Wine’s transactional flaw

Posted on November 27, 2022November 27, 2022 by Andrew Jefford

Andrew Jefford is one of the most celebrated wine writers in the world, known for his lyrical prose which delve into the philosophy of wine. Drinking with the Valkyries: Writings on Wine is his new book, a collection of his essays, published by Academie du Vin Library. In this extract from the book, Jefford ponders on the 'transactional flaw' of wine. Gallus gallus domesticus is the c...

Marisa Finetti releases her first book, Marisa’s Wine Doodles

Posted on November 27, 2022November 27, 2022 by Amanda Barnes

Circle member Marisa Finetti has released her first book, an illustrated book of wine doodles. Marisa's Wine Doodles illustrates wine basics while showcasing wine's refreshing and amusing sensations and personalities. The 80-page book of hand-drawn doodles features new and original narrated illustrations that highlight grapes, wines, food and wine pairings, origins, rocks and soils, history, an...

Talha Tales: Paul White releases new book

Posted on November 27, 2022November 27, 2022 by Amanda Barnes

After a decade of research, Paul White has released his new book Talha Tales: Portugal’s Ancient Answer to Amphora Wines. The book chronicles the near extinction and subsequent resurrection of the world’s only continuously surviving Roman terracotta pot winemaking tradition. Although talha maintain a very pure, ancient process, White argues that "they are essentially the newest, most complete,...

Simon J Woolf, Jasper Morris and Amanda Barnes nominated for André Simon awards

Posted on December 15, 2021December 19, 2021 by Robert Smyth

Circle Members Simon J Woolf, Jasper Morris MW and Amanda Barnes have all been longlisted for the André Simon Drinks Book 2021 award. Simon J Woolf received his nomination for Foot Trodden, which he co-authored with Ryan Opaz. Jasper Morris MW received a nomination for this in-depth look at one of the world's most famous wine regions in Inside Burgundy. And Amanda Barnes received a nomina...

Jane Anson, Oz Clarke & Keith Grainger shine at the Gourmand awards

Posted on December 15, 2021December 16, 2021 by Amanda Barnes

Congratulations to the Members who took home celebrated Gourmand Awards for their books in the awards ceremony last month. Jane Anson, Oz Clarke and Keith Grainger all took home significant awards for their new books. Jane Anson won Best of the Best for her book, Inside Bordeaux, which was published earlier this year. Oz Clarke won the World Wines award for his book, English Wines, published...

Oz Clark On Wine: Oz’s most personal book to date

Posted on December 14, 2021December 20, 2021 by Oz Clarke

Oz Clarke On Wine is a fast-paced, informative and witty romp around the world of wine, crammed with Oz’s encyclopaedic knowledge and personal tastes. The newly published book explores the grape varieties key to the world’s major wine styles, and the vineyards and regions where a vast trove of wine treasure lies waiting for discovery. Oz conjures up the wine world’s most beautiful landscapes, i...

On California published by Académie du Vin Library

Posted on December 14, 2021December 20, 2021 by Amanda Barnes

Last October, the Académie du Vin Library published a seminal book on California wine —past, present and future stories told by renowned international wine writers, including members of The Circle of Wine Writers. On California is the long-awaited collection of best works from the world's most beloved wine writers, following its predecessor, On Bordeaux. The newest title encompasses the expansi...

Raymond Blake set to publish Wine Talk

Posted on December 14, 2021 by Raymond Blake

Raymond Blake is set to have his latest book, Wine Talk, published early next year by Skyhorse in New York. Raymond Blake is one of Ireland’s leading wine writers, whose work appears in numerous magazines across the globe, including The World of Fine Wine. Recently he has also established a strong online presence, presenting wine tasting webinars to audiences in four continents, as well as priv...

Billy Abbott publishes The Philisophy of Whisky

Posted on December 14, 2021 by Amanda Barnes

Billy Abbott has published The Philosophy of Whisky, a book taking 'a short look at the history of whisky and how it’s drunk today'. The book is accompanied by illustrations from the British Library archives and includes, according to Abbott, "one invocation of irony, lots of realisation that the English were complete gits in the past, and one severed digit". It was recently reviewed by Club...

Book Review: The South America Wine Guide by Amanda Barnes

Posted on October 20, 2021October 22, 2021 by Tamlyn Currin

Tamlyn Currin reviews The South America Wine Guide: The definitive guide to the wine in Argentina, Chile, Uruguay, Brazil, Bolivia and Peru by Amanda Barnes in this review which was originally published on JancisRobinson.com In February 2020, just before the full reality of the pandemic hit and the world went into a lockdown from which nothing would emerge the same, Jancis went on an epic trip to...