Take stock of your very own mini bar

Nor should it only be the preserve of weekends and special occasions... but a glass when eating alone might seem extravagant if you are going to open a full bottle.

Nowadays, it is easy to find a number of 25cl - the equivalent of a third of a bottle - miniature screw-cap bottles which are ideal for a TV dinner alone, or for making a sandwich lunch at your desk into something a bit special.

You can also find these miniatures at numerous pubs which allows you to enjoy a decent glass of wine that hasn't become oxidised and tired after being opened for days or weeks!

Most supermarkets stock these small bottles. Asda offers the best range of 23 different wines from their own brand red Cabernet Sauvignon and white Chardonnay at an easily affordable £1 each to Taylor's Select Port of £2.28.

Most of them are priced at £1.45 and include such popular favourites as Long Mountain Merlot & Shiraz and Chardonnay, Stowells of Chelsea's Montepulciano, Chardonnay/Pinot Grigo and Piesporter. There is also a rather fascinating sounding Weightwatcher's Riesling!

If you're looking for bargains then go to Aldi. It has a small range of four miniatures at £1.19 each that Includes a strapping Australian Shiraz, a smooth Chilean Merlot and a crisp South African Chenin Blanc.

Of course you could go to the other extreme for when friends might drop in, and buy a three-litre Bag-in-Box of wine. The wine is held in a plastic bag inside the box and you pour it through a non-return tap that keeps most of the air out. Bags of white wine are best kept in a fridge while reds should be stored somewhere cool - garages are ideal.

A Bag-in-Box from Waitrose will cost £14.99 for what is the equivalent of three and three-quarter 0.75cl bottles.

Mind you, these boxes are a whole lot heavier than a couple of 25cl miniatures, but it does bring the cost down to only £1.25 for the same quality.

However, there is always the temptation to go back to the fridge for just another half a glass!