CWW Let's talk about... Ampelography and the future of wine, with Olivier Bourdet-Pees
2025-03-18 17:00 (Europe/London) | Circle of Wine Writers
Olivier, head of the pioneering Plaimont co-operative in South West France, will take a deep dive into the study of grape varieties and the vital role their diversity plays in shaping the future of wine.
As the industry faces increasing homogenisation and climate challenges, Plaimont has championed rare Pyrenean grape varieties such as Petit Courbu, Manseng Noir and Tardif, preserving France’s rich viticultural heritage. Olivier will explain how a single rediscovered vine has led to a revival planting of 40 hectares, which he believes will ensure unique, resilient wines for generations to come, and will discuss much more of his region’s role in the wider future of wine.
Olivier joined Plaimont in 2008 as technical director, with the specific aims of developing rediscovered grape varieties preserved in the co-operative’s unique vine conservatory and defining the most exciting micro-terroirs of the different appellations in which its members work. As managing director and head winemaker since 2012 he has continued the inspiring work of co-operative founder André Dubosc, emphasising the exceptional diversity of grape varieties, terroirs and savoir-faire of the IGP Côtes de Gascogne and AOC Saint Mont, Madiran and Pacherenc du Vic-Bilh.
Born in Béarn, Olivier grew up in a small co-operative farming family, his passion for trees, genetic diversity and wine inherited from his grandfather, a nurseryman and viticulturist. After graduating in oenology and before Plaimont, he spent 10 years between Bordeaux and South America, as oneologist and technical director at the important co-operative winery les Vignerons de Tutiac and launching a unique winemaking project in Uruguay, Viñedo de Minas, where he planted 28 hectares of Tannat, Cabernet Sauvignon and Petit Verdot.
To learn more see plaimont.com
To join this Zoom seminar, please register now or at any time before 5pm GMT on March 18th. The session, including Q&As, will last for approximately one hour. To register, follow the links below. Guests will be very welcome, but please let Andrea know their names.
Register here: https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/yvbj2dJKSP-q_ykmqFq3sQ
After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the webinar.
We look forward to seeing you then.
If you can’t attend the live session, there will be a recording available to watch afterwards on the Circle’s YouTube channel (links to this and earlier sessions are in the members’ area of the website).
Michèle Shah & Liz Sagues, CWW online events organisers

CWW Let's talk about... Wine judging - practice and purpose
2025-04-01 17:00 - 18:00
CWW Let’s talk about… Wine judging – practice and purpose, with Charles Metcalfe, Sue Eames, Liz Gabay MW and Darrell Joseph
Our distinguished panel of CWW members, led by International Wine Challenge co-founder Charles Metcalfe, will bring their experience of judging at different competitions in the UK, Europe and beyond as they discuss a subject that sparks diverse reactions throughout the wine world. It promises to be both a serious and fun session as they share insights and anecdotes.
Charles Metcalfe has presented many TV food and wine programmes, and for 12 years was one of the Richard-and-Judy team on ITV’s ‘This Morning’. A prolific wine writer, he is author of several books with his wife, Kathryn McWhirter, including on the wines of Portugal, where he and Kathryn now live. Among education activity he teaches how to taste and judge wine at the University of Applied Sciences in Krems, Austria.
Sue Eames DipWSET is British, based in Paris and judges wine and spirits extensively in Europe, including Tastevinage, London Tasting Awards, Mondial des Vins Blancs, Concours General Agricole and Frankfort International. She is responsible for social media on the CWW committee, a member of the Association of Wine Educators and as well as judging works as a freelance educator and communicator.
With a career spanning 40 years in wine, much of it focusing on southern France, Italy and central and eastern Europe, Liz Gabay MW has judged in competitions since the late 1980s, starting with early Wine magazine and Decanter events in rooms in obscure areas of London, moving on to many more throughout Europe. Based in France since 2002, she is renowned as a specialist in rosé.
Based in Vienna, Darrel Joseph is a wine writer, judge and lecturer specialising in central and eastern Europe and the Caucasus. Since 1995, he has contributed to numerous publications in the UK and USA and conducted masterclasses and wine tastings internationally. He has been a regional panel chair and judge in the Decanter World Wine Awards as well as judging in other competitions in Europe and Asia.
To join this Zoom seminar, please register now or at any time before 5pm BST on April 1st. The session, including Q&As, will last for approximately one hour. To register, follow the links below. Guests will be very welcome, but please let Andrea know their names.
Register here: https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/zQqImb75R46y_-eB-ZTBVg
After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the webinar.
We look forward to seeing you then.
If you can’t attend the live session, there will be a recording available to watch afterwards on the Circle’s YouTube channel (links to this and earlier sessions are in the members’ area of the website).
Michèle Shah & Liz Sagues, CWW online events organisers
Photo of Sue Eames by Steven Morris

CWW Let's talk about... The new wines of Mount Etna, with Benjamin North Spencer
2025-04-15 17:00 - 18:00
At the end of the 20th century, the vineyards on the slopes of the volcano Mount Etna were nearly abandoned. Today, there are more than 100 successful estates and hundreds of growers making some of the world’s finest wines from indigenous Sicilian grape varieties. On Europe’s largest active volcano, this kind of rapid change doesn’t come easy. Join Etna expert Ben Spencer on an exploration of the rebirth of the wine region that has everyone talking about Sicily.
Ben, a Circle member and DipWSET, has lived and worked on Mount Etna since 2012. His journey into the world of wine began unexpectedly during an internship at a California winery 23 years ago. Now, he is one of Etna’s most passionate ambassadors, a consulting winemaker on the volcano, a journalist and the founder of the Etna Wine School™ in Sicily. He is also the award-winning author of The New Wines of Mount Etna. Ben has studied with the Court of Master Sommeliers and the University of California, Davis.
To learn more of how he spreads the word about Etna wine, see etnawineschool.com
To join this Zoom seminar, please register now or at any time before 5pm BST on April 15th The session, including Q&As, will last for approximately one hour. To register, follow the links below. Guests will be very welcome, but please let Andrea know their names.
Register here: https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/V7DU70DbTqix_UTCUnOwXg
After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the webinar.
We look forward to seeing you then.
If you can’t attend the live session, there will be a recording available to watch afterwards on the Circle’s YouTube channel (links to this and earlier sessions are available upon request).
Michèle Shah & Liz Sagues, CWW online events organisers
Photo of Ben Spencer by Jason Johnson

CWW Let's talk about... Georgian Qvevri wines, then and now, with Carla Capalbo
2025-05-06 17:00 - 18:00
Focusing on Georgia’s 8,000 year-old winemaking tradition in large clay pots (qvevri), Carla has subtitled her presentation Family winemaking from Soviet times to today’s protests. She will talk us through the last 100 years to arrive at the current nightly demonstrations against the government and their repercussions for the wines and their makers.
Carla Capalbo, a Circle member, is a food and wine writer and photographer. She’s based again in London after 25 years of living in Italy. She has written 14 books, including three regional guides to Italy’s food and wine (Tuscany 1998, Campania 2006 and Collio 2010, which won the André Simon Best Wine Book Award). In 2017, after visiting Georgia extensively over three years, she published her large book, Tasting Georgia, A Food and Wine Journey in the Caucasus (winner of several awards, including the Guild of Food Writer’s Food and Travel Award, this book was ranked one of the six best travel books of the last decade by Newsweek).
To join this Zoom seminar, please register now or at any time before 5pm BST on May 6th. The session, including Q&As, will last for approximately one hour. To register, follow the links below. Guests will be very welcome, but please let Andrea know their names.
Register in advance for this meeting:
https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/XUDK5dCdQzSV_CZVlaR5PQ
After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the webinar.
We look forward to seeing you then.
If you can’t attend the live session, there will be a recording available to watch afterwards on the Circle’s YouTube channel (find links to this and earlier sessions in the members’ area of the website).
Michèle Shah & Liz Sagues, CWW online events organisers

CWW Let's talk ... all about rosé, with Elizabeth Gabay MW, Ben Bernheim and rosé producers
2025-05-20 17:00 - 18:00
We’re delighted to welcome Elizabeth Gabay MW and her son Ben Bernheim for a presentation that opens a series of 2025 events celebrating the complexity and beauty of rosé.
Liz, a CWW member, and Ben have found themselves increasingly immersed in the world of rosé for the past seven years, working with both producers and trade, writing, speaking and challenging perceptions of this often-underestimated wine.
This webinar will be an informal discussion where everyone can join in and discuss rosé. Liz and Ben will be joined by winemakers Georg Schweitzer, from the new Austrian DAC Rosalia, and Stefan Langmann and his daughter Verena Langmann from Weingut Langmann-Lex in Styria, an area known for its Sauvignon Blancs and high-acid Wildbacher Schilcher rosés. Producers from Maremma, in southern Tuscany, and Greece will also take part.
This Let’s talk about… presentation precedes a series of face-to-face UK events in celebration of rosé. The first is Drink Pink Wednesday, a London tasting of 200+ rosés on June 18th, which, says Liz, could be both a dream day and a nightmare. There will be seven European national and regional tables plus independent producers. To highlight the scope of rosé there will be dry, sweet, sparkling, fortified, low alcohol, natural versions, plus masterclasses.
Later happenings include a Fine Rosé Day tasting featuring rare vintages and niche rosés, and Rosé as Fine Wine?, a debate and vintage rosé tasting. Running alongside is the annual Rosé Writing Competition, inviting submissions of blog posts, articles, and books published between August 2024 and August 2025.
For event inquiries, contact events@pink.wine. More information is at pink.wine/events. Contacts: Ben Bernheim – ben@pink.wine Elizabeth Gabay MW – elizabeth@pink.wine
Before the Let’s talk about… session, if you have any questions – climate change, styles, marketing, grape varieties, and more – do send them in to Andrea via administrator@circleofwinewriters.org.
To join this Zoom seminar, please register now or at any time before 5pm BST on May 20th. The session, including Q&As, will last for approximately one hour. To register, follow the links below. Guests will be very welcome, but please let Andrea know their names.
Register in advance for this meeting:
https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/fQMykMFxSPO9TiEU5xmo3w
After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the webinar.
We look forward to seeing you then.
If you can’t attend the live session, there will be a recording available to watch afterwards on the Circle’s YouTube channel (links to this and earlier sessions are available upon request).
Michèle Shah & Liz Sagues, CWW online events organisers

CWW - Let's talk about... A compelling case for German Chardonnay: what, who and why you need to know, with Paula Redes Sidore and Valerie Kathawala
2025-06-03 17:00 - 18:00 | Circle of Wine Writers
Join TRINK Magazine’s Paula Redes Sidore and Valerie Kathawala to deconstruct German Chardonnay: what makes it unique and worthy of global attention. This session will explore the wines’ impressive quality and diversity, shaped by climate change, distinctive terroirs and ambitious winemakers.
Journey through key German Chardonnay regions, and styles from Baden’s volcanic warmth to the Nahe’s cool limestone elegance. Paula and Valerie will analyse terroir’s impact, evolving cellar practices and benchmark producers. Understand why German Chardonnay is a compelling, evolving category and gain a new appreciation for its distinct character.
TRINK Magazine is an independent digital publication dedicated to the diverse and dynamic wines of the German-speaking world. Paula and Valerie, both CWW members, are its co-founders and publishers. Based in Germany and New York respectively, they were brought together by their shared love for these wines and the conviction that a deep understanding of the cultural contexts is essential for full appreciation.
Paula is an American writer, editor, and translator who has called Germany home for more than two decades. She is the German regional specialist for JancisRobinson.com and with a masters in fiction writing she applies a storyteller’s eye to wine.
Valerie is a widely published journalist, author and editor specialising in the wines of Germany and Austria. She is currently researching and writing the German Wine Scholar course for the Wine Scholar Guild (launching in autumn 2025).
See trinkmag.com
To join this Zoom seminar, please register now or at any time before 5pm BST on June 3rd. The session, including Q&As, will last for approximately one hour. To register, follow the links below. Guests will be very welcome, but please let Andrea know their names.
Register here:
https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/J82PfbBITJOQ6Se01eyCVg
After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the webinar. We look forward to seeing you then.
If you can’t attend the live session, there will be a recording available to watch afterwards on the Circle’s YouTube channel (links to this and earlier sessions are available upon request).
Michèle Shah & Liz Sagues
CWW online events organisers

Te Kano masterclass
2025-06-05 10:30 - 12:00 | Swan, The Balcony Room, 21 New Globe Walk, Bankside, London, SE1 9DT
Spritz marketing invite you to a masterclass hosted by visiting New Zealander and Te Kano winemaker Dave Sutton; in his masterclass he will be showcasing a selection of single site pinots and chardonnays.

CWW AGM 2025 notification
2025-06-06 17:00 - 18:00
2025 AGM notification – due to be held on Friday 6 June at 5 pm BST online. Link will be added here to join the meeting.
Details to follow.

Australian and New Zealand Masterclass and Tasting
2025-06-09 10:00 - 17:00 | The Castel Rooms, 18-20 Castle Street, Manchester, M3 4LZ
The Aussies and Kiwis have lots in common: fine wine, great food, stunning scenery, the cool Southern Ocean and also our cool Antipodean attitude.
Our wines are an expression of our distinctive terroirs and the vibrant communities that craft them. Perfecting traditional techniques and inventing our own ways of doing things, we push the boundaries in the pursuit of the most diverse, thrilling wines in the world.
Taste the wines that have put Australia and New Zealand in the spotlight and discover exciting new wines that are coming out of the two countries today. Uncover regional and stylistic differences, find out about winemaking techniques and innovative spirit, and look into the future of Australian and New Zealand wine.
The masterclass line-up – five wines from Australia and five wines from New Zealand – includes organic and biodynamic wines, minimal intervention and natural wines, and alternative varieties and new wave styles.
We also invite you to explore contemporary styles in the free-pour tasting, which features 60 wines. The flights are sparkling wine, Riesling, aromatic whites, Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, rosé, light reds, Pinot Noir, Syrah/Shiraz, and Cabernet and blends. From Pét-Nat to Uva di Troia, we’ll challenge your perceptions of Australian and New Zealand wine.
All of the wines are available in the UK. If you’re looking to expand your portfolio of Australian and New Zealand wines, this is a great opportunity to taste and explore a diverse range under one roof.
Please note that this is a trade tasting and is limited to wine trade and media only.
Masterclass
10.30 – 12.00
14.00 – 15.30
Free-pour tasting
10.00 – 17.00
REGISTER HERE

Let's talk about... Cultural attitudes towards wine in India and China, with Reva K. Singh, Ruma Singh and Janet Wang
2025-06-17 17:00 - 18:00 | Circle of Wine Writers
Be ready to step into the little-understood wine culture of the world’s two most populated countries, as CWW members Reva K. Singh, Ruma Singh and Janet Wang explain the historical background and modern attitudes to wine in India and China.
This session promises to be a fascinating eye-opener into how, for example, drinking patterns have changed in India over the past two decades and why China considers itself to be a culture steeped in wine. Much more besides will be discussed by our speakers, from the influence of e-commerce to the rise of wine consumption among Indian women or why young people in China are bucking the world trend and drinking more wine.
Reva K. Singh, a former university lecturer in English literature and veteran magazine journalist, is the founder and publisher of Sommelier India – The Wine Magazine, the first Indian magazine dedicated to wine in India. She has led or been on the editorial team of several high profile publications in India and abroad over the course of her publishing career. Reva is highly respected in the Indian wine industry and has been quoted in international newspapers and magazines discussing the wine culture in India.
Ruma Singh, DipWSET, is a highly regarded independent wine and spirits journalist and writer. She is an educator, wine judge, consultant and columnist for leading publications, Indian and international, and founder of her online wine magazine, Between the Wines. In 2009 she became the first female president of the Bangalore Wine Club, India’s foremost independent wine club. She believes communication and education are the ways to grow India’s wine culture.
Janet Wang, an internationally acclaimed specialist and consultant on Chinese wine, is the author of The Chinese Wine Renaissance, shortlisted for Louis Roederer Wine Book of the Year 2019 and overall winner of 2020 Gourmand Awards World Wine category. She is a wine pundit for Channel 4’s Sunday Brunch, has spoken about Chinese wine on the BBC and runs corporate and social wine events for beverage sector investors, universities, China-related forums and high-profile private members clubs such as 67 Pall Mall.
To join this Zoom seminar, please register now or at any time before 5pm BST on June 17th. The session, including Q&As, will last for approximately one hour. To register, follow the links below. Guests will be very welcome, but please let Andrea know their names.
Register here:
https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/FB4Gwm-ETE-CwwGGj_YvbQ
After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the webinar.
We look forward to seeing you then.
If you can’t attend the live session, there will be a recording available to watch afterwards on the Circle’s YouTube channel (find links to this and earlier sessions in the members’ area of the website).
Michèle Shah & Liz Sagues, CWW online events organisers

English Wine Week
2025-06-21 - 2025-06-29
Please use contact email Talya Roberson at Wine GB for more details.

Let's talk about... Modern wines from ancient vines: a new look at Jumilla, with Carolina Martinez Origone
2025-07-01 17:00 - 18:00
Join Carolina Martinez Origone, general secretary of Jumilla PDO Regulatory Council, to discover how Jumilla, one of Spain’s most dynamic wine regions, is redefining its identity through world-class expressions of Monastrell and securing its future through cutting-edge sustainability.
This webinar will explore the evolution of Monastrell – Jumilla’s signature grape – and how it fits in a global context for today’s wine industry alongside counterparts (otherwise known as Mourvèdre) in Bandol, Australia and beyond.
Following three years of extreme drought Carolina will also delve into the region’s forward-thinking response to climate change, including water-efficient viticulture, organic and biodynamic practices, and the unique role Jumilla’s terroir plays in fostering both resilience and quality.
Born in Madrid, Carolina is an agricultural engineer and holds a Master of Science in agrifood marketing. She has been the manager and general secretary of the Jumilla PDO Regulatory Council since 2017. With a firm belief in the potential of its wines and the distinctive features of the land, her aim is to modernise this historic wine region.
To join this Zoom seminar, please register now or at any time before 5pm BST on July 1st. The session, including Q&As, will last for approximately one hour. To register, follow the links below. Guests will be very welcome, but please let Andrea know their names.
Register here: https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/LPDDE4efSXeujJHKF4UBpg
After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the webinar. We look forward to seeing you then. This will be our last Let’s talk about… before the summer break. The series starts again on September 2nd, when the topic will be the science of wine ageing, with Kelli White.
If you can’t attend the live session, there will be a recording available to watch afterwards on the Circle’s YouTube channel (find links to this and earlier sessions in the members’ area of the website).
Michèle Shah & Liz Sagues, CWW online events organisers

Sunset Tour and Tasting at Leonardslee Wine Estate
2025-08-22 18:30 - 22:00 | Mannings Heath Estate
Run or walk a beautiful route through their garden, stopping to enjoy four samples of Leonardslee English sparkling wine along the way before finishing with a delicious summer barbecue and live music!
Discover everything you need to know about the run and what’s in store for you below!
Book: https://leonardsleefamilyvineyards.com/our-events

Benguela Wine & Dine
2025-08-28 18:30 - 22:30 | Leonardslee Wine Estate
Sip, Savour, and Indulge with Benguela Wine & Dine
Transport yourself to the heart of South African wine country right here in West Sussex. Leonardslee’s sister estate, Benguela Cove Lagoon Wine Estate located in the renowned Walker Bay wine region, famed for its unique maritime climate, discover our award-winning wines from the sunlit slopes of South Africa.
£67 per person
What to Expect
Welcome Bubbles & Canapés
Begin with a glass of Benguela Cove sparkling wine, perfectly complemented by delicately crafted canapés.
Four-Course Gourmet Pairing
Delight in a specially curated four-course menu, with each dish perfectly paired to showcase the exceptional wines of Benguela Cove.
Book: https://leonardsleefamilyvineyards.com/our-events

Let's talk about... The Science of Wine Ageing, with Kelli White
2025-09-02 17:00 - 18:00 | Circle of Wine Writers
Learn from Kelli White, award-winning writer and sommelier, about the chemistry of what is typically happening inside the bottle as a wine matures.
The fundamental elements of a wine’s colour, aromas, sweetness, acidity, alcohol, tannin and effervescence (if any) all change over time, but how and why? What is understood about why wines shut down in their ‘sulky teenage-like’ period? And how do storage conditions and decanting impact these aspects?
Science has not yet given all the answers to these questions, but Kelli will address them, sharing her expertise following sponsorship to write on the topic by the Libération Tardive Foundation, a non-profit body dedicated to showcasing the transformative power of time on fine wines. Foundation director Dominic Buckwell, a Circle member, will introduce the session, our first after the northern hemisphere summer season break.
Kelli is currently director of education for the Wine Center at Meadowood in the Napa Valley. Her work as a sommelier has been covered by many of the wine industry’s top publications. Among publications where her writing has appeared are World of Fine Wine, GuildSomm, Robb Report, Sommelier Journal, Le Pan, and Vinous, and she has contributed to the most recent editions of the World Atlas of Wine and the Oxford Companion to Wine.
Her first book, Napa Valley, Then & Now (2015), received enormous critical acclaim; her second, Wine Confident, published last autumn via Academie du Vin Press in London, is listed for two awards.
To join this Zoom seminar, please register now or at any time before 5pm BST on September 2nd. The session, including Q&As, will last for approximately one hour. To register, follow the links below. Guests will be very welcome, but please let Andrea know their names.
Register here: https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/Tm1Dv19WRO6GfcTXFtg-rA
After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the webinar. We look forward to seeing you then.
If you can’t attend the live session, there will be a recording available to watch afterwards on the Circle’s YouTube channel (find links to this and earlier sessions in the members’ area of the website).
Michèle Shah & Liz Sagues, CWW online events organisers

WINE GB National Trade & Press Tasting
2025-09-08
Please contact Angelina Howe at WINE GB for more details.

Achaval Ferrer’s Fincas Tasting
2025-09-11 10:30 - 12:00 | Quo Vadis, Leoni Room, 26-29 Dean Street, London, W1D 3LL
You are invited to an exclusive tasting of the latest vintage of Achaval Ferrer’s Fincas hosted by winemaker Gustavo Rearte in September. As well as the latest 2021 vintage release, this occasion will offer an exclusive opportunity to taste the newest, fourth Finca – Finca Nazarenas – first planted in 1923. It is unlikely that another finca will be added to the collection for the next few decades so this is very much a special moment not to be missed. In addition, to mark the occasion, Gustavo will be opening back vintages to share the glorious ageing potential of these show-stopping wines made from old vines.
RSVP to astrid@spritzmarketing.co.uk

Let's talk about... Challenges in France, with Olivier Humbrecht MW, Fabien Moreau and Gavin Quinney
2025-09-16 17:00 - 18:00
This year is proving hugely challenging for wine world wide – and nowhere more so than in France. Join this important webinar to hear expert views on the issues that are currently facing vignerons in three of the country’s major wine regions.
Our distinguished speakers will cover such topics as climate change opportunities and challenges, low yields, Bordeaux’s perfect storm, frost and disease, how to interest younger generations in drinking wine, supply and demand, and making vineyards sustainable. Will they, perhaps, also bring some good news?
Olivier Humbrecht, agronomist and oenologist, passed the MW in 1989, the first Frenchman to do so, while working at Sopexa London. That year he joined the family-owned Domaine Zind-Humbrecht, a legendary name in Alsace. Olivier has arguably overseen the most notable improvements in the 40-hectare domaine’s history, including initiating biodynamic practices. zindhumbrecht.fr
Fabien Moreau is the sixth generation of his family to make wines, producing his first vintage as director of Domaine Christian Moreau Père et Fils in 2001 after his return to Chablis from New Zealand. In 2013 the estate gained organic accreditation, as part of Fabien’s continuing efforts to increase quality and typicity. domainechristianmoreau.com
Gavin Quinney, owner with his wife Angela of Château Bauduc in Entre Deux Mers, publishes detailed Bordeaux vintage reports on Jancis Robinson’s site, Liv-ex and his own website, and tastes all the top wines each spring for his en primeur report in Harpers Wine & Spirit. Bauduc wines are sold primarily in the UK, Switzerland and Ireland. bauduc.com
To join this Zoom seminar, please register now or at any time before 5pm BST on September 16th. The session, including Q&As, will last for approximately one hour. To register, follow the links below. Guests will be very welcome, but please let Andrea know their names.
Register here:
https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/SHdUPg85Rza1O2cfKXQKbQ
After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the webinar. We look forward to seeing you then.
If you can’t attend the live session, there will be a recording available to watch afterwards on the Circle’s YouTube channel (find links to this and earlier sessions in the members’ area of the website).
Michèle Shah & Liz Sagues, CWW online events organisers

Amorim Family Estates Masterclass
2025-09-18 10:30 - 12:00 | 67, Pall Mall, St James’s Room, London, SW1Y 5ES
In September, Luisa Amorim – CEO of Amorim Family Estates – will be in London to showcase wines from across the estates’ portfolio. Her masterclass on wines from the Douro, Dao and Alentejo will feature wines from the family’s Quinta Nova de Nossa Senhora do Carmo, Taboadella and Herdade Aldeia de Cima estates.
RSVP to gemma@spritzmarketing.co.uk

Let's talk about... Through the looking glass: perceptual individualism and rethinking wine and food, with Tim Hanni MW
2025-10-07 17:00 - 18:00
A looking glass symbolises introspection and self-awareness. This session introduces how every individual’s sensory world is unique, why wine traditions and food-pairing ‘rules’ deserve rethinking, and how embracing perceptual diversity can reshape the way we talk about and enjoy wine.
Tim will provide an update on his work in perceptual sciences, and stress the importance of understanding that every person’s sensory world is unique. He’ll look at how personal opinion, sensory sensitivity and experiences challenge long-held assumptions in wine education, marketing and wine-and-food pairing. The session will also outline a need to update our thinking about wine history and traditions, and to replace the current approach to wine, and wine with food, with a more inclusive framework that respects individual perceptual perspectives.
Tim Hanni MW is a professionally trained chef, gastronomy fanatic, consumer researcher and consultant in wine business and sensory sciences. Widely known for critically re-thinking conventional wisdom, he has been studying wine and gastronomy for nearly 60 years and spent more than 35 years researching sensory perception and its implications for wine education, marketing and hospitality. Tim is the author of Why You Like the Wines You Like and a leading advocate for making wine culture more inclusive and consumer-centered.
To join this Zoom seminar, please register now or at any time before 5pm BST on October 7th. The session, including Q&As, will last for approximately one hour. To register, follow the links below. Guests will be very welcome, but please let Andrea know their names.
Register here: https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/Ohpubdq4SzSXpAStSIzsBw
After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the webinar. We look forward to seeing you then.
If you can’t attend the live session, there will be a recording available to watch afterwards on the Circle’s YouTube channel (find links to this and earlier sessions in the members’ area of the website).
Michèle Shah & Liz Sagues, CWW online events organisers

Sustainability in Drinks 2025
2025-10-21 10:00 - 20:30 | St Mary’s Church, York Street, Marylebone, London, W1H 1PQ
This year’s SID (Sustainability in Drinks) brings together some of the most inspiring voices in sustainability — including Professor Paul Behrens, Jancis Robinson OBE MW, and Judith Batchelar OBE — for a day packed with practical ideas, honest conversations and opportunities to connect as well as the opportunity to discover some of the best sustainable products on the market.
– Join thought-provoking talks on certification, retail & distribution, and communicating sustainability
– Explore interactive workshops in four themed zones: Land Health, Carbon Management, Sustainable Society, and Packaging
– Take part in The Big Sustainability Debate, introduced by Jancis Robinson OBE MW
– End the day with a Keynote from Professor Paul Behrens, sponsored by CarbonCloud, followed by drinks and networking
For more details about the event and to secure your place please follow the link here: https://sustainabilityindrinks.com/

Let's talk about... The emergence of English wine: successes and challenges, with Sam Linter
2025-10-21 17:00 - 18:00
We’re delighted to welcome Sam Linter, a stellar figure in the UK’s wine industry, to present October’s second online webinar. She will discuss the current position of an emerging wine industry, exploring its related success and issues facing it. Beyond that, Sam, who is Director of Wine at England’s world-respected Plumpton College, will look at solutions the industry is exploring, specifically research with sensors and data collection in vineyards.
Sam Linter has more than 30 years of experience in the English wine industry. Formerly managing director and head winemaker at Bolney Wine Estate, established by her parents in the early 1970s, she transformed the family business from a little-known vineyard into one of the UK’s top producers, achieving multiple national and international awards along the way.
A pioneer in English wine, Sam has played a key role in shaping the industry through her leadership roles, including chair and director of WineGB, and as a founding member of Sustainable Wines of Great Britain. Passionate about Pinot Noir, Pinot Gris and sparkling wines, she has always championed quality, sustainability and innovation.
In 2023, she joined Plumpton College as Director of Wine, where she is dedicated to advancing education and training to support the continued growth of the industry.
To join this Zoom seminar, please register now or at any time before 5pm BST on October 21st. The session, including Q&As, will last for approximately one hour. To register, follow the link below. Guests will be very welcome, but please let Andrea know their names.
Register here
After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the webinar. We look forward to seeing you then.
If you can’t attend the live session, there will be a recording available to watch afterwards on the Circle’s YouTube channel (find links to this and earlier sessions in the members’ area of the website).
Michèle Shah & Liz Sagues, CWW online events organisers

Upcoming Vintage Roots Trade & Press Tasting in London
2025-11-03 11:00 - 17:00 | The Punch Bowl, 41 Farm Street, London, W1J 5RR
Don’t miss this chance to taste a range of wines from our Festive Season offers, including exciting new wines, a lineup of trusted favourites and more! The perfect opportunity to reconnect, share our winter promotions and raise a glass together before the festive season kicks in.
No registration is required, though we’d appreciate it if you could confirm your attendance by emailing chris@vintageroots.co.uk

Let's talk about... Democratising fine wine and Regenics, with Steve Smith MW
2025-11-04 17:00 - 18:00
Our next Let’s talk about… session promises to be highly stimulating. Steve Smith MW, one of the world’s most-decorated wine people, expands the title of his presentation to how these two ideas could be the catalyst for reimagining the future for wine. He adds: “The wine world is seriously challenged right now, unusually with all sectors being impacted one way or the other. It seems to me that wine might have lost its way where it is trying to be everything to everybody instead of focusing on where we can win.”
Steve will outline some of the reasons behind the challenges, but more importantly will suggest areas where there should be optimism. Out with snobbism, he will urge, in with celebration of new world fine wines, drink a great wine over days rather than hours, celebrate what makes wine special and its true deliciousness, tell its special stories.
And what is regenics? New approaches beyond the box-ticking of organic growing or natural wine making “to embrace everything that is good about nature, people, science and ambition for a better future”.
Steve Smith MW has spent his career in the New Zealand wine industry as a researcher, viticulturist, leader and creator of entreprenuerial wine businesses such as Craggy Range and Smith & Sheth. He has twice been named in lists of the most influential people in the wine world. In 1996 he was the first viticulturist in the world to become an MW. He has been inducted as a Fellow of New Zealand Winegrowers and into the Hawke’s Bay Winegrowers Hall of Fame, is a former chancellor of Lincoln University and been involved in a number of industry governance roles and wider initiatives.
At the end of the day his happy place is among the great vineyards and with the wines he has created over the last 30 years, and creating innovative ways to tell their story.
To join this Zoom seminar, please register now or at any time before 5pm GMT on November 4th. The session, including Q&As, will last for approximately one hour. To register, follow the link below. Guests will be very welcome, but please let Andrea know their names.
Register here:
https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/A2atqrArQ7yAc4RWKpSG-w
After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the webinar. We look forward to seeing you then.
If you can’t attend the live session, there will be a recording available to watch afterwards on the Circle’s YouTube channel (find links to this and earlier sessions in the members’ area of the website).
Michèle Shah & Liz Sagues, CWW online events organisers

CWW Let's talk about... The science of soil and how it influences our wine, with Sunny Hodge
2025-11-18 17:00 - 18:00
The next Let’s talk about… session digs deep into dirt… Circle member Sunny Hodge, whose book The Cynic’s Guide to Wine has prompted much discussion since its publication earlier this year, will talk soil science. He’ll discuss how vines interact with soil and the resulting direct influence on wine.
Sunny will cover where this aspect of terroir plays a part in vine development and wine style, and how farming methods directly influence matters of soil. Key topics will include the processes that allow vines to draw up soil nutrients, different types of rock and how we articulate ourselves around matters of soil.
Sunny graduated in mechanical engineering with a keen eye for detail, love of science and hospitality. Finding the ‘why’ behind food and wine has always fascinated him and he is now spearheading research in new ways of looking at wine education based on science and functionality.
The Cynic’s Guide to Wine delves into the science behind wine from soil upwards into perception of taste and flavour, to dispel wine myths and with the aim of changing the way everyone thinks and talks about wine.
Sunny (@sunnyhodgewine) is a commentator, writer, International wine judge and a mentor for the Drinklusive drink diversity initiative; he delivers extracurricular tastings and lectures for the WSET. Also, he is the founder and owner of two award-winning wine bars in London associated with challenging the status quo of wine, integrating science and education in their service model.
To join this Zoom seminar, please register now or at any time before 5pm BST on November 18th. The session, including Q&As, will last for approximately one hour. To register, follow the link below. Guests will be very welcome, but please let Andrea know their names.
Register here: https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/BWUz-v1CTf2DlYHFKoNXkQ
After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the webinar. We look forward to seeing you then.
If you can’t attend the live session, there will be a recording available to watch afterwards on the Circle’s YouTube channel (find links to this and earlier sessions in the members’ area of the website).
Michèle Shah & Liz Sagues, CWW online events organisers

Leonardslee Wine Estate - Festive Wine & Dine
2025-11-27 18:30 - 22:30 | Leonardslee Wine Estate
A Sparkling Celebration: Festive Wine & Dine Awaits
Embrace the festive season with an evening of fine wines and exceptional food.
Discover the artistry behind every bottle as they share insight into their vineyards – Leonardslee Family Vineyards nestled in the rolling hills of Sussex and Benguela Cove, South Africa upon the sun-kissed slopes of Walker Bay.
£67 per person
What to Expect
Welcome Bubbles & Canapés
Begin with a glass of Leonardslee sparkling wine, perfectly complemented by delicately crafted canapés.
Four-Course Gourmet Menu
Delight in a four-course menu, with each dish perfectly paired to showcase the exceptional wines of Leonardslee Family Vineyards and Benguela Cove.
Book: https://leonardsleefamilyvineyards.com/our-events

CWW festive party - save the date
2025-12-09 18:30 - 20:30 | London Cru, 21-27 Seagrave Road, London, SW6 1RP
We are heading to London Cru again this year for more festive fun. Please put the date in your diary, more details to follow.

Borsa Vini Italiani: Italian wine trade tasting
2026-01-21 10:30 - 18:00 | IET LONDON: SAVOY PLACE, 2 Savoy Place, London, WC2R 0BL
The Italian Trade Agency is spotlighting Italian wines in the UK with a major tasting event featuring producers from across Italy.
Masterclass led by Peter McCombie MW: 2pm to 3pm
“The Lightness Revolution: Italian Reds Redefined”
From heavy oak to lifted perfume — exploring how Italian reds have become more transparent, food-friendly, and globally relevant.
Register here:

Australia and New Zealand Trade Tasting 2026 - London
2026-01-27 10:00 - 17:00 | Lindley Hall, Royal Horticultural Halls, Elverton Street, London, SW1P 2QW
Explore Australia and New Zealand’s distinctive terroirs, vibrant winemaking communities and thrilling wines in this collaboration between Wine Australia and New Zealand Winegrowers.
The Aussies and Kiwis are good mates with lots in common. Fine wine, great food, stunning scenery, the cool Southern Ocean and also their cool Antipodean attitude. Don’t miss this joint event to find out more!
Across the three cities (London, Edinburgh and Dublin), there will be more than 1,000 wines from 200 wineries spanning 50 regions in Australia and New Zealand. This is your chance to discover new wines, revisit the classics, meet the makers, and catch up with importers.
Taste the wines that have put Australia and New Zealand in the spotlight and discover exciting new styles that are coming out of the two countries today. Uncover regional and stylistic differences, find out about winemaking techniques and innovative spirit, and look into the future of Australian and New Zealand wine.
In London, there will be a ‘Sommelier Selections’ feature table with 40 Australian and New Zealand wines that sommeliers have nominated. Selected by some of the UK’s leading sommeliers, these are the Australian and New Zealand wines that most excite them – wines that have ignited a love for the region or with special significance.
The tasting booklets and a list of visiting winemakers and winery owners will be added to the website in early January.
Register here
Contact: uk@wineaustralia.com sarahs@nzwine.com

Australia and New Zealand Trade Tasting 2026 - Edinburgh
2026-01-29 11:00 - 17:00 | Sheraton Grand Hotel, 1 Festival Square, Edinburgh, EH3 9SR
