Last night I had a dream that I'd been given a once in a lifetime opportunity by a mysterious benefactor to go and live on a desert island in the middle of the Pacific Ocean. Food was plentiful on the island, but I had to forage and hunt for myself. I could take only one book and one record but thankfully the frankly absurd rules stopped there as I was permitted to take as much wine as I wanted. There was one catch though - I could only choose three types of wine. From these styles I could choose as many different producers as available, but I had to remain limited to the three types. Don't forget, this is all down to a benefactor, not a tyrant overlord, although I don't know what the consequences would have been if I'd broken the rules. No wine perhaps? Gadzooks! Sounds easy, right? But could you do it? Could you pick three desert island wines? Remember, these have to be wines that you feel you would never get bored of drinking, even after reading the one book you took for the 878^th time and wishing you'd bought something longer than the Garfield annual. Still sound easy? Okay, let me have a go first, and you can join in if you want. It's warm and sunny on this desert island so I'm going to want something refreshing that I can sip whilst watching the sunset from the verandah of my beach hut (also provided by this increasingly mysterious benefactor). So what shall I choose? Sauvignon Blanc? Oaky Chardonnay? Not today thanks. For me, there's only one choice here and that is a Riesling. Now this is where I've cunningly used my wine knowledge to my advantage because although I am limited to a type of wine, for Riesling there are many styles of it. Sneaky eh? So, I'm not restricted to a ripe and limey Aussie Riesling ad infinitum. I could choose a lighter, lower alcohol German Riesling perhaps, or with a bowl of tropical fruit I could have a deliciously chilled sweet Riesling. So what wine is next on my list? Well it's the first of two reds and in prime position is my first true love red Bordeaux (Claret in the old vernacular). I love Claret. Took to it the very first time I tried one (a 1983 Chateau Smith Haut Lafitte for anyone who's interested). And, it's a great food wine - so with any luck there are some slow-moving goats on this desert island that I can throw a well-thumbed Garfield annual at€¦ mmm€¦ goat stew washed down with a lovely Claret. For my third wine, I'm plumping for another red. I am utilizing my wine knowledge again and choosing Valpolicella, as like Riesling, it has a number of styles within its range. From light and juicy, almost Beaujolais-like, to the rich and sumptuous Amarone with the ever delicious Ripasso style in the middle - ripe and fruity with more than a hint of that Amarone-style to it. I defy anyone to get bored of this last wine! I admit I've stretched the rules a little here, but if I was to choose only three wines from our range which I would be more than happy to drink without ever getting bored, it would be these below:- Dr Loosen Erdener Treppchen Riesling Kabinett - simply delicious and perfect Chateau Siaurac 2007 Lalande de Pomerol - classy Claret Torre del Falasco Valpolicella Ripasso - almost as concentrated as an Amarone, but cheaper, generous benefactor or no! Until next time, Graham Simpson Wine & Spirits Buyer, Whitmore & White