CHRISTMAS CHEERS

Grape Escapes (0845 643 0860/ www.grapeescapes.net) offers gourmet wine and champagne tasting weekends in France, including Bordeaux, Burgundy and the Loire Valley.

A two-night budget getaway from £234pp includes a half-day guided tour of the Montagne de Reims region where you'll visit several vineyards and champagne houses.

Price includes return Folkestoneto-Calais Eurotunnel crossings for a car and two passengers.

However, if you're not sure of the recipient's favourite tipple, why not buy gift vouchers instead, ranging from £100 to £1,000, which can be redeemed against any Grape Escape tour?

Available from www.grapeescapes.net/gifts

ON THE BEACH

Here's a taste of the Caribbean all in one smart compact leather pouch.

The Ligne St Barth Christmas bag is the ultimate beauty kit.

It contains banana hand cream, roucou tanning oil, vanilla body lotion and a scented Christmas candle.

A favourite among A-listers such as Kate Moss, these exotic natural products are produced on the French Caribbean island of St Barths.

Available in the UK exclusively from Goddess Health & Beauty (0208 201 8717/www.goddesslondon.co.uk), £138.

NEW HORIZONS

If Lord Sugar's Junior Apprentice series on BBC1 has inspired your child to become a successful young entrepreneur, a new course may encourage them.

Peak Horizon (01273 244695/ www.peakhorizon.com) has introduced International Summer Camps in the French Alps.

Aimed at young adults between 15 and 17, there are guest speakers, visits to cultural sites, sports for boosting teamwork and challenges to help hone business and entrepreneurial skills.

Price includes accommodation, lessons and activities.

Excludes flights. easyJet (0843 104 5000/www.easyjet.com) offers return flights from Gatwick to Geneva from £65.

WINTER CINEMA

What could be more festive than wrapping up in a cashmere blanket, sitting under the stars and watching Miracle On 34th Street?

London's Berkeley Hotel, in Knightsbridge (0207 201 1699/ www.the-berkeley.co.uk) has transformed its rooftop terrace into a pine-filled forest, complete with big screen showing old movies.

It's not only the city's most festive cinema, it's also the smallest, with just four seats.

Rather than popcorn, you can feast on mince pies and hot chocolate.

Tickets £55pp, available until January 31, 2012 (free for guests).

SOAR LIKE A BIRD

Take to the skies in exhilarating fashion by trying Paramotoring, an up-and-coming sport that uses powered paragliders.

Adventurer Charley Boorman, presenter of Channel 5's Extreme Frontiers, was in London this week with Parajet (01747 830575/ www.parajet.com) which offers a six or 12-day course in Mere, Wiltshire, or Spain's Costa Brava.

From £745pp, price includes equipment hire and tuition.

To take it to another level, Parajet is offering a special promotion of a week-long training course, at the end of which you walk away with your own paramotor, wing, reserve and helmet.

From £7,199pp (offer valid until December 31, 2011).