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Amber Revolution - front cover

New York Times best wine book of 2018

Louis Roederer wine book of the year 2019

The world’s first book to tell the full, forgotten story of orange wines – white wines made like a red, fermented with their skins.

Learn about the backstory – the many millennia of history in Georgia, the traditions in Friuli and Slovenia. Discover how these wines are made, why they taste different, where to buy & how to enjoy. Includes food matching tips and a guide to 180 top producers worldwide.

Hard-cover, 304 pages, full colour.

ISBN:  978-1-62371-966-1

Kindle & ePub editions also available.

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About the book

Amber Revolution is the rags to riches story of orange wine – the world’s oldest and most distinct wine style, almost abandoned after two world wars, then rediscovered half a century later amidst controversy and misunderstanding.

Part compelling social history, part orange wine primer, Amber Revolution weaves its tale of oppression, struggle and persistence across the shifting borders of Friuli and Slovenia, to the Caucasus, Georgia and beyond.

Includes a guide to over 220 recommended producers from 25 countries, plus tips for buying, food matching and enjoying orange wines.

The book is beautifully illustrated by the photos of Ryan Opaz, plus hand-drawn maps and diagrams from designers Studio Eyal & Myrthe

About the author

Simon J WoolfSimon J Woolf is an award-winning English wine and drinks writer, currently clinging to mainland Europe in Amsterdam. This is his first book.

Originally trained as a musician, Simon worked variously as a sound engineer, IT consultant and alternative currency designer before wine took over his life. His writing career began in 2011 with the founding of The Morning Claret – an online wine magazine which has become one of the world’s best loved resources for natural, artisanal, organic and biodynamic wine.

He contributes to Noble Rot, World of Fine Wine, Decanter magazine, Meininger’s Wine Business International, Pix wine and many other publications on and offline.

When not obsessing about orange wine, Simon is a keen cook and lover of difficult music.

Sign up for Simon’s newsletter at themorningclaret.com to stay in touch.

About the photographer

Having been a chef, butcher, art teacher, speaker and wine writer, Ryan Opaz eventually found his niche creating specialist wine and food tours in Portugal. He is co-founder of Catavino, which helps people to discover Portugal and Spain through custom tours and events. For eight years he ran the Digital Wine Communications Conference. He currently lives in Porto with his wife, son and cats, where he likes to travel, take photos, and enjoy handmade beverages.

Critical reaction

“Woolf writes with quiet modesty, gravity and deep compassion. Yet he is comfortable with poking fun at himself and is unpretentiously witty…  This is an extraordinary story, compellingly told… Even if you (think you) don’t like orange wine, please read it.” Tamlyn Currin, JancisRobinson.com

“Mr. Woolf is an engaging writer with an excellent story to tell and an array of intriguing characters. He is precise, weighing in on the intersection of orange and natural wines, without being pedantic.” Eric Asimov, New York Times

“Woolf’s excellent Amber Revolution book examines the style in detail and includes a guide to 180 orange wine producers, if you want to investigate the amber nectar further.” Martin Moran, The Sunday Times

“A clear-eyed, passionate view of a vinous phenomenon. Woolf is such an adept story-teller that most readers are apt to become engrossed” David Schildknecht, World of Fine Wine

“niche but so accessible”
“beautifully written and totally unpretentious”
“hands down the best”  Judges at the Roederer International Wine Writing Awards 2019

“Like the history book we would all have loved to have read when we were younger. It gives you the big picture, whilst also going into such fine detail that the reader starts to develop a relationship with the modern day protagonists…” Colin Harkness on wine / Costa News

“A timely and beautiful book. Woolf writes well, and he has important things to say.” Stephen Quinn

“Every so often the near-desert that is wine publishing comes up with something welcome and really interesting.” David Crossley, Wide World of Wine

“A damn good read” Frankie Cook, Frankly Wines

“The text is precise and accurate, the photography is beautiful” Mauro Fermariello, Wine Stories (in Italian)

“Timely and very readable” – Hugh Johnson

“Fascinating, deftly written. Will tell you everything you need to know about this long-hidden tradition.” – Andrew Jefford, Decanter

“Nobody knows more about orange wine and its fascinating history than Simon Woolf, and nobody writes better about it.” – Felicity Carter, Meininger’s Wine Business International

“Witty, precise and well written with Simon Woolf’s unique and signature style”  – Dr. José Vouillamoz, Wine Grapes

“Woolf is at his best here, combining personal narrative with historical research, while debunking the myths surrounding orange wines.” – Suzanne Mustacich, Wine Spectator

Contact

For author interviews, public appearances and foreign rights enquiries please contact: [email protected]

For North America enquiries contact Interlink Books