Amanda Barnes, Author at Circle of Wine Writers

Janet Z. Wang releases second reprint of ‘Chinese Renaissance’

Posted on February 28, 2024 by Amanda Barnes

Janet Z. Wang's book Chinese Renaissance: A Wine Lover’s Companion was first published in January 2019 by Ebury Press, Penguin Randomhouse, and has this month been followed with its second reprint. This second edition contains some minor updates, including a summarisation and explanation of the decline in wine production and consumption in China in recent years, a deeper delve into the unique l...

Marc Millon set to release ‘Italy in a Wineglass – the taste of history’

Posted on February 28, 2024 by Marc Millon

Marc Millon's book Italy in a Wineglass - the taste of history is set to be published by Hurst (UK) on April 18 and by Melville House (USA/Canada) May 21st. From the ancient Greeks to the Medici, and from fascism to feminism, writer and wine expert Marc Millon reveals how the story of Italy has always been entwined with that of wine. Through the millennia, it has been a celebratory libation at ...

New Member: Dena Roché

Posted on February 28, 2024February 29, 2024 by Dena Roché

Dena Roché looks at the world of wine through the lens of travel. She brings wine alive by telling the stories of a region, its wines and the vintners that craft them in her roles as a wine writer and wine educator. She has traveled to over 35 wine regions and has her Level One Sommelier. Dena was a 2024 Fellow of the Wine Writers’ Symposium. Her work is published in print and online interna...

New Member: Henna Bakshi

Posted on February 28, 2024 by Henna Bakshi

Henna Bakshi is an experienced food and wine journalist, producer, and on-air talent, with a decade of experience at CNN. She holds a Level 3 certification through the internationally renowned Wine and Spirits Education Trust. Henna's work appears in Wine Enthusiast, Decanter, Food & Wine Magazine, Eater, VinePair, Full Pour, and more. As a food and wine writer, Henna has hosted her own coo...

Meet the Member: Paula Redes Sidore

Posted on February 28, 2024February 28, 2024 by Paula Redes Sidore

Paula Redes Sidore is best known for her work communicating the wines of Germany although, as Amanda Barnes discovers in this interview, her journey in wine started with a few inconspicuous drops of White Zin. Paula also shares what wines and styles are enticing her at the moment, and why she decided to launch TRINK —the world's first English-language magazine focused on the ‘German-speaking wines...

Spectacular Temecula can do good wine too

Posted on February 28, 2024 by Becky Sue Epstein

Next time you’ve got an extra couple of days in Los Angeles or San Diego, Becky Sue Epstein recommends a visit to the Southern California wine region, which she recently visited after a long absence and found the wines are a changing for the good. If wine grapes have been grown in California’s Temecula Valley since the 1820s, why are we only hearing about it now? And what are the wines like? Tha...

Mountain magician

Posted on February 28, 2024 by Kathleen Burk

Kathleen Burk meets and eats extremely well with Chris Carpenter, who crafts finely chiselled Chardonnays and reds from above the fog line in Napa, and much more, also for Jackson Family Wines, such as making wine in Walla Walla Valley and McLaren Vale. The quality of the lunch at Kerridge’s Bar and Grill in London was a delicious bonus when I accepted an invitation to attend a lunchtime tasting...

Oz Clarke awarded Officier de l’Ordre du Merite Agricole

Posted on January 30, 2024 by Amanda Barnes

Congratulations to Vice President of the Circle of Wine Writers, Oz Clarke, who has been officially awarded the Officier de l’Ordre du Merite Agricole medal at the French Embassy in London. In Oz’s own words, "It was a lovely day and I felt very proud and pleased". Apparently, ultra-French canapes and Mumm champagne were served. A huge congratulations to Oz Clarke for this very well-deserved aw...

Sarah Jane Evans MW awarded Officer’s Cross of the Royal Order of Isabella the Catholic

Posted on January 30, 2024January 30, 2024 by Amanda Barnes

Sarah Jane Evans MW has been awarded The Royal Order of Isabella the Catholic, a Spanish civil order of honour granted to persons and institutions in recognition of extraordinary services to Spain or the promotion of international relations and cooperation with other nations. “It is a pleasure to bestow the Officer’s Cross of the Order of Isabel la Católica to Sarah Jane Evans," commented Ambassa...

A green bottle start to the Let’s talk about… year

Posted on January 30, 2024 by Liz Sagues

Liz Sagues shares details on what members can look forward to in the first Let's talk about... sessions for this calendar year. She also looks back at Jancis Robinson MW's hotly-attended session on the importance of bottle weights, which kicked off the year's talks in early January, as well as Randy Caparoso's recent session on the old vines of Lodi. Such is Jancis Robinson's determination to pro...