Simon J Woolf

So you love natural wine and you love Burgundy.... but those prices. I went on the hunt for the best value natural Pinot Noir and Chardonnay from Burgundy. I tasted 27 wines together with my colleagues @amerongen_jasper and @marijebockholts I set a price cap of €40 retail in Europe, just to keep it real. Sound expensive? I can tell you it was hard enough finding anything under that price. Which wines do you think made the top ten? All is revealed in my latest tasting guide, together with tasting notes on every wine and more. We tasted wines from @fredcossard @domaine.derain_sextant @isabellevantey @la_maison_romane @ami.wine @domainedidon @domaine_clair_obscur @Chapuis_arnaud @chapuisetchapui @iloveclosberu @ChateaudeLavernette @la_chaume_des_lies @jean_marie_berrux @vinivitivinci @domainetripoz Benoit Delorme Antoine Petitprez Clos des Vignes du Maynes Domaine de Chassorney Click on the link in my bio to read more! /p/affordable-natural-wine-from-burgundy-part-1 /p/affordable-natural-wine-from-burgundy-part-2

Exciting news: my next webinar series for WSET Diploma D6 students will be happening on 15th and 16th May, in collaboration with orange wine specialist @simonjwoolf 👏🏻 Simon is author of Amber Revolution: How the World Learned to Love Orange Wine - and he’s delighted to offer subscribers to the class 10% off his book 😁 Booking is now open - the link’s in my bio or story highlight ‘D6’. Hope to connect with lots of you there. To your DipWSET success 🥂 Anne #wsetdiploma #wsetdiplomastudent #diplomatherapy #d6assignment #annemchalemw

Introducing my next wine guide, and a bottle that shocked me after 36 hours open 🥰🥰🥰 #naturalwine #wineguide #burgundy

24.4.2026 FESTIVAL DISCUSSIONS With a Glass of Wine St. Maria Alieto Church 17:30 Responsibility and Ethics in the World of Wine (Well‑being, vitality and health - from vineyard to glass) Ana Roš (Hiša Franko, Kobarid) Mara Vremec (Slow Food, Bra) Simon J. Woolf (Amber Revolution, Amsterdam) Raffaele Bonivento (Meteri, Benetke/Venezia) Matej Zaro (Zaro 1348, Izola/Isola) REGISTRATION: [email protected]

Exciting news: my next webinar series for WSET Diploma D6 students will be happening on 15th and 16th May, in collaboration with Orange Wine specialist @simonjwoolf 👏🏻 Simon is author of Amber Revolution: How the World Learned to Love Orange Wine - and he’s delighted to offer subscribers to the class 10% off his book 😁 Booking will open soon - in the meantime register your interest by joining the notification list - the link’s in my bio or story highlight ‘D6’. Hope to connect with lots of you there. To your DipWSET success 🥂 Anne #wsetdiploma #wsetdiplomastudent #diplomatherapy #d6assignment #annemchalemw

@raulmorenoyague applying treatments to a 22ha organic certified vineyard at @dominiodelasanimas Using an agricultural drone with a wingspan of 2.5m and load capacity of thirty kilos. The first few flights were just with copper solution, then for a different area of the vineyard organic amino acids we're added to improve plant health. Compared with a tractor, this is much faster and uses 10 times less water. Not to mention, there is no soil compaction.

Spend a week in the beautiful Slovenian countryside working on your writing. Do you love wine, food or travel? Writing about your passion is not just fulfilling, it can also earn you money. Learn from a leading non-fiction writer, hone your craft and discuss your work with colleagues. This May, I’m running a residential course in rural Slovenia specifically for non-fiction writers. Both experienced and aspiring writers are welcome. Wine, food and travel will be the main themes, however writers with an interest in any non-fiction topic are welcome. The dates are May 24th - May 29th. Full details and booking form at courses.themorningclaret.com (clickable link in bio). 📷 @ryanopaz @simonjwoolf and Vila Arte #naturalwine #writimgcourse #ifeelslovenia

Spend a week in the beautiful Slovenian countryside working on your writing Do you write professionally or are you an aspiring writer? Would you like to hone your craft, workshop your writing with colleagues and be inspired by beautiful surroundings? This May, I’ll be running a residential course in rural Slovenia specifically for non-fiction writers. Whilst wine and food will be a strong focus, non-fiction writers from all sectors are welcome. The course takes place in the tiny village of Pedrovo, in Slovenia's Vipava Valley. We have a wonderful gallery space where we'll meet each morning for workshops and tuition. During the week, we'll sample local cuisine, visit two of the region's best restaurants and one of my favourite wineries. Dates are MAY 24 - 29th. We still have a couple of places available - but only a couple, so don't delay if you're interested. Full details at courses.themorningclaret.com - clickable link in my bio. See you in Slovenia! #writingcourse #ifeelslovenia #naturalwine

Delighted to announce that the next @circleofwine Let’s talk about... Exploding the myths of natural wine, with @simonjwoolf will take place on Tuesday 24 March 2026 at 6pm GMT. Guests welcome - please do contact @sueyeames if you would like to join this webinar. We are very pleased that @simonjwoolf , an acknowledged natural wine expert (and @circleofwine member), will be presenting our next Let’s talk... session. Over to Simon.... ‘The term ‘natural wine’ continues to be contentious. Its true meaning is endlessly debated, and poorly understood by regular wine lovers. It has created ghettos, ranging traditionalists against the more radical factions of the natural wine world. Some maintain that its popularity just keeps growing, while others insist its day has been and gone. I’ll start by answering two burning questions: What exactly does this term mean? Or what should it mean? When and where did it start, and why has it created so much animosity amongst the trade? How does natural wine overlap with existing certification schemes such as organics and biodynamics? What attempts have there been at certifying or classifying it? We’ll talk about the current state of play, and the detailed definitions that have been proposed by various organisations. Why do natural wines taste, smell and look different? What are the differences in production and philosophy compared to conventional wine? Can we define what is good or bad natural wine? Is a fault always a fault, or is beauty in the eye of the beholder? We will of course tackle the thorny issue of sulphite usage, and why it has become such a hot potato. A few of the movement’s pioneering winemakers will also be discussed, together with some recommendations for tracking down and enjoying great natural wines from different parts of the wine-producing world. I’ll reflect on whether the term is still useful, and what the natural wine movement has contributed to the wider world of wine. Where do we go now? Should we abandon this phrase altogether? What can we take away that’s valuable, and what should we jettison?’

Go check out my latest article at themorningclaret.com It's about new wave wines from Bordeaux. There are even a few jokes in there. I spent an hour making this crappy video, but I spend days on writing, researching and editing my articles. Ignore my insta. Unfollow me. Go subscribe to my substack. And if you're a writer, check out my residential course in Slovenia, May 24-29. See you somewhere else than here.

Are you a writer, journalist, substacker or blogger? ✍️ Would you like to spend a week in the Slovenian countryside, working on the craft of writing and refining your skills? I'm leading a course for non-fiction writers this May 24-29. It's going to be an intimate, immersive experience, and an amazing opportunity to focus on your writing, compare notes with colleagues, enjoy some quiet time and get to know the beautiful Vipava countryside 🇸🇮 with its incredible wine and food. 🍷 Of course there will be a wine focus - we'll visit one of my favourite cellars for some inspiration, and I'll be pouring natural wines from the region to accompany our dinners throughout the week. Only eight places in total. If you don't think this is for you, please forward it to colleagues who might be interested. It doesn't matter whether you have years of experience or you're just starting out. We all have something to learn from each other. Full details at the link in my bio - 🌐 courses.themorningclaret.com See you in Vipava this May! #writingcourse #naturalwine #ifeelslovenia💚

Decanter magazine 's cover article in November was my piece all about orange wine - it's a kind of update, as I last wrote about this for them in 2020 (and before that in 2015). I'm super proud of the recommended wines selection I put together - quite challenging as they almost all had to be available in the UK (Decanter is a UK-focused publication). We split them into three categories to showcase how diverse the orange wine category is these days. Here's what I came up with: FRUITY AND TEXTURED @gutoggau Oggau Timotheus 2022 - Burgendland 🇦🇹 @weingutbiankaunddanielschmitt Zöld 2021 - Rheinessen 🇩🇪 @geracoesdatalha Natalha Branco 2022 - Alentejo 🇵🇹 @archilguniavawinecellar Tsitska 2021 - Imereti 🇬🇪 @folias_de_baco Uivo Curtido 2024 - Douro 🇵🇹 Testalonga Baby Bandito Stay Brave 2024 - Swartland 🇿🇦 @tbilvinowines Qvevris Rkatsiteli 2021 - Kakheti 🇬🇪 WILD AND PLAYFUL @anguissolaalberto Casè Bianco 2022 - Emilia-Romagna 🇮🇹 @tomlubbe (Matassa) Cúvee Alexandria - Roussillon 🇫🇷 @radikonwines Slatnik 2023 - Friuli Collio 🇮🇹 @luisfelipeedwardswines Macerao Orange 2022 - Itata 🇨🇱 FULL BODIED AND STRUCTURED @klinecmedana Ortodox 2013 - Goriška Brda 🇨🇱 @mlecnik_wine Cuvée 2016 - Vipava 🇨🇱 @k.tchotiashvili Kisi 2020 - Kakheti 🇬🇪 @nussancs (Réka Koncz) Ora 2022 - Bükk 🇭🇺 How many have you tried? Did you miss your favourite? Let me know in the comments please! Read the full article and tasting notes online here (clickable link in bio): canter.com/premium/the-marvellous-world-of-orange-wines-everything-you-wanted-to-know-explained-by-an-expert-569743/ 🍊🍊🍊🍊🍊🍊🍊🍊🍊🍊🍊🍊🍊🍊 #naturalwine #orangewine #winewriting