Simon escaped some years ago from the rigours of Chartered Accountancy, and bought wine for over twenty years at Berry Bros and Rudd, where he built up a specialty in French and Spanish wines, including Champagne and the Fortified Category. Along the way he picked up the Master of Wine exam at the first attempt in 2002 and membership of The Gran Orden de Cabelleros de Vino. He now freelances and contributes to a variety of publications.