Amanda Barnes, Author at Circle of Wine Writers

The Hungarian sparkling revolution

Posted on May 15, 2023May 15, 2023 by Robert Smyth

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Gallery: Winemaker portraits by Patrick Eagar

Posted on April 30, 2023April 30, 2023 by Patrick Eagar

Circle member Patrick Eagar has dug deep into his photography archive to share ten portraits of winemakers in France, Australia and Lebanon with us in a new Gallery on The Circular. Please respectfully note that all of these photos, and all the Circle of Wine Writer galleries, are not to be republished without the photographer’s permission. Any usage without permission is an infringement of c...

New member: Toshio Ueno

Posted on April 30, 2023April 30, 2023 by Toshio Ueno

Toshio Ueno is the creator of Sake School of America and English Shochu Adviser Certificate program, and only one in the world to hold Master of Sake (酒匠), Master Sake Sommelier (日本酒学講師), WSET Sake Educator diploma and WSET Diploma in Wine & Spirits. Born in Japan where his family has grown Japanese wine grape, Koshu, for generations, Toshio grew up helping the business from a young age. Tosh...

Delving into the different vinous chapters of Klein Constantia

Posted on April 30, 2023April 30, 2023 by Amanda Barnes

Amanda Barnes takes a taste and read through Klein Constantia: The home of Vin de Constance. Books are always better when they’re enjoyed with wine — especially when they’re wine books. Even more so when you can drink the very wine described in the book — and so was my experience with the latest release from John Stimpfig’s First Press Editions’ Klein Constantia: The home of Vin de Constance. The...

Rekindling the magic of Montes de Málaga

Posted on April 29, 2023April 29, 2023 by Amaya Cervera

Awe-inspiring Amarone

Posted on April 29, 2023April 29, 2023 by Filippo Magnani

Filippo Magnani finds himself revelling in the new releases of Valpolicella’s finest and shares his top tips both on what to taste and where to stay. The Amarone Opera Prima took place this year on 4th and 5th February, majestically organized by the Valpolicella Wine Consortium, at the Gran Guardia Palace in the heart of Verona. The president of the consortium, Christian Marchesini, opened the ev...

Eli Ben-Zaken, the pioneer who built an Israeli icon

Posted on March 29, 2023March 29, 2023 by Adam S. Montefiore

Adam S. Montefiore reflects on the extraordinary life of Israeli vigneron Eli Ben-Zaken in this short extract from his recently published biography on Domaine du Castel. I picture Eli Ben-Zaken in the summer of 2021, standing on his own outside his house and winery at Ramat Razi’el as he defiantly fought against the fierce wildfires in the hills and forests that rise towards Jerusalem. The flame...

Kurt Zalto launches new wine collection in the UK

Posted on March 29, 2023June 15, 2023 by Amanda Barnes

Kurt Josef Zalto, sixth generation glass designer, has released his own independent portfolio of glassware for wine — Josephinenhütte. "For decades I have been studying the influence of shapes and materials and their effect on the taste of wine," says Zalto. "I was driven by the vision to create the best possible sensory wine glass. After years of development, I am proud to say that the Josephine...

Seeing beyond Semillon

Posted on March 29, 2023 by Amanda Barnes

Amanda Barnes hones in on Hunter Valley, finding a fine spread of varieties and styles, including fresh takes on its signature grape. It may be Semillon that Hunter Valley is best known for, but as a recent New South Wales tasting set out to prove — the region can do a whole lot more. Australia’s first Albariño was planted here, in the Hunter Valley, back in 2014, which spurred on a bit of an A...

New Member: Abbie Bennington

Posted on March 27, 2023 by Abbie Bennington