Where to get the best produce.

9:49am Monday 10th December 2007

IN part four of our series on how to have an eco-friendly Christmas we're moving on to the drinks.

It will be so easy to save thousands of air miles this Christmas by drinking local wines, rather than those flown in from vineyards around the world.

And what could be a better way to start shopping for your festive drinks than a nice glass of warm mulled wine or perry while you browse what's on offer?

Allan Jackson, of Callow Hill Country Wines, near Redditch, sells hot apple and elderberry mulling wine by the glass as well as by the bottle. He also sells a wide range of country wines made with traditional ingredients and by traditional techniques.

Some of his great red wines include the delicious sounding elderberry, or damson and blackberry claret.

If you prefer a glass of white, let your imagination and taste buds run wild with choices including apricot, traditional crab apple, elderflower or gooseberry.

The farmers' market is also a great place to stock up on natural fruit juices.

Sunbank Orchard's Joy Tschak suggests that you visit her stall and try her Worcester pearmain apple juice. It bears no resemblance to commercial cartons of apple juice - it's fresh and fruity and tastes of real apples.

"The apples are all grown without any chemicals - the juice is beautiful, it's not made from concentrate or thinned down. You can even warm it up, add cloves, spices and vanilla sticks to make a lovely Christmas drink," said Joy.

Cider and perry are wonderful drinks to offer friends and family with mince pies, as well as to accompany meals.

At George Bomford's stall you can buy warm perry by the glass to help you keep the winter weather at bay while you browse his excellent selection of cider, perry and juices. Made from single varieties of apples, George sells juices using Discovery, Coxes, Bramley and Worcester apples that he grows on his farm near Alcester.

His pear juices include single variety conference and comice pear.

So, be good to the environment and enjoy something a little different this Christmas by stocking up on some locally-produced wines, cider, perry and fruit juice.

All of these producers, as well as many more will be at the farmers' market in Bromsgrove High Street today, from 9am to 5pm.

CAROLINE WRIGHT

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