Orange wine for an orange 'president'

 

The Orange president in London's Parliament Square......
(above and below)

 

Simon Woolf  – Amber Revolution

Last Friday (13th July 2018) London saw the largest ever demonstration against a foreign leader when an estimated 250,000 people marched against the visit of Donald Trump to the UK. There were other demonstrations that day and over the weekend elsewhere.

Although amber Trump is apparently teetotal the arrival of our copy of Simon Woolf's Amber Revolution seems timely – orange wines to enjoy during a Trump protest! It also coincides with David's visit to Georgia.

Like a increasing number of other wine books, especially those that break new ground, Simon's book was Crowdfunded. Before Simon considers suing me and Les 5 du Vin Blog for defamation I should make it very clear that the only possible connection between the abominable oaf that is the current president of the USA, albeit hopefully briefly, and amber wine is colour.

From Simon Woolf's Preface:
'Conundrums aside, orange wine's time has well and truly come – bottles are proudly displayed on the shelves of countless independent wine merchants, in fashionable wine bars and top-flight restaurants as never before. The technique resists mass-production, requiring considerable patience and skill to execute properly, so these wines will never dominate supermarket shelves – but producers across the globe are now almost as likely to have an experimental 'orange' in their line-up as they are a traditional method sparkler or a late harvest dessert wine. (Jim - not sure why Simon insists on using term 'dessert wine' when the sensible term is sweet wine.)
Yet for all of the exponential growth of interest, a great deal of myth, superstition and plain old ignorance still surrounds the style. Its origins and rich heritage, in particular, have received very little love from the great and the good of the wine world.

Amber Revolution is an attempt to right that wrong and to distil a significant body of knowledge about this wonderful and unique beverage into one just about digestible volume. The greater part of the book delves into the histories of people, places and culture from orange wine's heartlands: Friuli-Venezia Giulia, Slovenia and Georgia. The persona stories of the winemakers in these regions are as rich and colourful as the wines they produce, and provide the all-important context for their output.

Just two decades ago it would have been impossible to write a major book about orange wine – it didn't even have a name. The explosion of availability, popularity and acceptance of the style unquestionably represents a revolution, whatever shade or hue it might be dubbed.'

 

Huge crowd @start of the march by the BBC in Langham Place

 

2017 – not much to cheer I fear........!

Happy New Year but will it be?

There are many who will be very happy to see the back of 2016 – frost and mildew in the Loire and other northern French vineyards, Brexit lunacy in the UK and in the US the election of a spoilt child. 

Unfortunately the arrival of 2017 will not wave a magic wand to reverse the effects and after-shocks of 2016. 2017 will see us living with the consequences of 2016. 

Those Loire producers, who were severely hit by the frosts of 2016 April, will be feeling the consequences during the coming year with low wine stocks. There is no doubt that the Loire cannot afford another serious April frost. Fingers will be firmly crossed during Springtime.

It is increasingly clear that the UK cannot afford Brexit. Unfortunately May's incompetent and arrogant government appear to be all too likely to get the worst Brexit deal going. I just hope that the prospects of a hard Brexit will dawn on enough people to force a rethink.....

With a bit of luck we will see London's ridiculous Garden Bridge cancelled.

As for Trump .......

    

 

Real Wine Fair to include US producers: 17th and 18th April

Obviously looking to trump its rivals...! 
Come on Douglas – amphores – good, 
unnecessary apostrophes – not! 

Announcement today from The Real Wine Fair:

'For the first time The Real Wine Fair will be featuring a host of artisan growers from the USA who will be coming over to pour and talk about their wines.

These are truly boutique wines in the sense that some of the cuvées are made in the dozens of cases rather than the hundreds and thousands. All are examples of responsible viticulture and intuitive winemaking, method and a little bit of madness, purity and fun. Wineries on show for the first time from California will include La Clarine; Clos Saron; Ambyth Estate and Forlorn Hope, whilst Kelley Fox; Minimus; Beckham Estate and Ovum will represent for Oregon. Deirdre Heekin will be showcasing her biodynamically-farmed wines from La Garagista in Vermont. There will be examples of Albarino and Alvarelhao, 130-year-old Cinsault and some pretty old Mourvedre, Gruner Veltliner and Gewurztraminer, serious Sangiovese and Syrah not to mention Garnacha of every hue. Full-on Semillon from one of the oldest vineyards to be planted in Oregon and a pair of Touriga Nacionals, amphora and skin contact wines, are other intriguing oddities that shouldn't be missed.

The Real Wine Fair
17^th & 18^th April, 2016
Tobacco Dock, Wapping, E1W 2SF'

Tobacco Dock and the venue