This column is a massive fan of the wines of Spain. In my opinion, Spain currently offers the best value (price versus quality) of any wine-producing nation.

Wine dinners — where importer and restaurant collaborate to showcase a particular range of wines — are often great fun and very good value too.

I once heard one of Chile’s most illustrious winemakers, Aurelio Montes, affectionately refer to the pinot noir grape as being like his teenage offspring: full of potential for a great future — but a royal pain to deal with right now.

THERE was an embarrassment of riches at the annual New Zealand wine fair last week.