A BOTTLE of wine is not always the obvious choice of present for Mother's Day -- which for those of you able to avoid the commercial world is on March 10.

The cry is usually "don't buy me anything fattening" which automatically rules out chocolates, and wines.

Or does it?

Sainsbury is selling what could be the perfect option, a Weight Watchers Riesling.

The Clear Vision Riesling is a German white wine made 100 per cent from the Riesling grape. It has a lower alcohol level than most at 8.5 per cent. As such it has a value of one Weight Watchers' Pure Point per 125 ml glass (80 calories), compared with 1.5 points for other wines. This levels out at six points per bottle compared with nine for other wines.

There is no saturated fat in the wine, and it is suitable for vegetarians and vegans. And the wine, which costs £4.49 comes recommended by Weight Watchers who match it with a variety of its recipes on its website -- weightwatchers.co.uk

But what does it taste like? Ironically for a wine low in calories, it is surprisingly sweet. A little too sweet for me, but perfect for those not keen on dry wines. For those desperately trying to keep on a diet, it is also the perfect alternative to abstention.

However, if calories are not too big a consideration for your Mother's Day present, then Mumm could be the word. Morrison supermarkets stock a wonderful Mumm Cuvee Napa at £10.99 a bottle. The sparkling wine with the appropriate name for the occasion is delicious. It comes from the Napa Valley in California and has a delicate taste which makes it enjoyable to drink unaccompanied. Fruity, yet dry it is beautifully bottled, and is the perfect sparkling wine to celebrate the special day with.

The unseasonal snow, hale and gale force winds may be turning your thoughts away from a chilled wine at the present time. If so what could be more effective than the drink the soldiers in the East Lancashire regiment used to warm them up while in the freezing trenches of the First World War?

Benedictine's traditionally strong links with Lancashire dates back to the winter of 1918-19. The East Lancashire Eleventh Battalion was based in Fecamp during the winter. Desperate to keep warm the soldiers developed a taste for Benedictine, drinking the liqueur mixed with hot water. The drink became a firm favourite, and was even rumoured to have healing effects for various illnesses.

When the soldiers returned home they demanded Benedictine be provided in their local taverns. The links remain today, with Burnley Miners Club the largest selling outlet by volume of Benedictine in the country.

However, the history of the drink can be traced back to the Benedictine Monastery of Fecamp early in the Sixteenth Century. It is a mixture of regional plants and oriental spices. It is made from 27 plants and spices including hyssop, angelica, melissa, myrrh, fir tree buds, honey and even tea.

The drink disappeared during the French Revolution when the monks were forced to close their monastery. But it was rediscovered by Alexander the Great in 1863 when he found the recipe in an old manuscript belonging to the monk, Dom Bernardo Vincelli. Alexander the Great did not just build a factory for its production, he built a museum, an art gallery and a palace where it was manufactured.

The drink is a sweet deliciously warming liqueur. Benedictine will be taking a stand at the Lancashire Food Festival at Accrington Town Hall on March 7, and will be making an appearance at the inaugural Food, Drink and Wine Show at the G-Mex in Manchester from April 12 to 14.