From two sides of the river

In this extract from Beverley Blanning MW’s Wines of the Loire Valley, published by The Classic Wine Library, Beverly intricately introduces the subtle and not so subtle differences between Sancerre and Pouilly Fumé. Sancerre: easy to say, easy to understand, easy to drink and, it seems, easy to sell. These crisp and vibrant white wines are the Loire’s most reliable calling card worldwide and by ...
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New Member: David Way

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Meet the Friend: Hermione Ireland

Hermione Ireland, head of boutique wine publisher Académie du Vin Library, answers a few questions to introduce herself and her company to the wine communicators of CWW.The Académie du Vin Library is “dedicated to publishing the finest wine writing of the past, the present and the future.”   In a sentence or two, could you describe the mission and scope of your company, including any rele...
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How Bureaucracy Can Thwart the Future of Climate-Resistant Wine

Liz Sagues recaps a fascinating talk with Olivier Bourdet-Pees of Plaimont Producteurs — and the surprising turn the conversation took when bureaucracy entered the frame. What was already a fascinating and highly relevant session on ampelography on 18th March was suddenly galvanised, demonstrating just how effective the Circle’s Let’s Talk About… online discussions can be. Before the Q&A...
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From Barça to bodega and Camp Nou to DO Manchuela

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Let’s stop light strike

Liz Sagues provides her takeaways from the 112th online Circle seminar, in which member Peter Richards MW honed in on what he refers to as the biggest, yet least talked about, wine fault, ending with a pressing call to action. “Light strike is a scandal and we all need to do something about it. It is the biggest wine fault, yet the least talked about.” With that forthright message, Peter Richards...
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First-hand feedback on the inaugural Master of Whisky exams

Tobias Gorn recounts his experience as exam panel chair at the debuting Council of Whiskey Masters Level 4 Master of Whisky exams. This article is a revised version of an article originally published in World of Whisky and More. It was a great honour to be selected as examination panel chair at the Council of Whiskey Masters first ever Level 4 Master of Whisky exams. This is a report of my experi...
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Ancient Andalucian fortifieds still in fine fettle

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New Member: Sara Underdown

Sara Underdown is a wine writer, educator and presenter specialising in champagne. In 2018 she founded VINE & BUBBLE, an online champagne publication, luxury events and travel company located in Australia. Sara is a Dame Chevalier of L’Ordre des Côteaux de Champagne and has been recognised through the prestigious Vin de Champagne Awards, the Louis Roederer International Wine Writers’ Awards...
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Perusing a Prosecco pearl

Dijana Grgić takes off to the bubbling core of the Veneto, to Valdobbiadene, and savours the spumantes from Villa Sandi and prized other members of its porfolio.   Over the past couple of decades, Prosecco, which is produced primarily in Veneto as well as in smaller areas of the Friuli region, has seen a surge in global popularity. For a sparkling wine to be labeled as Prosecco, it must be made w...
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