What I Drank Last Night – Perrier-Jouet Belle Époque/Fleur de Champagne 2002. Utterly delightful, subtle and complex. Dominated by beautifully aged, mellow Chardonnay flavors, layers of brioche and soft lemony acidity.

Taylor’s Chip White Port and tonic, a delightfully refreshing drink unappreciated in America. I enjoyed it, and the spectacular view of Oporto across the Douro at sunset, on the terrace of Dick’s Bar, one of the many splendid amenities of the brand new Yeatman Hotel in Vila Nova de Gaia – talk about the right spot for the right cocktail.

What I Drank Last Night –  a Pink Bliss shaken by Lorenzo Bakewell-Stone, brand ambassador for Croft Pink port, at Dick’s Bar in the magnificent new Yeatman hotel, Oporto.

Muddle 1 mint leaf, 3 strawberries, a slither of hot red chilli (seeds removed) together in shaker

Add: 1.5 oz Croft Pink, .75 oz neutral vodka, ice and shake well.

Double strain into Martini glass.

Garnish with small red chilli or floating mint leaf

What I drank last night – at The Tangled Vine an exotic Bordeaux-blend from Fioli, the Sant’ Elena Roso di Rôl 1998. Yes, both the blend and the vintage are correct, I wasn’t dreaming, though it certainly didn’t taste like a Cab/Merlot blend. But the robust, spicy wine made for a brilliant pairing with TV’s new lamb ravioli in an equally zesty tomato, olive and mint sauce.

What I drank Last Night – the Margerum Rosé 2010, a Vin de Pays de Vaucluse, shows that even the more remote regions of Provence, far removed from the bling-drenched fleshpots of the coast, are realizing that there’s real money – not just Brussels hand-out money – to be made by producing quality wine that consumers from Santa Barbara to Sanremo actually want to drink.

What I Drank Last Night – Craggy Range Pinot Noir, Te Muna Road Vineyard 2009. Rich and juicy, good mineral and earthy undertones all beautifully integrated with soft, ripe tannins. A joy the first day, even better two days later.

What I Drank Last Night – Chateau Aydie 2007, from Gascony – hey, that rhymes, in English anyway – in SW France is round and juicy, an appealing combination of fruit and earth that, when chilled, proved the perfect wine for  a bowl of spinach ravioli with bolognaise sauce.

The best $10 CA chard in a long time, the 2009 Mark West from the Central Coast where the cool Monterey mists allow this wine to retain real citrus fruit freshness unheard of at this price.

What I Drank Last Night – With my Oz chums Peter & Michele, Leeuwin Estate’s very special Art Series Chard 2005, from Margaret River and absolutely a point at the moment. About as good as it gets in Oz Chard.

What I Drank Last Night – Houchart Rosé 2010. Who needs to pay $30, $50 or even $100 Provencal rosés when there are strawberry infused, mineral laced beauties like this for $13? Bone dry but with so much fruit it’s succulently juicy.