Amanda Barnes, Author at Circle of Wine Writers

Let’s talk about… CWW webinars!

Posted on June 5, 2020June 8, 2020 by Robert Smyth

Robert Smyth recaps the Circle's new way of doing tastings — virtually. He shares how it has changed his experience as an overseas member, and reflects on one of his favourite sessions from this month. As an overseas member of the CWW, it has always been a challenge for me to participate in many ‘live’ Circle events, which often take place in the London area. For example, as much as I’ve always...

Meet the Member: Magnus Reuterdahl

Posted on June 4, 2020December 14, 2020 by Amanda Barnes

Magnus Reuterdahl is a leading wine blogger and writer in Sweden. Amanda Barnes interviews him to find out more about how he transitioned from being a real-life Indiana Jones to a bonafide #winelover How did you first discover a passion for wine? My interest in wine started in the 90s but it was in the early 2000s it really took off with the rise of wine blogging. I started my first wine b...

Meet the Friend: Jo Wehring

Posted on June 4, 2020June 8, 2020 by Amanda Barnes

Jo Wehring is best known as the UK market manager for Wines of South Africa, where she has witnessed an incredible change in the South African wine scene as Amanda Barnes finds out in their interview. How did you first get into wine? While at university, I worked part-time in Victoria Wines and I began to get interested in the world of wine. Once I graduated, with a degree in Art History & P...

The Drinks Trust encourages us all to get a round in

Posted on June 4, 2020June 8, 2020 by Amanda Barnes

Liz Sagues shares some of the charitable initiatives in the drinks industry that have come in response to the growing economic, social and health crisis related to Covid-19, most especially the emergency fund by The Drinks Trust. The long-term implications of Covid-19 for people in the wine trade, and in hospitality in general, are enormous. They stretch beyond those who grow grapes, make wines, ...

Modern Malbec and the Mendoza matriarch

Posted on June 4, 2020June 8, 2020 by Ruma Singh

To access this post, you must purchase Friend of the Circle (inc one-off joining fee), Corporate Friend of the Circle (inc one-off joining fee), Friend of the Circle (renewals) or Corporate Friend of the Circle (renewals), or log in.

Dr Richard Smart calls for carbon capture

Posted on June 4, 2020June 7, 2020 by Dr Richard Smart

Dr. Richard Smart, the renowned viticulturist who now calls himself a ‘carbon conscious’ vine doctor rather than the ‘flying’ vine doctor, looks back at the events of 2020 so far. While coronavirus is very bad, it will eventually go away, but the climate crisis is becoming increasingly critical and calls for urgent action from the wine industry, he argues. He asks us as wine writers to start to ho...

Imbibing in Istria

Posted on June 4, 2020June 8, 2020 by Robert Smyth

Robert Smyth finds that good things to tempt the palate come in threes, and even fours, on the Adriatic’s largest peninsula – wine, truffles, olive oil, and then there’s biska. A version of this article was also published (in Hungarian) in Hungary’s VinCE magazine. Heart-shaped Istria, the largest peninsula in the Adriatic, is not only a superb seaside holiday destination, it also produces some o...

Zooming in on coastal Chilean Pinot Noir

Posted on June 4, 2020June 10, 2020 by Amanda Barnes

Amanda Barnes gets to grips with three different coastal terroirs in Chile that Viña Ventisquero is producing Pinot Noir in, with a special Zoom tasting with the winemaker Alejandro Galaz during the time of Coronavirus. Originally published on SouthAmericaWineGuide.com “Pinot Noir without terroir is the most boring variety you can taste”, says Chilean winemaker Alejandro Galaz, paraphrasing a win...

Tannat: Uruguay’s unlikely champion

Posted on May 4, 2020May 6, 2020 by Amanda Barnes

Meet the Member: Georges Meekers

Posted on May 4, 2020May 6, 2020 by Amanda Barnes

Georges Meekers is a leading writer and expert on the wines of Malta, where he is based, as well as an eminent online educator. Amanda Barnes interviews him and discovers more about his first forays into wine, why native Maltese wines deserve some attention today and his thoughts on why wine appreciation comes much more naturally than we believe. What is your earliest memory in wine? H...