Allow me to taint this so-far-World-Cup-free-zone by wondering here which team Dirk Niepoort supported during Sunday night’s terribly ill-tempered scrap between Portugal, his adopted country, and Holland, land of his great grandfathers. Most of the players, and the glossy, yellow card-loving Russian ref in particular, looked as though they had already downed a bottle of Niepoort Colheita.
Like many other wine professionals, I shall be in the Napa Valley this weekend for the Masters of Wine Symposium there. The big quarter-final showdown between England and Portugal is scheduled for 4pm UK time this Saturday. This crucial match will therefore...