Full Bodied: The faded memories of a big man in the wine trade

Christopher Fielden spent lockdown earlier this year penning his memoirs, Full Bodied: The faded memories of a big man in the wine trade, which Amanda Barnes reviews this month. We also publish an entertaining extract from the book as Christopher gets to grips with the Albanian wine market. Christopher Fielden has incredible stories that you can truly relish in with him in his newest book, Full B...
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Meet the Member: Christopher Fielden

Christopher Fielden is a well-known personality in the wine industry, having spent the past 60 years working in the trade in various roles. As he releases his new memoir, Full Bodied, Amanda Barnes interviews him about his favourite wine regions, books and why there's no guilty pleasure in his wine closet. Christopher served on the Circle committee for 6 years from 2003 and, during that time, four...
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Meet the Friend: Su-Lin Ong

Su-Lin Ong
Su-Lin Ong is an independent wines and spirits consultant specialising in research and development, marketing and PR. For over 25 years she has worked with both long-established brands and helped launch new entrepreneurial brands, working also on cocktails, beers and tea infusions! Amanda Barnes interviews her about her parents' cocktail trolley, fast cars and slow wine, and why she'll be looking ...
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Redefining Rueda

Liz Sagues interviews Santiago Mora Poveda, director general of Rueda DO, the denominación de origen that makes more white wine than any other in Spain, on the region’s recently revamped rules. Liz was inspired to arrange the interview, which is a Circular exclusive, after enjoying the Circle's 'Let’s talk about Ramón Bilbao in Rueda – Verdejo and Sauvignon Blanc' with Sara Bañuelos, the company t...
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Peter and Susie’s Wine Festival Winchester moves online

Peter Richards MW and Susie Barrie MW are inviting members to join in their annual Wine Festival Winchester, which this year is going online! Taking place on Saturday 28th November, the day is packed with delicious online wine masterclasses curated via the festival’s website www.thewinefestival.co.uk "We’ve taken our Wine Festival Winchester online, in the spirit of positivity – trying to su...
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Ingesting España from afar with Eat Spain, Drink Spain

Liz Sagues and Amanda Barnes delight in and devour some Spanish delights as they 'Eat Spain, Drink Spain’ in the nationwide November campaign.   Pairing Spanish delicacies from dish to glass Suitably prepared with a pre-delivered hamper stacked with Spanish food and wine goodies, Liz Sagues gets in on some perfect pairings that nevertheless don’t quite please everyone. A big thank-you is ...
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Seminal Semillon

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Taking bubbles to the dark side

Amanda Barnes finds a Slovenian sparkler that has remained untouched by light from picking to palate, while attending the funkiest of fizzy launches. Wine launches are always a tough one to make interesting, especially during Covid times, when you can’t easily organise a big soirée. Radgonske Gorice’s wine launch last month was, however, perfectly interesting. A simple premise perhaps — a sample...
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Ken Gargett’s top wine picks from Down Under

In our Australia special this month, Ken Gargett shares what he's been drinking recently and couple of recommendations on new releases to try. As with the rest of the world, the pandemic has meant many changes in the way critics Down Under are evaluating wines. Interstate visits to wineries and regions for tastings and new releases have been almost non-existent. Zoom meetings for local and offsho...
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