Who is Jane Parkinson?

my perfect day would begin with…

The sun shining, herbal tea in my mug and of course, a kiss!

the most beautiful wine region I've visited is…

The Douro is always breathtaking, as is South Africa.

if I wasn't a wine writer I'd be a…

A jewellery designer. Or let’s face it, much more likely - a winemaker’s wife.

the last bottle of wine I drank (not just tasted) was…

Deutz Blanc de Blancs 2004. Gorgeous stuff.

my favourite restaurant(s) is/are…

Argh... SO hard. I love these London places...
Relaxed: Bread & Wine in Spitalfields or Moro in Exmouth Market
Smarter: Glasshouse in Kew Gardens or the Greenhouse in Mayfair
Yet to go to (but I think I'd love it!): Petersham Nurseries in Richmond

my cellar is mostly composed of…

a real mix of things really, but maybe slightly weighted towards Champagne and Pinot Noir. I've also got claret and red Burgundy in bond.

if you were coming for dinner I'd cook…

Spiced chicken with dates (a Hugh FW recipe).

and to drink with it I would serve…

A dry Amontillado or a Pinot Noir.

and other dinner party guests would be…

My best friends, obviously.

my biggest blind-tasting faux pas was…

I haven’t really had a blind-tasting episode but I did nearly die of embarrassment when the Prime Minister of Moldova once overheard me telling someone at a reception exactly what I thought of the general quality of his country’s wine. Several blushes later I discovered he couldn’t actually speak a word of English. Phew.

the blind-tasting moment I would prefer to concentrate on was…

I was once challenged by a winemaker who said I would “never ever” guess the three grapes in his unusual white blend. I got all three first time so he sent a case of wine to congratulate me. Thanks Gerard.

one thing that might surprise you about me is…

I won a national competition in Wales for singing alongside a harp (okay, so maybe that’s two things - I also speak Welsh).

if I was a winemaker I'd make my wines in…

Italy, somewhere...

other than wine, I have a secret passion for…

Er, and the definition of secret is...?

my favourite holiday destination is…

Again, Italy. Or, long haul - great people, great wines, great (non seismic-induced) views... Chile or New Zealand. Urban fun - New York.

I think restaurant mark-ups on wine are…

Very variable. I'm all for this country's BYO revolution - bring it on.

the best movie or TV show of all time is…

The Thick of It or Brideshead Revisited.

in Summer in the garden I'd drink…

Something cold, dry and that doesn’t end with the letters gio.

my favourite piece of music would have to be…

My favourite style/genre changes all the time. Right now Mayer Hawthorne is played a lot.

my best bottle of wine ever was probably…

Can I change this to most poignant? About a week after I’d finished reading Wine & War (a book on the French wine industry and its people during the German occupation), I was served 1945 Bollinger. Sounds a bit cheesy I know, but it really choked me up.