Am Claret, will travel

What is the only non-European wine choice on "Desert Island Discs"? And what does it have to do with Claret?

For almost eighty years one of the most loved radio programmes in Britain has been Desert Island Discs. Guests are asked to choose eight recordings as well as a book and a luxury item to keep them company on the desert island. People regularly choose wine as a luxury. They regularly choose Bordeaux. But in 2003 the American singer Gene Pitney took eight…