Zünftler Black Forest Cherry Schnapps

If you’re planning to celebrate the start of Oktoberfest this weekend (yes, in September - I *know*) snap up this full-size bottle of Zünftler cherry schnapps from Lidl for just £14.99

It’s drier than kirsch (think grappa rather than a liqueur) and packs quite a punch but would be good as an after dinner shot after a hearty wurst-laden meal*. You can drink it as a frozen shot but having tried it that way I’d serve it at room temperature and let anyone who wants to add an ice cube or two. Handsome bottle as well if you want to take it along as a present.

Celebrate your own Oktoberfest!

Lidl is also stocking two really cheap German beers over the next couple of weeks - a Festbier and Wheat Beer - both at 99p and a shandy-style drink, Naturtrübes Radler, for 59p. I haven't tried any of these so can't vouch for them but I'd take a chance on the beers.

Alternatively try this delicious recipe for Oktoberfest chicken

Wine of the week: Tesco finest McLaren Vale GSM 2015

If you’re mystified by the initials GSM they stand for grenache, syrah and mourvèdre, three Rhône grape varieties which are often blended together in Australia to make generous hearty reds.

As an added bonus this one is made by one of South Australia’s most talented and idiosyncratic winemakers Chester Osborn of D’Arenberg which makes even the full price of £8 a bargain and the current discounted price (25% off until 18/9 if you’re buying groceries from tesco.com), an absolute steal - much better value than the Barossa Shiraz and Coonawarra Cabernet from the same range)

What would you drink it with? Same sort of things as shiraz - a nicely-charred steak, a late summer barbecue, a good homemade burger and a Sunday roast would all work well. I’d even put away some for the Christmas turkey …

Another wine I’d pick up while you’re at is is the 2016 Hans Baer Pinot Noir - yet another cracking German red* which is on offer at £6 (so £4.50 on this promotion) Perfect (lightly chilled) if you like lighter reds, with seared salmon or tuna for instance.

*remember the Black Star a couple of weeks ago?

Wine of the week: Terre di Faiano Primitivo Salento 2015

Today, if you weren’t aware, is the first day of Organic September, a month-long celebration of organic food and drink. So maybe a good opportunity to explore organic wine.

That’s made considerably easier at Waitrose by the fact that they have 25% off any 3 bottles for the coming week (until September 5th and except in Scotland).

Take the opportunity to pick up this perfect Southern Italian red with its lovely juicy blackberry fruit for just £7.49. Generally I find primitivo, which is the same grape variety as zinfandel, a bit coarse and rustic but this one is just lovely. It would make a great partner for baked aubergine dishes like aubergine parmigiana, slow-roast tomato sauces and blue cheeses (think Gorgonzola and figs). Or with middle eastern lamb dishes.

If you want to load up with some other wines I published a pick of my best buys back in June. Prices and vintages will most probably have changed since then but they should still be drinking well. The Romy Ferbras Ventoux for example which was £6.79 back then is now £7.79 (quite a hefty increase, Waitrose!) and £5.84 on promotion but still a cracking deal.

Best Waitrose Wine Buys: June 2017

Wine of the week: Black Star 2016

This is the second of two really good German reds I’ve come across this summer*. It may surprise you that Germany makes red wine at all but it now makes up a significant amount of what the country produces

Note however the attempt to make it look decidedly un-German - the contemporary label does little to suggest its origin apart from a discreet Pfalz (one of the main German wine regions) - or even the grapes it’s made from.

It’s on sale at £6.99 currently at Aldi as part of their summer wine festival which means that stock is limited so at that price I’d load up with a few. It has lovely dark vibrant fruit which is enhanced by being unfiltered and is altogether rather delicious. (They suggest you decant it but I quite like it as it is). I’d drink it with a barbecue, the first of the season’s game and/or autumn vegetables like roast squash.

* The other being a Dornfelder at Lidl which was selling for just £4.99 but which I imagine has disappeared by now. Grab some if you can though.