I was recently fortunate enough to receive two bottles of sweet wine from some South African friends who were visiting London. Sweet wines always seem like a good idea as a gift and are generally appreciated. But now I am trying to figure out how and when to open them. Granted, it’s not the worst predicament to be faced with!

The one is the 2002 vintage of the famous Vin de Constance from acclaimed producer Klein Constantia. It is a natural sweet wine, produced from the fragrant Muscat de Frontignan grape. It has picked up a number of medals and awards and according to a few websites should be drinking pretty well about now.