I finally got around to reading Monty Waldin's book of the the tv series I watched earlier in the year charting his attempts to make his own wine. The programme was enjoyable but suffered from a touch of reality tv in the form of a whining inexperienced assistant, clearly chosen to frustrate rather than aid the winemaking pricess and thereby add some 'entertainment'. Lindsay the assistant is on the other hand entirely absent from the book which is all the better for it. You have to respect the authors assault on the world of wine production. Whilst the first years output of 545 cases is on a scale that cannot possibly repay the effort put in, the choice of an organic, vegan and biodynamic wine in an easy drinking style offers the opportunity to excel in a niche that to date has perhaps failed to set the world alight. The accompanying book and tv series no doubt helped fund the project and more importantly, promote the wine. This book then, is a light hearted and enjoyable read which clearly communicates this well respected wine authors enthusiasm both for making his own wine and for making it well. The final chapter at a launch party for his first vintage bought a lump to my throat as he describes the feeling of seeing his own wine drunk and counters the classic criticism of any wine writer. Here is someone who has achieved the dream of almost every wine enthusiast for he has grown and vinified grapes as well as offering an opinion as to the quality of their final form. Read, dream and enjoy.
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