Amanda Barnes, Author at Circle of Wine Writers

Hybrid grapes take Taiwanese wine to the world

Posted on July 30, 2024July 31, 2024 by Leona De Pasquale

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Review of Vienna’s VieVinum 2024

Posted on July 30, 2024 by Jochen Erler

A summer pause and reflection on Let’s talk about…

Posted on July 30, 2024 by Liz Sagues

Summer has brought a brief break in the Circle's Let's talk about... online seminars, but they will be back again very soon, says Liz Sagues. On 3rd September, Alder Yarrow launches the autumn-winter programme with session number 106 as he takes us behind the scenes at the Old Vine Registry, the world’s first and most authoritative database of old vine vineyards around the globe. Alder, pionee...

Istrian winemakers delight the crowd at the 30th edition of Vinistra

Posted on June 29, 2024June 29, 2024 by Dijana Grgić

Dijana Grgić enjoys some marvellous Malvasias and other local treats at the event held on the Istrian peninsula, which is fast becoming a Croatian classic. The 30th anniversary of Vinistra saw exhibition spaces adorned with the colours of the new logo, which is in the shape of a bunch of grapes, and the different sizes of the berries symbolise the unity of Istrian winemakers. It is precisely this...

New Member: Beth Willard

Posted on June 29, 2024 by Amanda Barnes

Beth Willard was first involved in wine as a buyer but is now a writer and wine judge. For nearly a decade Beth travelled the world buying wine for Direct Wines and received awards including UK Retail Buyer of the Year from the Drinks Business Awards, as well as Personality of the Year from Wines of Rioja. She has now left the commercial world behind and is writing about Spain, her main passion...

Way beyond the Bordeaux comfort zone

Posted on June 29, 2024June 29, 2024 by Michael Fridjhon

Life on the edge: the ancient roots and modern uprising of Etna

Posted on June 29, 2024 by Amanda Barnes

Amanda Barnes engages with the fascinating terroir of Sicily’s striking and active volcano, as her palate is swept away by some stunning bianco and rosso wines, made by a dedicated bunch of winemakers, some who even bottle ‘illegal’ varieties. Etna is an explosive terroir. A volcanic wine region on the island of Sicily, almost touching the African continent, it is steeped in history and mystery. ...

The soaring story of Etna and Contrade dell’Etna

Posted on June 27, 2024 by Michèle Shah

Michèle Shah attends the 15th edition of the Contrade dell'Etna, which has developed exponentially since it started as a convivial gathering of local winemakers. In tandem, she describes the remarkable re-emergence of Etna’s elegantly energetic wines. In 2008, Andrea Franchetti, a visionary and eclectic wine pioneer — owner of the Passopisciaro estate on Etna and Tenuta di Trinoro in Tuscany — ig...

Cherishing a Cape classic and more

Posted on May 28, 2024May 31, 2024 by Colin Harkness

Colin Harkness calls in on Klien Constantia, meets winemaker Matt Day, himself fresh from fixing the date for the start of the harvest, and savours the sumptuously sweet Vin de Constance, dry Sauvignon Blancs and a red from Stellenbosch. Jane Austen is in some rather A-List company when she mentions the luscious dessert wine, Vin de Constance, from Klien Constantia Wine Farm, near Cape Town, Sout...

Ningxia dominates the Chinese Wine Awards 2024

Posted on May 28, 2024 by Annabel Jackson

Annabel Jackson reports from Macau on the inaugural edition of the competition that seeks to give local winemakers critical feedback from outside experts, and around which there is a buzz. The gold medal and trophy winners at the inaugural Chinese Wine Awards 2024, held in Macau, at Wynn Palace, in March, were announced at a glossy gala dinner in the hotel’s ballroom in April. The results are a...