The Whine Column

5:39pm Thursday 13th March 2008

Dear Jessica: I have head lice, what do I do?

Jessica uncorked: Comb your hair, and for God's sake stop trying on hats from the charity shop!

Seriously though, you are not alone, about three million people in the UK get head lice every year.

The most common way to get them is from head to head contact with people that have them already, so be careful who you snog!

There are plenty of over the counter medicines and shampoos, but they do contain an insecticide. The natural way to combat them is to shave your head or get a nit comb, lots of conditioner, and some tea tree oil. Add a few drops of oil to the conditioner and comb your wet head for about half and hour, three times a week, for two weeks.

And while you are doing that, you might as well enjoy a glass of wine. I recommend the 2007 Special Cuvée Sauvignon Blanc from Springfield Estate - a South African wine firm that has its own interesting ways of fighting creepy crawlies, by hiring a platoon of ducks to guard the vines and eat the snails.

The colour of this wine is pale gold. It glistens slightly and has just enough body to hang on the side of the glass for a moment.

The bouquet is sweet and tangy. It smells strongly of gooseberries, with a hint of grass and a touch of pineapple. When it first hits your tongue, if your eyes are closed, you might be fooled into thinking you were drinking a sparkling wine. The grapes were harvested during a cool night in February last year. It tastes of tropical fruits, but it's not classically sweet. With 12.5 per cent-12.7 per cent alcohol, you can enjoy the wine without being overpowered.

It lingers, evoking memories of hot summer nights and perhaps that gentleman who passed on the lice to you.

You can pick up the 2007 Springfield Estate Special Cuvee Sauvignon Blanc at Sainsbury's in Kidlington for £8.99.

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