Why not uncork the dream and drink it?

We imagine ourselves sitting watching the setting sun, as we sip a particularly fine vintage. We forget the 12 months of a year hard labour that went into that bottle; the infestations of parasites that threatened the crop, the late frosts and then hail that stripped the vines just before harvest.

But how about a compromise? Instead of all that hard work and risk, why not just rent the vines and drink the wine? Some 19 years ago British wine merchant Andrew Gordon had exactly the same idea, but he went off and did something about it.

He set up WineShare and today has around 6,000 very satisfied vine-owners that pay him some £70 a year to rent a row of 50 vines that he maintains. For this they can buy as many cases as they wish and either go to the vineyard or over to Calais to collect their bottles.

Today WineShare has vines close to Bordeaux, at Gordon's own property, Domain du Grande Mayne in the Ctes de Duras, as well in Provence at Chteau Cinstantin-Chevalier in the Luberon - made famous by Peter Mayle's book A Year in Provence - and in the Beaujolais at the highly-respected Chteau de Pizey.

Now, they have even have some in Italy, at John Matta's Castello Vicchiomaggio in Tuscany.

His partners often go over during the year to see their vines and sometimes even work in the vineyards. Over the years WineShare has become a very sophisticated operation with a newsletter and organised trips for members and guests. They will even, free of charge, produce your wines for you with your own personalised label; now that would be a talking point at the table next time you have a dinner party. In addition, of course, they have wine tastings in England as well as wine dinners and even day trips to Calais to pick up the wines.

If you fancy drinking your dream then log on to their website at www.wineshare.co.uk

If you like what you see then write to them at WineShare Limited, Glebelands, Vincent Lane, Dorking, RH4 3YZ, or call 01306 742164.