The Vikings were the first to notice the USA's potential as a wine-producing nation - young Leif Ericsson helmed an expedition of likely lads to the place he named 'Vinland' in around 1000AD. After several bruising encounters with the local Indian population, the Norsemen settled for a draw and loaded a cargo of grapes and timber before sailing for Greenland.

A thousand years later, the USA is making wine from Hawaii to Texas, but most of the decent stuff comes from California.

I remember back in the recession two before the last one, in the early 70s - 'three day week' and all that - that my first trip to California gave me the biggest shot of adrenalin, excitement and get up and go I've ever had. What energy and creativity and money! Sublime AND ridiculous.

Wineries like Disneyland, yet the most amazingly knowledgeable wine consumers in the world. Since then, it went a bit OTT pricewise, but has calmed now. I doubt it will ever be a place for bargains but there are wonderful wines to be had.

Chile is blessed with perhaps the best conditions of all. A high, dry and very sunny yet cool plateau, with ample irrigation from the snow-melt water of the Andes, and virtually no vine disease.

The land is perfect, it was the expertise that had to improve. We've helped a little by sending several winemakers there in the last decade and made, we think, the best whites on offer. And more recently we've also shipped some truly world class reds.

Now Chile is regarded as one of the most exciting wine producing countries of the New World.

The sleeping giant of the wine world, just beginning to stir. Huge potential and already a few good, modern-style wines are appearing. But, on the whole Argentina can be a very frustrating place to buy - there are simply so many wines that do not live up to the potential of the brilliant fruit.

In volume, at least, Argentina is the most important wine producing country in South America, it's just that they have tended to sell to their domestic market rather than lifting the game and leaving themselves open to the judgement of the world's wine buyers. Complex historical and political reasons have a lot to do with it, but, just like South Africa after Apartheid, we're expecting Argentina to start competing seriously with the best of the New World.