Wine maker insures nose for £3.9m

A Bordeaux wine maker has insured his nose for £3.9 million, a report in the Daily Telegraph confirms.

The policy was taken out by Ilja Gort, the Dutch owner of the Chateau de la Garde in Bordeaux, France, to cover the loss of his nose and sense of smell.

Mr Gort, who produces Tulipe Wines, said his nose was his most important asset, as a good sense of smell was essential to guarantee the quality of his wines. While the tongue has only five areas of taste, the nose can distinguish millions of different scents, he added. "This certainly is an insurance policy not to be sniffed at," said Jonathan Thomas, lead underwriter at Watkins Syndicate who co-insured the policy with Allianz Nederland.

"The nose and sense of smell of a winemaker are as important as the fingers of a chef.