Bringing precious plantings into the present 

To access this post, you must purchase Premium Friend of the Circle (inc one-off joining fee) or 2026 Premium Friend of the Circle (current Friends renewal only/April), or log in.
Read More

Patience, perseverance and pasta: Antinori launches its London Cantinetta

Amanda Barnes sits down to taste a vertical of Solaia as the Antinori family launches its latest restaurant in the heart of London. “Having 630 years of history helps us to be patient,” says Allegra Antinori, 26th generation of the Antinori wine dynasty and the middle of the three sisters gradually taking over from their father, Marchese Piero Antinori.  “This is not a soft launch, but a long la...
Read More

Lots of refined Rheinghau go under the hammer

To access this post, you must purchase Premium Friend of the Circle (inc one-off joining fee) or 2026 Premium Friend of the Circle (current Friends renewal only/April), or log in.
Read More

A flood of information: the relevancy of Circle online seminars

Committee member Liz Sagues looks back on several superbly salient sessions of the ‘Let's talk about...’ series. The timing could not have been more topical. As members logged in for the first of the Circle's June ‘Let's talk about...’ webinars, Philip Cox, owner of Romanian winery Cramele Recas and one of the presenters, sent a 'Sorry, I'll be late' message. The reason: he was dealing with a mas...
Read More

Tenuta di Arceno and its plot to plant parcels with the perfect variety 

Committee member Liz Sagues reports on the emergence of micro crus at the ancient 1,000-hectare estate that can help to place similar emphasis on both savouring Sangiovese and producing stunning Super Tuscans. Whither the future of Tuscany? In Chianti Classico or in Super Tuscans? That was one of the questions posed as participants in a recent ‘CWW Let's talk about...’ webinar toured the hills, a...
Read More

Tasting through Tokaj

Amanda Barnes takes to the hills of Tokaj to learn about the fascinating history and art of sweet, sparkling and still wines in the region from László Mészáros, director of Disznókõ. “We are the oldest wine region, but still a very young one,” this simple statement made by László Mészáros, director of one of Tokaj’s most esteemed estates, Disznókõ, became increasingly poignant and meaningful to m...
Read More

Meet the Member: Geoffrey Dean

Geoffrey Dean has been writing about cricket since the late 1980s and it was on some of those cricketing adventures abroad that he fell into the world of wine. Since completing the WSET Diploma in 2011, he divides his time between wine regions and cricket tours, writing for several sports and drinks publications in the UK today. Amanda Barnes interviews him for our Meet the Member interview, while...
Read More

Snapping Santorini

Jon Wyand shoots wine, wineries, vintners, vineyards, white churches and the breeze in a study trip diary about the superbly scenic Cyclades island that’s written from a photographer’s angle and perspective. Monday 17th April. 4 am. The big day has arrived. Everyone has been telling me how wonderful Santorini is. ‘A photographer’s paradise,’ one winemaker emailed me. I’m to join half a dozen win...
Read More

Counteracting climate change

To access this post, you must purchase Premium Friend of the Circle (inc one-off joining fee) or 2026 Premium Friend of the Circle (current Friends renewal only/April), or log in.
Read More