As soon as I knew I was going to climb Kilimanjaro in September I also knew that I was going to have to do some more serious and sustained uphill walking.

Instead of a refreshing walk in late autumn sunshine, by the time we had mounted our assault on South Wales' highest peak the rain and cloud started to move in.

We walked straight up from Storey Arms and over the crest of one hill until we had Pen y Fan in our sights. At that point it was clear enough to see the top - and the rather steep but not too daunting path leading upwards - but the clouds were rolling in.

We'd been passed on our way upwards by a man in an Army T-shirt, who practically skipped along the path we were huffing and puffing our way along, and by a handful of walkers in full wet weather walking gear (and balaclavas) making their way back down, away from the incoming rain.

By the time we started on the steep path leading up to the summit we were surrounded by cloud and fighting a fierce wind blowing us towards the edge of the path and a very steep drop.

There aren't too many things that scare me apart from heights, especially when there's nothing below you but a long drop onto rocks. I walked as delicately as I could up the final metres, urging myself not to slip, my hand firmly clenched around my trusty walking pole.

The top of Pen y Fan was shrouded in cloud and we were denied the spectacular views across the Brecon Beacons, which would have been ample reward for our efforts in reaching the bare slab of rock at the top.

Coming down was just as trecherous, not least because the carefully laid rock path was wet and slippery, the rain was a horizontal torrent of icy pins and the wind was still raging.

Typically, as soon as we were off the steepest part of the walk, the rain stopped, the wind eased and the clouds had moved onwards.

I won't lie to you - reaching the top of Pen y Fan wasn't as easy as I thought it was going to be. I needed plenty of stops to catch my breath and I've yet to conquer my fear of heights. That said, I think several more attempts over the coming month will help my fitness no end.

As a postscript to this, Huw Evans - the photographer who devised the idea of sending 15 former Wales captains (and me) to the top of Kilimanjaro in a bid to raise £1m for Velindre's Stepping Stones appeal - told me yesterday that even Martyn Williams found it tough reaching the top of Pen y Fan.

(Stockist: www.everywine.co.uk, Eton Vintners, www.dvino.co.uk)
Amarone della Valpolicella DOC Classico Capitel Monti Olmi
2000: Deep prune brown edges, the nose is quite soft stewed fruit. Soft tannins the a big bang of tarry notes toward the mid palate. Huge length on the finish and if taken unawares would kill a goat at ten paces. My type of Amarone.
2005: More agricultural on the nose with berry fruit showing through. Nice balance with tart acidity. Very soft finish. A restrained wine, even tempered. Just goes to show what huge changes happen in five years bottle age. (The 2004 was £55)

Amarone della Valpolicella DOC Classico
(Stockist: www.farehamwinecellar.co.uk, Eton Vintners, www.amordivino.co.uk)
2005: Sweet beetroot on the nose with a little earthiness. Blackcurrant leaf in there as well, touches of iodine. Sweet, round tannic structure. Little pepper spice to the backbone. Bright on the finish. (The 2004 was £28)

AGRICOLA MUSELLA S.S.

(Stockist: www.virginwines.co.uk)
Amarone Riserva DOC
2005: Big, deep colour almost impenetrable. Toffee notes on the nose to go with the warm, punchy fruit. Bramble fruit quite full, does move on a tad. Big sweetness on the mid palate, almost banyuls-like in depth. Very gentle restrained finish. Little acidic punch in there. A softer style that belies the power of the wine. (The 2004 was £28)

ALLEGRINI

(Stockist: Majestic, Fortnum and Mason, www.woodvintners.com, Laytons)
Amarone
2000: Brown edges signifying age, little chestnut notes, tannic structure is fully integrated and soft. Still enough going on to see bottle development for a good while yet.
2001: Little garnet at the edges. Smokiness on the nose. Quite closed on the palate with the tannins sat alongside the sweet fruit. Little green leaf on the mid palate. Tannins really catch hold as the wine develops. Robust acidity on the finish. (£50)

BRIGALDARA

Amarone Case Vicie
(Stockist: Only stocked for pre-Christmas orders contact www.vinum.co.uk)
2004: Deep nose, showing rich fruit cake aromas. This is a big boy, lots of acidity that smooth off to the integrated tannins. Firms up toward the mid palate with the deep black fruits taking hold. A robust, lung-warming wine that will develop long into the night. (£50)

Amarone Classico
(Stockist: www.everywine.co.uk, Oddbins)
2006: Showing a little soil on the nose. Nice bright colour with sweet fruit notes, bright and lively on the palate. Tannins quite restrained and softens as the wine develops in the glass. (£35)

MASI AGRICOLA SPA

Costasera Amarone della Valpolicella DOC Classico
(Stockist: Taurus Wines, Noel Young Wines, www.winedirect.co.uk)
2006: Slight perfume on the nose, restrained fruit but quite a poke of acidity. Fairly closed and needs time as the fruit tends to die away quite quickly. (£26)

Vaio Armaron Amarone della Valpolicella DOC Classico
(Stockist: www.winedirect.co.uk)
2004: Big, stinky nose, lots of dimension. Full mouth feel with the stewed fruit holding forth with soft tannins in the background. Nice acidity to an elegant wine.

Soc. Agr. NICOLIS ANGELO E FIGLI s.s.

(Stockist: On trade only)
Amarone della Valpolicella DOC Classico
2004: Smoky nose, showing good bramble fruit. Full tannic hit initially that dies away to the mid palate. There's a definite delicate sweetness to the fruit but not at all cloying. Finish is leafy green and quite restrained. (£30+)

'Ambrosan' Amarone della Valpolicella DOC Classico
(Stockist: On trade only)
2004: Loads of clout on the nose. Lots of port character with warm, fullsome fruit. Little muskiness at the edges. Almost coffee chocolate initially then a balanced tannic hit toward the mid palate. Finish continues the big hitting theme yet long and elegant. (£40+)

SPERI VITICOLTORI

(Stockist: Arkell's, Bablake, Sandhams)
Amarone DOC Classico
2000: A very restrained style with the family aim toward the elegant. Even though a 'big 2000' super soft on the palate and very approachable. Not to say the power is still there, but the style is very deliberate in the way the wine arrives in stages. Slight medicinal notes in there toward the finish.

2005: Delicacy, the name of the game on the nose. Big, punchy fruit comes flooding through on the palate. Still very refined tannins and softly spoken on the mid palate. The finish is like a slow winding down process, gently does it. (£30+)

TOMMASI VITICOLTORI

(Stockist: www.everywine.co.uk)
Tomassi Amarone della Valpolicella Classico DOC
2005: Classic, deep, deep Amarone colour. Loads going on, with floral notes butting up against dense fruit and woody touches. Heady tannins show up immediately on the palate, but they move to one side to allow the fruit its say. Weight coming through on the mid palate, giving the wine balance and structure. All of the elements come together in mouth as tarry, fruits jump in at the finish as the tannins slide away. A mile long. (£35)

TENUTA SANT'ANTONIO

Tenuta S.Antonio 'Campo dei Gigli' Amarone della Valpolicella
(Stockist: N/A)
2004: Fresh mint and blackcurrant leaf on the nose, showing great dollops of fruit. Lots of sweetness initially with the fresh acidity and the lightest of tannins dance away on the tastebuds. Toward the finish the sweet fruit and the fresh leafiness makes a welcome return. (£28)

Tenuta S.Antonio 'Selezione Antonio Castagnedi' Amarone della Valpolicella DOC
(Stockist: N/A)
2005: Mineral elements showing through on the fruit on the nose. Very warming on the palate but a very approachable style, with lots of light and shade. A touch of acidity and again soft tannins. A gentle but long finish. (£30+)

ZENATO Azienda Vitivinicola Srl

(Stockist: Majestic, Fortnum and Mason, www.woodvintners.com)
Amarone Riserva Sergio Zenato
2004: Warm fruits on the nose, little smokiness in there. Big tang of acidity initially then the soft tannins take hold as the big dark fruits come through toward the mid palate. Amazing for a wine of 16% be so fresh toward the long finish. (£50+)

Amarone DOC Classico
(Stockist: www.everywine.co.uk, www.goodwineonline.co.uk, )
2005: Warm bramble fruit aromas. Sweet fruit hit initially on the palate as the tannins round off on the tastebuds. A little acidity freshens things up a bit but the deep, brooding fruit is the defining style of the wine. Still fresh though on the finish, again for a wine of 16.5% (£35)