If you are still working out the right Rioja or the coolest Chablis to put on your dining table Oz Clarke may be able to help you when he comes to Bath on Monday.

Oz has just had published his long-awaited beginners' guide to understanding and enjoying the nation's favourite tipple and he will be talking to guests at an easy-to- understand level when he visits Topping & Company booksellers in The Paragon Bath on Monday at 7pm for a talk at 7.30pm.

A ticket costs £8 and for that you have a tasting and book voucher so don't forget to book a taxi to take you home.

Oz actually started a career as a full-time actor and singer working for the Royal Shakespeare Company but then in 1984 became a full-time writer.

Oz has written several award-winning books, and is widely known for his partnership with Jilly Goolden as the wine experts on the BBC Two programme Food and Drink. More recently Oz appeared on BBC Radio 4 in The Wine Programme with Andrew Jefford, in two series of Oz and James's Big Wine Adventure with James May, and a sequel titled Oz and James Drink to Britain broadcast on BBC Two.

Food is a recurring theme for writers visiting Bath and Topping in particular.

On November 5 Mary Berry will be at a literary lunch organised by Topping at St Swithin's Church, Bath, for which tickets cost £12 to include a book voucher.

Mary's name has become synonymous with delicious and reliable recipes that have become a fixture in kitchens all over the country.

In her new Baking Bible she provides the most comprehensive baking cookbook you'll ever need.

Looking further ahead Simon Hopkinson will be talking about the vegetarian option at Topping on November 12. In his new book Vegetarian Food, Simon focuses entirely on cooking mouth-watering recipes without using either meat or fish. Tickets cost £6 including a book voucher.

If you have young ones it's never too early to get them interested in food. You could do it through books like Tim Lerwill's Farmer Tim stories.

His latest book in the series is Vegetable Patch and Tim will be at Waterstone's in Milsom Street on Saturday, November 14 from noon to 3pm.

There will be readings, signings and activities.