Amanda Barnes, Author at Circle of Wine Writers

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...

Meet the Friend: Su-Lin Ong

Posted on November 9, 2020November 12, 2020 by Amanda Barnes

Su-Lin Ong is an independent wines and spirits consultant specialising in research and development, marketing and PR. For over 25 years she has worked with both long-established brands and helped launch new entrepreneurial brands, working also on cocktails, beers and tea infusions! Amanda Barnes interviews her about her parents' cocktail trolley, fast cars and slow wine, and why she'll be looking ...

Occitanie Wine School launches series of educational videos

Posted on November 9, 2020November 9, 2020 by Amanda Barnes

During these quiet months, Bureau de la Région Occitanie UK has been busy on its new initiative to support wine trade professionals who haven’t had the usual essential tastings, training and travel to enjoy. A new series of Occitanie Wine School videos has been swiftly filmed, to let them watch and learn anytime, anywhere in just five to ten minutes. Each video is a compact, fast facts guide on a...

New Member: Peder Lehmann Larsen

Posted on November 9, 2020 by Peder Lehmann Larsen

Peder Lehmann Larsen has worked in the wine industry for close to 20 years as an importer, wine writer, wine judge and wine educator. Peder serves as ambassador to Denmark for the worldwide Facebook community, #winelover, and writes with great passion about all things wine on social media, where he specialises in particular on Hungarian and Greek wines. In 2019, Peder had his article Denmark fo...

Berkmann Wine Cellars Relaunches “Help 4 Hospitality” Campaign with Increased Support Package

Posted on November 9, 2020 by Amanda Barnes

Berkmann Wine Cellars has announced it is reopening its industry-leading Help 4 Hospitality scheme, the pop-up online wine shop that helped raise over £75K for individuals and businesses within the hospitality sector during the spring lockdown… This time, Berkmann Wine Cellars has chosen to increase the share of revenue donated to the industry from 12.5% to 20%. The same donation mechanic appli...

Redefining Rueda

Posted on November 9, 2020November 12, 2020 by Liz Sagues

Liz Sagues interviews Santiago Mora Poveda, director general of Rueda DO, the denominación de origen that makes more white wine than any other in Spain, on the region’s recently revamped rules. Liz was inspired to arrange the interview, which is a Circular exclusive, after enjoying the Circle's 'Let’s talk about Ramón Bilbao in Rueda – Verdejo and Sauvignon Blanc' with Sara Bañuelos, the company t...