Amanda Barnes, Author at Circle of Wine Writers

New Member: Benjamin Roelfs

Posted on April 27, 2025 by Amanda Barnes

Originally trained as a sommelier, Benjamin Roelfs from Netherlands has seamlessly blended his passion for wine with his talent for writing. When he's not immersed in his full-time role in the wine industry, he devotes his time to crafting thoughtful, insightful articles—primarily focused on Alsace, the region he knows best. His work has appeared in renowned publications such as The Drinks Busines...

A first-timer’s wild ride at ProWein

Posted on April 27, 2025April 27, 2025 by Robert Smyth

After years of hearing the buzz, Robert Smyth finally made it to what until recently has been the wine world’s biggest playground: ProWein. Armed with a notebook in one hand and a tasting glass in the other, he dove headfirst into the chaos, the chatter, and the clinking glasses of Düsseldorf. The air was thick with excitement and foreboding, what with talk of impending US tariff hikes, as other ...

Let’s Talk About… April’s extremely topical sessions

Posted on April 27, 2025 by Liz Sagues

Liz Sagues recaps the highly topical talks this month in the Circle's Let's Talk About... series. The second of the two April Let’s Talk About... sessions could hardly have been more topical. As Benjamin North Spencer recounted the story of the new wines of Etna, Europe’s largest active volcano rumbled and grumbled in the background, in its most explosive eruption for more than two decades. The...

Members’ insights: Navigating the trade war

Posted on April 27, 2025April 27, 2025 by Amanda Barnes

Circle members share their perspectives on how wine writers and communicators should respond to the current trade war, and what the future might hold. These interviews are part of Meg Maker's 'Navigating the trade war – a communicator’s role From the Chair: Navigating the trade war – a communicator’s role' feature. Sunny Hodge (UK) In the short term, Hodge anticipates wine communicator...

From two sides of the river

Posted on March 26, 2025 by Beverley Blanning MW

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 ...

New Member: David Way

Posted on March 26, 2025March 26, 2025 by Amanda Barnes

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Meet the Friend: Hermione Ireland

Posted on March 26, 2025 by Becky Sue Epstein

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...

How Bureaucracy Can Thwart the Future of Climate-Resistant Wine

Posted on March 26, 2025 by Liz Sagues

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...

From Barça to bodega and Camp Nou to DO Manchuela

Posted on February 28, 2025 by Colin Harkness

Let’s stop light strike

Posted on February 28, 2025 by Liz Sagues

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...