On the grapevine

Drink for South Africa: Its government has banned selling alcohol to prevent over-indulgent locals overwhelming hospitals in the pandemic. Producers have lost a big share of their market so to keep them in business we should drink at least one bottle of South African wine each week. Harrogate Fine Wine (01423 522270) has one of the best selections from South Africa. Try Adi Bardenhorst’s chunky, flavoursome The Curator Red (£9.99) made from a blend of Shiraz, Cinsault, Mourvèdre and Viognier. It is perfect with grilled sausages. Move upmarket to Tokara Reserve Collection Cabernet Sauvignon 2015 (£26.90, Cellar

Selected, 01422 416200) from one of the outstanding properties in Stellenbosch.

Recycling: Chilean engineers have discovered a new use for the grape skins that are left over at the end of winemaking. They have found that a percentage of marc, as grape skins are technically known, once added to asphalt, is helpful in preventing roads cracking as they age. I am reminded of parts of Australia where kangaroos will settle down to sleep on roads because they are warmer at night than the open bush. Let’s hope that the local wildlife doesn’t discover that roads are partly made from the skin of grapes – otherwise they may start eating them.

Wine travel: Lockdown has stopped us all from going to visit vineyards, inset, but that hasn’t stopped the wineries investing in their facilities. When flights resume and we all feel like travelling again, there is a new hotel in the heart of the sherry country of Spain. Gonzalez Byass has opened a small boutique Hotel Bodega Tio Pepe in the 19th century buildings that were once workers’ cottages. Clearly those workers would not now recognise their former homes. This is luxury all the way with top-quality food and facilities. Check out www.tiopepe.com/es-es/ hotel.