La Clarière finds its way (innocently) onto the TV!

I missed it, but many customers watching this week's BBC Two play 'Capturing Mary', starring Maggie Smith and David Walliams, did not fail to miss two wooden cases of my very own wine - La Clarière Laithwaite -prominently and lovingly displayed in the wine cellar where a lot of the action took place.

We had loads of e-mails. The Independent's online blog 'Pandora' took it up, helpfully pointing out that whilst the drama took place sometime in the 50's, La Clarière's first vintage was 1984.

That was kind, but I do hope some nice Laithwaites customer working in the props department of the BBC does not get into trouble. Did we pay for Product Placement? Certainly not!

Just like I didn't pay - or even ask - for Hugh Johnson to prominently display a case in a photograph of his personal wine-cellar, which appears in a couple of editions of The World Atlas of Wine. He actually got into trouble for that!

Whilst on the subject, though, I will be quite shameless and just casually mention that when you get your copy of the brand new WAOW - and you really should; it's much bigger than before, wittier than before; Hugh and Jancis have really taken their writing partnership to new heights and it's stuffed full of vast amounts of new wines and regions - check page 7. Only a small mention but it makes me happy.

Whilst on the subject, though, I will be quite shameless and just casually mention that when you get your copy of the brand new WAOW - and you really should; it's much bigger than before, wittier than before; Hugh and Jancis have really taken their writing partnership to new heights and it's stuffed full of vast amounts of new wines and regions - check page 7. Only a small mention but it makes me happy.