The Morning Claret

Simon J Woolf & Friends on Wild and Wonderful Wines

biodynamic

Valentina Passalacqua insta shot
27 minute read

Valentina Passalacqua – an inconvenient truth?

The arrest of Valentina Passalacqua’s father, on charges of using illegal labour gangs (caporalato) has shocked the natural wine world – who were previously in love with Valentina and her wines. Simon J Woolf investigates and sets out the background and the context for this challenging affair.

6 minute read

Molto Forte biodynamics, mezzo-forte wine

Wineries can soak up a lot of money – as per the popular industry joke “How do you make a million in wine? Answer: Start with two million”. The landscape is littered with vinous vanity projects created by wealthy industrialists, Read more

3 minute read

Julien Meyer – Crémant d’Alsace Brut “0” 2010

I love Champagne. But whenever I start talking about it, I fear being labelled elitist. But, but… Grower Champagne? And then there are those Champagne enthusiasts who think any other form of effervescent wine inferior. They huff and puff and Read more

Clemens Busch Mosel Riesling Trocken O 2015 © Taka Takeuchi
3 minute read

Clemens Busch – Mosel Riesling Trocken “O” 2015

To celebrate the launch of Simon’s Kickstarter campaign for his book Amber Revolution, here’s a German “orange” wine made from Riesling. German Riesling still has an image problem in the UK. And Germany is not the first place that comes to Read more

Les Cailloux du Paradis - Romorantin 2013 © Taka Takeuchi
2 minute read

Les Cailloux du Paradis – Romorantin 2013

I’m seeing more and more Romorantin in London and loving it. That’s saying something, with a grand total of only 70 hectares in existence. But what makes it more special is that it happens to produce great wine. Romorantin is Read more