Circle of Wine Writers

CWW - 'Let's talk about Ramón Bilbao in Rueda – Verdejo and Sauvignon Blanc with Sara Bañuelos'
2020-10-16 14:00 - 15:00 (Europe/London)
Ramón Bilbao’s search of a white wine with all the elegance and freshness that has become the hallmark of its Rioja reds was realised in 2010 when the first Ramón Bilbao Verdejo was produced. 2016 marked the next stage of Ramón Bilbao’s Rueda journey with the release of the first two wines to be vinified at the new bodega: a Verdejo, and a brand-new Sauvignon Blanc. Join Sara Bañuelos, their Technical Director, who will take you through some of their exciting and varied experimental work for not only today but for the future too.

CWW - "Let's talk about Sustainable Sicily with Stefano Girelli"
2020-10-09 14:00 - 15:00
In over ten years of producing organic wine in Vittoria, Sicily, Stefano has learned a lot and is a firm believer that organic is the only way to go. Biodiversity plays a vital role at both Santa Tresa and Azienda Agricola Cortese, where sustainable practices are paramount. Indigenous grape varieties are championed and ancient methods are revisited, such as fermentation in terracotta amphorae. Cerasuolo di Vittoria is at the heart of the region and it is Stefano’s dream to put Sicily’s only DOCG on the world map.
The presentation lasts around 25 minutes and is followed by a Q&A session. Check out the Circle’s FB page or your email for the link to join us. Please advise if you wish guests to attend. See you then.

CWW - 'Let's talk about.....' weekly webinar
2020-10-02 14:00 - 14:30, 2020-07-31 14:00 - 14:30, 2020-07-24 14:00 - 14:30, 2020-07-17 14:00 - 14:30, 2020-07-10 14:00 - 14:30, 2020-07-03 14:00 - 14:30, 2020-06-26 14:00 - 14:30
Join us every Friday for the Circle’s very popular weekly webinar where we invite a guest speaker to talk about a topic of interest to our members. The event is usually held at 2 pm (BST) – but maybe subject to change. The presentation lasts around 25 minutes and is followed by a Q&A session. Check out the Circle’s FB page or your email for details about this week’s topic and also for the link to join us. Please advise if you wish guests to attend. See you then.

CWW - ‘Let’s talk about Carmenère - Costa versus Andes with TerraNoble' weekly webinar
2020-09-25 14:00 - 15:00
TerraNoble has specialised Carmenère since its foundation 26 years ago. Its CA Project highlights the difference coastal versus mountainous terroir makes to a wine which in every aspect of winemaking is made in precisely the same way. The distance between the two vineyard sites is only 43 miles. TerraNoble owns a total of 300 hectares in Casablanca, Colchagua and Maule and makes six ranges: Reserva, Reserva Especial, Gran Reserva, Las Dichas, Disidente, Premium. The presentation will be made jointly by Marceló Garcia (winemaker) and Tomás Uribe (regional director). It will last around 30/40 minutes with Q&As. Check out the Circle’s FB page or your email for the link to join us. Please advise if you wish guests to attend. See you then.

New York State of Wine - inaugural webinar episode
2020-09-24 17:00 - 18:00
Please join us for the inaugural episode of the New York State of Wine webinar series, focused on New York wine’s place in the world.
Diverse and bold, with a long history stretching back hundreds of years, New York is
reinventing itself as an epicentre of dynamic winemaking.
Register: bit.ly/ny-state-of-wine-webinar-series
In this inaugural episode focused on New York wines and their place in the world, Richard Siddle of The Buyer, will host a panel of New York winery representatives to discuss how New York compares to other grape growing regions, considering factors from climate, geography and viticulture to the resulting styles of wine produced.
He will be joined by:
• Aimée Lasseigne New, Brand Ambassador for Lieb Cellars, an 85-acre (34.40 ha) certified sustainable winery on the North Fork of Long Island, NY and their second label Bridge Lane Wine;
• Christopher Bates, Master Sommelier and owner and operator (along with his wife) of Element Winery in the Finger Lakes, alongside many other Finger Lakes hospitality-centered enterprises;
• Rick Rainey, managing partner at Forge Cellars, a Finger Lakes winery specializing in bone dry Riesling and cool climate Pinot Noir from Seneca Lake.

Wine Australia Webinar: McLaren Vale Grenache - Old vines, new ways
2020-09-17 11:00 - 12:30
As British MWs and winemakers, Giles Cooke and David Gleave could have decided to make wine anywhere in the world from any grape variety. So why did they both independently decide to set up wineries half a world away in McLaren Vale and focus on Grenache, a variety that had been long overlooked?
Wine writer and educator Sarah Ahmed has been closely following the renaissance of Australian Grenache since 2010, including the latest developments in McLaren Vale, judging at the pan-Australian James Halliday Grenache Challenge in McLaren Vale in 2019.
Join us the day before International Grenache Day to celebrate this grape variety and discover more about McLaren Vale. Giles and David will reveal why they’re so passionate about this corner of South Australia and the old Grenache vines it is home to, whilst Sarah Ahmed moderates and fields questions.
Explore the history and evolution of McLaren Vale Grenache, and find out about the change in style over the past decade and the diversity between sub-regions. This is also your chance to discover the versatility of Grenache, why it is suited to the region, its climate and wide range of food.
This webinar is free and open to all. You’re welcome to share the details with colleagues and wine friends.
For more information about the webinar and to register, please visit https://www.wineaustralia.com/whats-happening/events/mclaren-vale-grenache-old-vines-new-ways

Justerini & Brooks Virtually Proclaiming Germany's “Thrilling” 2019 Vintage
2020-09-10 16:00 - 17:00
Fine wine merchant Justerini & Brooks’ annual ‘en primeur’ Germany tasting for private clients and members of the Trade will be reinvented for September 2020 in recognition of both the current landscape and the excellence of the 2019 vintage.
“Germany’s 2019 vintage is clearly rather special and thrilling and has even been described as a potential ‘vintage of the century’ by Michael Schmidt.” Explains Julian Campbell, Justerini & Brooks’ Germany buyer. “From best-ever estate wines, to aristocratic Grosses Gewächs, and many a luscious-yet-lively sweetie, we’ve tasted some truly thrilling wines while putting our 2019 offer together.”
Rather than cancel the company’s traditional walkaround tasting for clients and key customers, Justerini & Brooks has gathered six of Germany’s finest winemakers from across the Mosel-Saar-Ruwer region for a virtual round table discussion and exploration of the 2019 vintage. Speakers will include Oliver Haag from Friz Haag, Joh. Jos. Prüm’s Katharina Prüm, Christoph Schaefer from Willi Schaefer, Schloss Lieser’s Thomas Haag, Maximin von Schubert from Maximin Grünhaus and Formeister Geltz Zilliken’s Dorothee Zilliken.
The Justerini & Brooks Germany 2019 Webinar will take place at 4pm on Thursday 10th September. If you would like to participate, then please contact Megane Lopes events@justerinis.com for further details.

CWW - 'Let's Talk About Sustainability and Building Resilience in the Wine Industry with Jackson Family Wines' weekly webinar
2020-09-03 16:00 - 17:00
Join us on a Thursday this week (please note the change of day and later timing) for the Circle’s very popular weekly webinar with Jackson Family Wines, the California-based wine company and leader in environmental stewardship, as they unveil the process behind their comprehensive journey to develop 10-year sustainability goals looking to 2030 and beyond. Discover why this family-owned wine company is working to bring an industry together and establish future resiliency in the face of a changing climate.
The event is this time will be held at 4 pm (BST). The presentation lasts around 1 hour and is followed by a Q&A session. Check out the Circle’s FB page or your email for details about this week’s topic and also for the link to join us. Please advise if you wish guests to attend. See you then.

Australian Wine webinar: Sommelier insights from USA, UK & Australia
2020-08-24 14:00 - 15:00
Explore the Aussie wine scene with sommeliers in the USA, UK and Australia.
Three top sommeliers – Mia Van de Water MS, Kelvin McCabe and Emma Farrelly – will share their unique perspectives, experiences and stories. They’ll be beaming in live from New York, London and Perth, whilst Wine Australia’s Mark Davidson leads the conversation and fields questions.
Discover what excites the sommeliers about Australian wine, which regions they’ve visited, and which styles they’re pouring, buying or seeking out. Find out about their wine list, what has inspired it and how they see it evolving. Hear about trends in their markets, what their customers are enjoying and what they’re asking after.
Before and during the webinar, you’ll have the opportunity to ask questions. What are they tipping as the wines of the future? What’s new or coming soon to their list? What have been the biggest changes or challenges during their time as a sommelier? This is your chance to ask.
This webinar is free and open to all. You’re welcome to share the details with colleagues and wine friends.
For more information about the webinar and to register, please visit https://www.wineaustralia.com/whats-happening/events/sommelier-insights-webinar
Please note the timings are BST.

CWW - 'Let's talk about Mountain Wines with Sebastián Zuccardi'
2020-08-21 14:00 - 14:30
Join us for the Circle’s very popular weekly webinar where we invite a guest speaker to talk about a topic of interest to our members. The event is usually held at 2 pm (BST) – but maybe subject to change. The presentation lasts around 25 minutes and is followed by a Q&A session. Check out the Circle’s FB page or your email for details about this week’s topic and also for the link to join us. Please advise if you wish guests to attend. See you then.

Benguela Cove, SA, Live Wine Tasting & Cooking Webinar Series
2020-08-06 18:00 - 19:00, 2020-07-30 18:00 - 19:00, 2020-07-23 18:00 - 19:00, 2020-07-16 18:00 - 19:00, 2020-07-09 18:00 - 19:00, 2020-07-02 18:00 - 19:00
For the Love of Food & Wine
Join our master winemaker live from the vineyards, with MICHELIN Star Restaurant Interludes’ Chef, Jean Delport, and Moody Lagoon’s Chef Annie Badenhorst, who will be sharing easy to make recipes for you to cook at home, paired perfectly with Benguela Cove Wines.
Join us Thursdays at 18:00 (BST), 2 July – 6 August 2020, for live tastings, recipes and fun snippets from the winery.
Register for our Live Wine Tasting & Cooking with MICHELIN Star Chef Jean Delport Webinar Series
Discover delicious dishes paired perfectly with our award-winning wines.
Experience an awakening of the senses as Johann and Jean take you through our easy to make dishes and pair them with our wines. Johann has also put together wine tasting packs, for you to enjoy the tastings with us. Buy wine online now and join the party on Thursdays.
https://www.benguelacove.co.za/wine-tasting-cooking-webinars

Australian Wine - Wine consumption & consumer behaviour during COVID-19 Webinar
2020-07-13 12:00 - 13:00
Wine Intelligence’s CEO Lulie Halstead will present findings from the latest Wine Intelligence COVID-19 impact reports for Northern Europe.
Lulie Halstead will be joining Wine Australia to discuss the latest COVID-19 impact reports for Sweden, Germany and the Netherlands, as well as give an update on the UK.
Based on data collected in April 2020, Lulie will review how wine consumers’ behaviours and attitudes have changed – or not – as a result of the impact of COVID-19. Lulie will look at how consumers anticipate their lifestyles, behaviour and drinking habits will change and be prioritised after lockdown. The webinar will feature insights on pre, during and predicted post lockdown behaviour including changes in the purchase and consumption of alcohol beverage categories, changes in wine drinking frequency and spend by occasion, and wine purchase channel change. Lulie will also share insights on what wine businesses can proactively do to build for the future.
This webinar is free and open to all. You’re welcome to share details with colleagues and wine friends.
For more information about the webinar and to register, please visit https://www.wineaustralia.com/whats-happening/events/webinar-wine-consumption-and-consumer-behaviour

California Wines 'Behind the Wines' virtual event - Ep. 13 – Cabernet Sauvignon
2020-06-30 18:00 - 19:00
Behind the Wines | Ep. 13 – Rodrigo Soto, General Manager & Rebekah Wineburg, Winemaker, Quintessa
California Wines continues their virtual events aimed at keeping the international wine trade connected with “Behind the Wines” series with Elaine Chukan Brown – a virtual chat and wine tasting featuring focused conversations with top California producers
Date: Tuesday, June 30th
Time: 10:00am Pacific time//6:00pm UK
Register here

California Wines 'Behind the Wines' virtual event - Ep. 12 – Sparkling
2020-06-23 18:00 - 19:00
Behind the Wines | Ep. 11 – Nicole Hitchcock, Winemaker, J Vineyards and Winery
California Wines continues their virtual events aimed at keeping the international wine trade connected with “Behind the Wines” series with Elaine Chukan Brown – a virtual chat and wine tasting featuring focused conversations with top California producers
Date: Tuesday, June 23rd
Time: 10:00am Pacific time//6:00pm UK
Register here

California Wines 'Behind the Wines' virtual event - Ep. 11 – Pinot Noir
2020-06-16 18:00 - 19:00
Behind the Wines | Ep. 11 – Sarah Wuethrich, Maggy Hawk
California Wines continues their virtual events aimed at keeping the international wine trade connected with “Behind the Wines” series with Elaine Chukan Brown – a virtual chat and wine tasting featuring focused conversations with top California producers
Date: Tuesday, June 16th
Time: 10:00am Pacific time//6:00pm UK
Register here

Australian Wine - Australia’s 2020 Vintage Webinar
2020-06-15 12:00 - 13:00
Join winemakers Virginia Willcock (Vasse Felix), Louisa Rose (Yalumba) and Sarah Crowe (Yarra Yering) to hear their take on the unprecedented 2020 vintage in Margaret River, Barossa Valley and Yarra Valley.
The winemakers will be beaming in live from their respective regions, with Sarah Ahmed leading the conversation and fielding questions.
They will be sharing their perspectives on vintage for their wines and regions. You’ll get a flavour of the year, hear about comparative vintages, and what was different this time. Discover the opportunities and challenges of the season, and find out what the winemakers are learning and how they’re adapting.
Before and during the webinar, you’ll have the opportunity to ask questions. Want to know Virginia’s favourite thing about harvest? Does Louisa have any harvest traditions or superstitions? What is Sarah doing differently in the winery this year? This is your chance to ask.
This webinar is free and open to all. You’re welcome to share details with colleagues and wine friends.
For more information about the webinar, the winemakers and to register, please visit https://www.wineaustralia.com/whats-happening/events/webinar-australias-2020-vintage

California Wines 'Behind the Wines' virtual event - Ep. 10 – Chardonnay
2020-06-09 18:00 - 19:00
Behind the Wines | Ep. 10 – Stephane Vivier, Stony Hill & Michael McNeill, Hanzell Vineyards
California Wines continues their virtual events aimed at keeping the international wine trade connected with “Behind the Wines” series with Elaine Chukan Brown – a virtual chat and wine tasting featuring focused conversations with top California producers
Date: Tuesday, June 9th
Time: 10:00am Pacific time//6:00pm UK
Register here

California Wines virtual event
2020-05-19 18:00 - 19:00
California Wines continues their virtual events aimed at keeping the international wine trade connected with “Behind the Wines” series with Elaine Chukan Brown – a virtual chat and wine tasting featuring focused conversations with top California producers.
Behind the Wines with Elaine Chukan Brown | Ep. 7 – Paul Draper, Ridge Vineyards
Date: Tuesday, May 19
Time: 10:00am Pacific time//6:00pm UK
Register here

Taste Champagne returns to London in 2020
2020-03-25 11:00 - 17:00 | The Lindley Hall, The Royal Horticultural Halls, Elverton St, London, SW1P 2PB
Following the resounding success of the inaugural Taste Champagne London 2019, the biggest champagne event series in the new world is returning to London in 2020.
Hosted by Australian champagne expert and International Wine & Spirit Communicator of the Year Tyson Stelzer, Taste Champagne 2020 will step up to a larger venue in The Lindley Hall at The Royal Horticultural Halls.
Taste Champagne 2020 will introduce specially focused masterclass sessions for the first time, hosted by Champagne’s top chef de caves including Louis Roederer’s Jean-Baptiste Lécaillon and Charles Heidsieck’s Cyril Brun.
Taste Champagne London 2020 will be held on Wednesday 25 March 2020 and welcomes wine professionals and media between 11am and 5pm and public between 6pm and 9pm.
