Since determining to live La Vida Local, we are constantly finding hidden gems and unexpected bonuses.

A reader of our blog recommended we have a sniff around Amey's Wines, in Melford Road, Sudbury. We enjoy the occasional thimble full but are certainly no connoisseurs. So we imagined that a specialist wine merchant would not cater to those of us with limited means and unrefined palettes.

But it turns out Peter and Sue Amey are not elitist. They don't see their role as competing with supermarkets and they choose stock for quality and distinctiveness, rather than brand names.

And because the wines are personally tasted, it protects us Philistines from dodgy choices.

Selecting those that have travelled the shortest distances, we bought various French reds for between £4 and £4.70 a bottle. In the name of research, we have since put them through rigorous trials. As a result, we will soon be taking advantage of Amey's special deals on purchases over a dozen bottles.

Other local shops we've found selling wine include Hitchcock's, Strawberry Stores and farm shops.

On my rare evening escapes, it has seemed appropriate to switch my allegiance from lager to home-grown ales. Since the ghastly fall-out following a beer festival stag night, I had not been tempted to taste such brews, but I have now come through my aversion therapy with success.

Being a limp-wristed lightweight, two pints of lager is enough to render me distinctly off-colour. But since converting to ale, I wake up as fresh as a daisy. And it costs around 50p a pint less.

The most enjoyable I've tried is also the most local, made by Mauldon's here in Sudbury, and served at the Quay Theatre bar.

I intend to look out for those made in other microbreweries: Nethergate, St Jude's and St Peter's. Perhaps one day I might be able to hold my head up among our bearded friends, but first I shall have to put in lots more practice.

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