On the grapevine

Wine quiz winner: Congratulations to everyone who entered the quiz and spent hours or possibly days researching the answers. As always, there was a tremendous response and marks were extremely high. This year’s winner is L Allott of Harrogate who wins a six-pack of delicious red wines from top producers, Chapoutier, Errazuriz, Jadot, Kleine Zalze, CVNE and Hancock & Hancock worth over £100. Honourable mentions but, sadly, no prizes go to A Haigh, M Meadowcroft and J Freeman.

Pride of Lebanon: Ch Musar is held in special regard among wine drinkers. Not only is the wine exceptional, it is the only estate I know where, during the war in Lebanon, the grapes grew and were processed on different sides of the conflict zone. Serge Hochar was the man who brought Ch. Musar to the attention of the world and his family continues that work, making wines with concentrated dark fruit, layered with tobacco and leather, always characterful with a distinct sense of place. As part of the excellent series of books published by Academie du Vin (www.AcademieduVinlibrary. com), 12 respected writers, including Michael Broadbent, Jancis Robinson and Steven Spurrier, have written up

Chateau Musar: The Story of a Wine

Icon (£30), from its beginning in the 1930s to the present day. This is not an average wine book even though there are maps, pictures and vintage descriptions. It is more a tale of one man’s triumph over adversity, with wine at the heart of the story.

Out in the wash: If you are planning to pour fizz on Monday, then make sure your glasses are a matched pair, clean and polished, especially if they have been in the dishwasher. Any residual rinse-aid kills the bubbles so rinse them again in clear water and dry them with a fresh cloth.