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Posted on by Amanda Barnes

Congratulations to members shortlisted for LRIWWAs!

Posted on by Amanda Barnes
Congratulations to Circle members who were shortlisted for the 2019 Louis Roederer International Wine Writers' Awards! Tim Atkin MW (shortlisted for Online Communicator) Simon Woolf (shortlisted for no less than three awards - Online Communicator, Feature Writer and International Wine Book) Janet Z Wang (shortlisted for International Wine Book) Jon Wyand (shortlisted for Artistry of Wine...
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Notes for Circular contributors

Posted on by Amanda Barnes
We welcome members to contribute to our monthly publication, The Circular, with their articles, features, photography and news. The Circular includes content from our members all over the globe and we aim to publish an informative and interesting monthly read for fellow members, Friends of the Circle and subscribers. Some months we have a focus region or country, which we will advertise in adva...
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New Member: Julian Wiseman

Posted on by Amanda Barnes
Julian Wiseman is the author of Port Vintages, an authoritative reference book on old vintage Port (print run one pipe; happily all sold). He is married (with three children and four cats), lives in London, works in the interest-rate markets, has a degree in mathematics, and is an Honorary Confrade with the rank of Knight in the Confraria do Vinho do Porto. More relevantly he has drunk about ten t...
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Circular Editor Amanda Barnes receives another award

Posted on by Keith Grainger
Keith Grainger celebrates two awards Circular Editor Amanda Barnes has recently won and shares insight into why these awards, in memory of Geoffrey Roberts, Tim Derouet and Geoffrey Jameson, were created. I know she is much too modest to sing her own praises and trumpet her achievements so I’ve taken it upon myself to tell readers about awards that Amanda Barnes, editor of The Circular, has won i...
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Circle photographers take home top trophies at Wine Photographer of the Year

Posted on by Amanda Barnes
Congratulations to wine photographers and Circle members Mick Rock, Matt Wilson and Jon Wyand for winning 1st place awards at the Pink Lady Food Photographer of the Year and the Errazuriz Wine Photographer of the Year Awards! Jon Wyand took home the trophy for Wine Photographer of the Year, winning overall on the evening for his image of 'Cleaning the Cuverie' at Domaine Faiveley in Mercure. Th...
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New member: Victor Smart

Posted on by Amanda Barnes
Victor Smart is a long-time wine enthusiast who has worked for national media, including the Observer. He has appeared as a pundit on BBC, Sky News and CNN, covering everything from politics to business. He writes regularly for publications such as The Buyer and Financial Times specialist publications. He believes that behind every wine there is a story to tell about people, places and traditio...
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Tribute to Lena Inger

Posted on by Amanda Barnes
Lena Inger was a longstanding Circle member and an influential educator for over three decades. With her long-time partner, Sandy Leckie, and fellow Circle member Vivienne Franks, she managed one of the most important wine schools in the country, The Wine Education Service Limited. Fellow members pay tribute to Lena:   "So many people who enjoy wine will be sad to hear of Lena’s death. ...
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New member: Laura Donadoni

Posted on by Laura Donadoni
Laura Donadoni is an Italian wine journalist and blogger, based in San Diego, where she founded "The Italian Wine Girl" blog and La Com Wine Agency (a licensed wine importing company and P.R. and communications firm) five years ago. Laura is a columnist for SommJournal and Tasting Panel, a certified sommelier (also with WSET Level 3), a certified wine educator and is a Vinitaly International ...
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New Member: Billy Abbott

Posted on by Amanda Barnes
Billy Abbott is a London-based drinks writer with a focus on whisky, fine spirits and beer. Formerly a computer programmer in the finance industry, he jumped into the world of writing full time in 2011. By day, Billy works for The Whisky Exchange, writing, blogging, managing online communities, leading the internal training program and acting as the company's whisky ambassador. The rest of the ...
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Gerard Basset: A tribute to the ‘world’s favourite sommelier’

Posted on by Amanda Barnes
Gerard Basset sadly lost his battle to cancer of the oesophagus on 16th February. A member of the Circle, Gerard was a well-known and well-loved figure in the world of wine holding prestigious titles including Master of Wine, Master Sommelier and the World's Best Sommelier. Beyond his titles, Gerard was a kind, humble and generous man. He was a mentor to many aspiring sommeliers and inspired a ge...
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