Though made in Bordeaux from grapes not girders, claret has a legitimate claim as Scotland’s other national drink and once linked Scotland and France so closely, it was called the “Bloodstream of the Auld Alliance.”

Sign up for a convivial start to the Peebles Arts Festival week as Billy Kay investigates the fascinating history of the Scots involvement with claret and the great wines of the world – Sancerre, Champagne, Port, Sherry, Madeira and California, and celebrates our imbibing tradition in poetry, prose and song. Accompanied by an appropriate glass there is no better way to sample historic authenticity and start your Monday evening with a glow.