below:

Terms and Conditions
The prize draw is open to individuals aged 18 years or over. To enter the draw you must sign up as a subscriber in the Free Newsletter box on the home page of http://www.matchingfoodandwine.com*
Entries received after 3pm on Thursday 7th January 2010 (GMT) will be eligible. The closing date for entries is 11.59pm GMT Sunday 24th January 2010. Only sign-ups received before the specified closing date and time will be submitted into the draw. Matchingfoodandwine.com accepts no responsibility for lateness, or loss or misdirection of data.
No purchase is necessary to enter this draw.
Anonymous sign-ups will not be accepted.
The prize will consist of a magnum of Bisol Crede. No cash alternative is available for the prize
Entries are limited to one entry per person.
The winner will be selected at random on the 25th January 2010 and notified within 72 hours.
The winners name will be published within 15 days of the promotion’s closing date at http://www.matchingfoodandwine.com
Employees (and their relatives) of matchingfoodandwine.com and other companies associated with the competition are excluded from entry.

To unsubscribe from the newsletter at any time simply mail me at fiona AT matchingfoodandwine DOT com with the word ‘unsubscribe ‘ in the subject line. Names will not be passed on to companies participating in a promotion or any other third parties.