This Week I've mainly been drinking...

Back up to Scotland this time and it’s question time for Jamie Stewart who looks after the on-trade and specialist independent retailers in the West. Before joining Alliance Jamie worked for a national distributor, did his time with Oddbins and worked “on the other side of the corkscrew” as a sommelier at Gleneagles.

So Jamie, you work with some of Scotland’s finest restaurants. Which of our wines do you think are just made for this kind of outlet? Wines showing true variety, and origin, are always a joy to work with. The Aussie Shiraz specialists, Two Hands, are phenomenal. Highlighting Australia’s diverse regions, I have never tasted a more complete range of powerful, distinctive, stunning wines. You have a reputation as a bit of a gourmet and Scotland is well known as a source of fantastic seafood. Any top food and wine tips?

Loch Fyne oysters and well-chilled Pommery Brut Royal is unbeatable. As are grilled Sound of Jura crevettes with Gutierrez Colosia Fino sherry or Dunkeld Wild Smoked Salmon with Two Hands Riesling… Am I being greedy?

You’ve been on “Alliance Adventures” to Italy and South Africa. What wine country is top of your wish list to visit next and why?

I would love to do a trip to Santiago and see the Chilean vineyards there before heading south towards the lakes and mountains to do a bit of hiking. Then fly over the Andes to Mendoza in Argentina to play Gaucho for a while. Lots of prime rib of beef and even more Malbec and Tempranillo. Fantastico!

Rumour has it that the Stewart family account is Alliance’s single biggest user of Bodegas Gutierrez Colosia sherries. What other wines from the less visited ends of the Alliance portfolio do you think people are missing out on?

Ha! It is no coincidence that my favourite restaurants do at least 2 sherries by the glass! I also think that modern Spanish whites are stunning, like the Verdejo by Veracruz or Albarino from Adegas Galegas. For reds, I love lesser known village wines of the Rhone Valley, Gigondas from Domaine Brusset is a cracker.

You’re keen on a day in the hills and not averse to the odd bit of stalking. What would you be looking forward to drinking when you got back from being beaten to a pulp by the weather?

After having your breath taken away by the scenery and your legs replaced by lead, there is nothing that comes close to a good dram! A Talisker from Skye or a Ardbeg from Islay…always a large measure…is good for the soul.