Amanda Barnes, Author at Circle of Wine Writers

Georgia on my laptop

Posted on December 13, 2020December 16, 2020 by Amanda Barnes

Amanda Barnes takes off on a virtual tour of Georgia and its wines, made from an impressive inventory of indigenous grape varieties. I have a friend who always sees the bright side of life. It sounds rather trite to describe someone this way, but I don’t know anyone quite as capable as finding the silver lining as her. During lockdown (Lockdown 1, in April), instead of getting rather depressed ...

Imprinting Petit Verdot on the wines of Bordeaux

Posted on December 13, 2020 by Amanda Barnes

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Appraising Austria’s new single vineyard releases

Posted on December 13, 2020 by Amanda Barnes

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Txakoli producers to check out

Posted on November 12, 2020 by Yolanda Ortiz de Arri and Amaya Cervera

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Stephen Brook publishes his memoirs ‘Memoirs of a freeloader’

Posted on November 10, 2020 by Amanda Barnes

Stephen Brook has been writing about wine and travel for 35 years, and published numerous books and articles on both subjects. In his latest book, Memoirs of a Freeloader, he reveals the lighter side of his occupation: press trips and festivals, officious PRs, venal bloggers, eccentric colleagues, gluttony, and things going wrong. Intended to amuse, not inform, this is an episodic and anecdotal to...

Taking stock of an exceptional vintage in New Zealand with Cloudy Bay

Posted on November 10, 2020November 12, 2020 by Amanda Barnes

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Paula Sidore launches TRINK

Posted on November 9, 2020 by Paula Sidore

Circle member and wine writer Paula Sidore has recently launched a new wine magazine TRINK — the world's first English language digital publication dedicated to the wines of South Tyrol, Austria, Germany, and German Switzerland, four regions linked by far more than language alone. TRINK trains a close eye on identity through a mix of fresh news angles, unexpected pairings and bottle picks, as ...

Full Bodied: The faded memories of a big man in the wine trade

Posted on November 9, 2020November 12, 2020 by Christopher Fielden

Christopher Fielden spent lockdown earlier this year penning his memoirs, Full Bodied: The faded memories of a big man in the wine trade, which Amanda Barnes reviews this month. We also publish an entertaining extract from the book as Christopher gets to grips with the Albanian wine market. Christopher Fielden has incredible stories that you can truly relish in with him in his newest book, Full B...

Meet the Member: Christopher Fielden

Posted on November 9, 2020November 12, 2020 by Christopher Fielden

Christopher Fielden is a well-known personality in the wine industry, having spent the past 60 years working in the trade in various roles. As he releases his new memoir, Full Bodied, Amanda Barnes interviews him about his favourite wine regions, books and why there's no guilty pleasure in his wine closet. Christopher served on the Circle committee for 6 years from 2003 and, during that time, four...

The Drinks Trust launches trade survey

Posted on November 9, 2020 by Liz Sagues

As part of its continuing work to help everyone working in the drinks industry, the Drinks Trust carrying out its first-ever trade survey, seeking further information about the effect of Covid-19 and other current issues on individuals. The aim, says the Trust, is 'to establish how members of the hospitality and drinks industries are feeling, what their concerns are and to better understand what t...