About Simon

Drinking Outside The Box is the blog of renowned wine writer Simon Woods. Since abandoning a career in computer systems design in 1988 to indulge his two hobbies, wine and writing, Simon has been co-coordinator of the annual International Wine Challenge, a columnist for The Financial Times ‘The Business’ magazine, editor of the award-winning annual Which? Wine Guide and a contributor to numerous magazines.

His books include ‘I don’t know much about wine but I know what I like’ (Mitchell Beazley), which received the Gold Label Award for Wine Book of the Year at the Prix du Champagne Lanson awards. His previous book, ‘Vine to Bottle’, was chosen as the Best Book on Wine in English at the Gourmand World Cookbook Awards. As well as being a popular and entertaining speaker and host of tastings, he is also an in-demand wine judge, and has been involved in wine competitions on four continents. He lives in the Pennines above Manchester with his wife Jill (a Grenache fan) and his children Isabella (a Jacqueline Wilson fan) and Alexander (a Ben 10/Star Wars/James Bond fan).

What others say about Simon

“Simon’s writing style is lively, interesting and balanced. He’s jokey without being forced, and critical without being an iconoclast. Best of all, he talks good sense” – Jamie Goode, Wine Anorak.

“His humorous approach to wine education makes him one of the nicest and funniest wine journalists in the UK.” – Roger Jones, chef/proprietor of the Michelin-starred Harrow at Little Bedwyn.

“To get away with writing a book [I Don't Know Much About Wine etc]  like this – hip and aiming to puncture many bits of wine myth and snobbery – takes a writer who is able to simplify rather than dumb-down, and who has the nous to chop his way through the thicket of politics and reverence that surrounds the subject. More than anything else, it takes a writer who really knows his stuff – well enough to forget much of it, and boil wine truths down to a simple, but concentrated essence. Simon Woods is just the right man for the job, and his track record gives him the necessary authority.” Tom Cannavan wine-pages.com.

“Thanks for the super presentation of Portugal at the Celtic Manor in Newport. What a refreshing way to present and took a lot of the stuffiness out of proceedings” – Neil Cammies, Media Wales.

“The book [Vine to Bottle] is…well written, anecdotal without being over familiar, breezily authoritative without tending to ‘talk down’ – and this is a difficult stylistic feat to achieve – entertaining and informative. I recommend it to anyone interested in wine, particularly those anxious to expand their knowledge without having the feeling they are being lectured, as well as drinkers who are more knowledgeable about wine. It is one of the best books of its kind I have encountered.” – Malcolm Gluck, Superplonk.