I am getting something of a reputation for myself in social circles in the Borders… I was at a lunch party in Peebles recently and noticed a bottle with the label opposite. “Wow!” I said, and the hostess followed my gaze. “Can I have that bottle, please,” I asked, hastily adding that I wanted it after it had been opened and the contents consumed! I was asked whether this was a particularly interesting wine and I said that I had no idea, but that loess was a fine-grained aeolian sediment. The hostess thereupon pulled the cork and we tasted it, no doubt thinking that the sooner this nut was appeased, the better!

The label tells us that the wine is young, fresh and fruity (and we would agree). It continues that it is ideal to drink by itself (which we did) or as a complement to white meats, Asian combinations or any kind of fish or seafood.

I am afraid I have no idea why this Argentinian wine is called ‘Loess’!