Bottle of the week

Time for a spot of California dreamin'. The first excuse is the wine tour through Napa and Sonoma, guided by Monica Murphy, is one of the most tantalising trips in Arblaster & Clarke's entire thirst-inducing brochure. The second is that the world's largest winery, Ernest & Julio Gallo, recently unveiled an exciting line-up of new wines which prove its commitment to quality as well as quantity. Gallo Sonoma County Chardonnay 1993 (Superquinn, £8.99 and many other outlets) is California Chardonnny at its best - zesty and yet creamy, with buckets of fruit balanced by noticeable but not too aggressive oak. It's pure, golden sunshine - just what we need.