Circle of Wine Writers

Educational Webinar - 360 Degrees of Cava Episode 2
2021-07-28 17:00 - 18:00 (Europe/London)
Please join us for episode two of ‘360 Degrees of Cava’, the webinar series from D.O. Cava.
Wednesday 28th July | 5.00-6.00PM (UK)
Register: https://zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_Rjz2hZ7VRDalXPEmEK9lsQ
The second episode in the series will be hosted by wine writer and international judge, David Kermode and multi-media wine expert, Katherine Cole. With their panel they will explore the four main regions of the D.O., the significance of the Mediterranean influence, and the distinct growing conditions of each place that result in an array of styles and flavour profiles.
David and Katherine will be joined by:

Marta Rafols, Winemaker, Parés Baltá
Mark Clapes, Export Director, Giró Ribot
Ángel Hernández, Export Director, Bodegas Faustino

Aimed at media and trade in the UK and USA, these webinars aim to bring visibility to the unique attributes of Cava, highlighting it as nuanced, high-quality sparkling wine, able to be paired with a vast array of global cuisines.
Unfortunately, we do not have any samples available for this episode.

CWW - 'Let's talk about Wine Faults and Flaws with Keith Grainger'
2021-07-02 14:00 - 15:00
Join us on Friday for the Circle’s very popular twice monthly 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 40 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 Texas wines with Michelle Williams'
2021-06-17 16:00 - 17:00
Join us on Thursday this week for the Circle’s very popular twice monthly webinar where we invite a guest speaker to talk about a topic of interest to our members. The event this time is at 4 pm (BST) – but maybe subject to change. The presentation lasts around 40 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.

New York State of Wine webinar with Mazza, Fjord and Fox Run Vineyards
2021-06-16 17:00 - 18:00
Please join us on 16th June for the next New York State of Wine webinar, which will examine the food-friendly nature of the wines from New York state.
Wednesday, June 16 | 5.00-6.00PM (UK)
Register: https://zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_1Oz6wnFBTv-WoQNU7GGBHw
Ex-Pat New Yorker Dan Belmont, owner of Good Wine x Good People in London, will host this lively session about the food-friendly nature of the wines from New York state. Dan will lead the discussion alongside winery representatives from across the state, all producing cool-climate, high acid, foodie wines.
Dan will talk to:

Mario Mazza, Mazza Vineyard – Lake Erie
Matthew Spaccarelli, Fjord Vineyards – Hudson River
Scott Osborn, Fox Run Vineyards – Seneca Lake

Currently only Fox Run Vineyards has UK distribution.
Please feel free to share this with any colleagues/wine friends who may also be interested to join.

Wine Australia - Tasting Blind Club Quiz
2021-06-14 19:00 - 19:45
Aussie wine fan? WSET student? General wine geek? If this is you, then look no further!
Wine Australia’s Emma Symington MW will be your quizmaster, taking you through four rounds of questions. Tune in from home, pour yourself a glass of Aussie wine, get your thinking caps on and have some fun.
There will be four rounds of questions, with ten questions per round. For the first two rounds, have a look through our Australian Wine Discovered Facilitator Guides for alternative varieties and Yarra Valley. Emma will be basing the questions on information contained in these guides. The second two rounds will cover other aspects of Australian wine as well as a ‘mixed bag’ of questions more broadly across the world of wine.
This online quiz is perfect for wine students preparing for their WSET, MW or Court of Master Sommeliers exams, but anyone from the trade is very welcome.
The quiz will take place on Zoom and it will last around 45 minutes. We will send you a link to join the session, simply click this link at or just before 7pm.
Emma will go through the answers at the end, and we’re trusting you to mark yourselves. The three participants with the highest scores will each win a bottle of premium Australian wine (UK addresses only).
Australian Wine Discovered provides information, tools and resources to discover and share Australian wine. It’s all you need to know about Australian wine in one place, it’s free to use and completely flexible. Australian Wine Discovered covers key regions, grape varieties and topical themes such as old vines and sparkling wines, and offers everything from regional overviews and winery case studies to the latest innovations and research. With comprehensive guides, powerpoint presentations, images, maps and videos, it’s a great resource whether you’re training your team, preparing for an event, researching, or continuing your wine education. Please visit www.australianwinediscovered.com
For more information and to register, please visit: https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/tasting-blind-club-quiz-june-2021-tickets-154189367549

CWW - 'Let's talk about Wines of Pays d’Oc with Elizabeth Gabay MW'
2021-06-04 14:00 - 15:00

CWW 2021 AGM
2021-06-03 15:00 - 16:00
AGM notification has been emailed to members.
Any member who wishes to self-nominate, or nominate another member who is willing to stand as a committee members, is asked to send in the nomination to the Honorary Secretary. The member must be correctly proposed, seconded and supported by a 100 word statement regarding the strengths he/she will bring to the committee.
In addition, members may wish to submit items for the agenda. The Honorary Secretary must receive nominations and items for discussion no later than 40 days before the date of the meeting, i.e. on or before Saturday 24th April 2021, by email or post at the address below. A formal agenda will be delivered to members 23 days before the meeting.
Winifred Bowman, Hon Secretary c/o CWW, 70 Joiners Lane, Chalfont St Peter, Bucks, SL9 0AU, UK
Tel: +27 83 7023665 Email: winbee@syrold.co.za

'Let's taste JING tea with Felicity Fowler'
2021-05-27 14:00 - 15:00
Details to be released shortly for this online Circle tasting.

CWW - 'Let's talk about Clean wine with Felicity Carter'
2021-05-21 14:00 - 15:00

Wine Australia - Global Cabernet Sauvignon Comparative Tasting
2021-05-12 16:00 - 17:30
Please join us for what promises to be an extraordinary tasting, hosted by Oz Clarke OBE, Mary Gorman-McAdams MW and John Szabo MS. The line up of wines they will be tasting is pretty spectacular (but sadly not available for us mere mortals!).
Cabernet Sauvignon is an integral part of Australia’s wine heritage, successful both as a single varietal wine and as the dominant feature in classic blends. It is also the most widely planted grape variety globally, accounting for nearly 7% of the world’s vineyard area, indicating the continuing popularity for these wines.
Join this global panel discussion to explore the rich heritage of Australian Cabernet Sauvignon and to place these wines in a global fine wine context through a benchmarking exercise of top international comparisons.
Explore a number of key Cabernet regions, including Yarra Valley, Eden Valley. Coonawarra and Margaret River, and discover their regional characteristics, similarities and differences whilst discussing where these wines sit in an international context.
The panel discussion will feature the following wines:
— Wynns Coonawarra Estate ‘Black Label’ Coonawarra 2015
— Balnaves of Coonawarra ‘The Tally’ Coonawarra 2015
— Yarra Yering ‘Dry Red Wine No. 1’ Yarra Valley 2015
— Mount Mary ‘Quintet’ Yarra Valley 2015
— Cullen Wines ‘Diana Madeline’ Margaret River 2015
— Vasse Felix ‘Tom Cullity’ Margaret River 2015
— Henschke ‘Cyril Henschke’ Eden Valley 2015
Please follow this link to register – https://www.bigmarker.com/wine-australia/Global-Comparative-Tasting-Cabernet-Sauvignon

Wine Australia TBC quiz
2021-05-10 19:00 - 19:45
WSET student? Aussie wine fan? General wine nerd? If this is you, or you just enjoy a good old quiz with a prize up for grabs, join us on Monday 10 May for our monthly TBC Quiz to test your wine knowledge.
Wine Australia’s quizmaster Emma Symington MW will take you through four rounds of questions, with ten questions each. The first two rounds this month will focus on Cabernet Sauvignon and Tasmania – you can brush up on these in our Australian Wine Discovered facilitator guides. Emma will be basing the questions on information contained in these guides. The second two rounds will cover other aspects of Australian wine as well as a ‘mixed bag’ of questions more broadly across the world of wine. Best score wins a case of Australian wine!
Tune in from home, pour yourself a glass of Aussie wine, get your thinking caps on and have some fun.
Registration link: https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/tasting-blind-club-quiz-may-2021-tickets-145672597661

The birth of an icon – Acaciae
2021-05-07 11:30 - 13:30
A tasting to celebrate the launch of the first Picpoul de Pinet icon wine and discover the secrets
behind the ageing potential of this emblematic Languedoc variety
DATE: Friday 7 May, 2021
TIME: 11.30am – 1.30pm
VENUE: Zoom
Hosts Iain Munson MW, Head Winemaker for JeanJean and Cyril Payon, Director of Ormarine
the leading producer of Picpoul de Pinet, would like you to come with them on a virtual trip to the
Languedoc for a tasting to demonstrate the evolution of Ormarine’s Picpoul de Pinet wines. They will
also share with you the secret of making this exciting new cuvee and what sets it apart from other
Picpouls.
RSVP: emma@eviva.co.uk / 07931 578117
www.cave-ormarine.com

CWW - 'Let's talk about ..... with Kate Mcintyre from Mornington Peninsula'
2021-05-07 09:30 - 10:30
Topic has yet to be confirmed but we do hope you can join us for the Circle’s very popular twice monthly webinar where we invite a guest speaker to talk about a topic of interest to our members. The event this time is at 9.30 am (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.

'Let's taste French Pinot - Burgundy and Beyond with Christophe Deola of Dom Louis Latour'
2021-04-29 14:00 - 15:00
Christophe Deola, director of Domaine Louis Latour, will lead Circle members and guests through a range of pinot noir wines from Louis Latour and Simonnet-Febvre’s vineyards, from Coteaux de l’Auxois and Irancy to Beaujolais and Provence, taking in also an example from the lesser-known Fixin appellation from the Côte de Nuits. Louis Latour UK is kindly providing sample packs of six wines to 29 UK-based members which include the following:

Louis Latour Valmoissine 2018
Louis Latour Bellevue 2019
Louis Latour Les Pierres Dorees 2018
Louis Latour Fixin 2018
Simonnet-Febvre Irancy 2018
Simonnet-Febvre Des Lyres de Pinot Noir 2018

As with our first ‘Let’s taste….’ seminar there will be a minimal charge of £10 to each member wishing to take part in the tasting and to receive samples (£15 to non-members) to cover our administrative costs. Members are of course welcome to join the seminar without samples, in which case there is no charge. If you would like to participate with samples please send your name, address, contact number (preferably mobile for the courier) and any notes for delivery, by Friday 23 April. Places will be allocated in order of receipt.
On confirmation we will ask you to arrange payment via the website. Payments to be made by Monday 26 April. You must be available to participate live in the webinar on 29 April at 2 pm.
Regarding opening tastings to our members globally – We do apologise but despite our best efforts, including contacting key companies involved in posting samples outside the UK, we are still only able to offer the samples to UK based members. We are looking into alternative tasting formats however if you are know of pr companies, based in your region, who would be interested in running a tasting for Circle members based in mainland Europe, the Americas or Asia then please do let us know.
Join Zoom Meeting
https://zoom.us/j/91325848941?pwd=[REDACTED]
Meeting ID: 913 2584 8941
Passcode: [REDACTED]

CWW - 'Let's talk about Volcanic Wines with Giovanni Ponchia and Salvo Foti'
2021-04-23 13:00 - 14:00
Please join experts from Italy talking about Volcanic wines in a country with numerous volcanic terrains from north to south. Our speakers on this fascinating topic are Giovanni Ponchia, director of the Gambellera and the Colli Berici Consorzio, but who has previously worked with Soave Consorzio (both volcanic terrains) and Salvo Foti one of Etna’s top winemakers and volcanic soils expert.
Please join Giovanni and Salve on Friday at 1.00 pm (BST) at the earlier time. – The presentation will last around 30/40 minutes with Q&As. Guests can be invited but please let Andrea know their name.
Join Zoom Meeting
https://zoom.us/j/94826473346…
Meeting ID: 948 2647 3346
Passcode: [REDACTED]

CWW - 'Let's talk about wines of Croatia with Caroline Gilby MW & Darrel Joseph'
2021-03-19 14:00 - 15:00
We are very pleased to welcome back our very own specialist on Central & Eastern European wines, Caroline Gilby MW, who will provide an update on the current dynamics of this long established wine producing country. Croatian wine expert and fellow Circle member, Darrel Joseph, will expand on the discussions in particular about grapes and wine styles.
The event will be held at 2 pm (GMT). 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.

New York State of Wine webinar Episode 7, Boldly Global
2021-03-17 16:00 - 17:00
Please join us for Episode 7 of the New York State of Wine webinar series, Boldly Global.
Wednesday, 17th March | 4.00-5.00PM (UK)
Register: https://zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_1Oz6wnFBTv-WoQNU7GGBHw
In the seventh episode, Felicity Carter, the executive editor for new wine discovery platform Pix, returns to lead a winemaker panel discussion that seeks to define the distinctive profile of New York in an international context.
The panel will compare and contrast the diverse growing areas of New York state with other classic regions – from the Old World and the New.
For this webinar, Felicity will be joined by:
■ Colleen and Sebastian Hardy, Living Roots Wine & Co.
■ Kelby Russell, Red Newt Cellars
■ Peter Weis, Weis Vineyards
Please feel free to share this with any colleagues who may also be interested to join.

Wine Australia - Tasting Blind Club Quiz
2021-03-08 19:00 - 19:45
Wine Australia has converted their Tasting Blind Club into an online Tasting Blind Club Quiz, with the next session on Monday 8 March. Tune in from home, pour yourself a glass of Aussie wine and get your thinking caps on. As well as having some fun, this is an opportunity to refresh your Australian wine and general wine knowledge.
Quizmaster and Master of Wine, Emma Symington will take you through four rounds of questions, with ten questions per round. The first two rounds on 8 March will be on McLaren Vale and Semillon & Sauvignon Blanc. The second two rounds will cover other aspects of Australian wine as well as a ‘mixed bag’ of questions more broadly across the world of wine.
This online quiz is perfect for wine students preparing for their WSET, MW or Court of Master Sommeliers exams, but anyone from the trade is very welcome. The three participants with the highest scores will each win a bottle of premium Australian wine (UK addresses only).
The quiz will take place on Zoom and it will last around 45 minutes.
For more information and to register, please visit https://wineaustralia.com/whats-happening/events/tasting-blind-club-quiz-2021

CWW - 'Let's talk about Tannat – it’s journey from south-west France to South America in 1870 with Charlie Arturaola'
2021-03-05 14:00 - 15:00
Join us on Friday for the Circle’s very popular twice monthly 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 (GMT) – 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 Australia's old vines with Prue Henschke'
2021-02-19 09:30 - 10:30
Australia has some of the oldest grape vines in the world, dating back to the 1840s. These old vines are still producing grapes today, varieties include Shiraz, Grenache and Mourvedre, and they’re grown in some of the oldest geology and most complex soils in the world.
With over 200 years of viticulture and winemaking, Australia’s wine regions are scattered with multi-generational families whose long-standing dedication provides inspiration, leadership and custodial care to these precious vines and wines. One of these custodians is Prue Henschke, viticulturist at Henschke, who works alongside her winemaker husband Stephen.
As head of Henschke’s famed vineyards in South Australia’s Eden Valley, Adelaide Hills and Barossa Valley, Prue has helped take this iconic wine brand to the next level. She’s also been a key figure in the evolution of Australian viticulture and wine. Her influence in the vineyards has been a balancing act of respecting tradition and protecting history while making bold decisions to innovate and improve.
Learn about Henschke’s ancient vines, how they have survived and thrived, and Prue’s role as a viticulturist. Prue will share her experience and stories, as well as some of her insights and research on vineyard management.
Read more about Prue Henschke here, and for more information about Australia’s old vines, have a look at the Australian Wine Discovered guide here.
We look forward to seeing you next Friday at 9.30 am (GMT) – please note the earlier timing to fit in with timing in South Australia. The presentation will last around 30/40 minutes with Q&As. Please see the link below, to join the seminar. Guests can be invited but please let Andrea know their name.
Join Zoom Meeting (new code for 2021)
https://zoom.us/j/94826473346?pwd=[REDACTED]
Meeting ID: 948 2647 3346
Passcode: [REDACTED]

New York State of Wine - webinar, episode 6
2021-02-17 17:00 - 18:00
Please join us for Episode 6 of the New York State of Wine webinar series.
Wednesday, 17th February | 5.00-6.00PM (UK)
Register: http://bit.ly/ny-state-of-wine-webinar-series
Boldy, Sustainable will focus on New York wine producers’ commitment to sustainability.
Racines NY’s managing partner, Pascaline Lepeltier, MOF, will host the discussion about how NY wineries and thinking and acting sustainably, from farming to winery and business practices, both individually and collectively as a region.
The panel will also look at the region’s new sustainability programme and what that means for the future.
Pascaline will be joined by:

Oskar Bynke, Hermann J. Wiemer;
Roman Roth, Wölffer Estate Vineyards;
Josh Wig, Lamoreaux Landing Wine Cellars

Please feel free to share this with any colleagues who may also be interested to join.

Wine Australia - Tasting Blind Club Quiz
2021-02-08 19:00 - 19:45
Wine Australia has converted their Tasting Blind Club into an online Tasting Blind Club Quiz, with the next session on Monday 8 February. Tune in from home, pour yourself a glass of Aussie wine and get your thinking caps on. As well as having some fun, this is an opportunity to refresh your Australian wine and general wine knowledge.
Quizmaster and Master of Wine, Emma Symington will take you through four rounds of questions, with ten questions per round. The first two rounds on 8 February will be on Adelaide Hills and Old Vines. The second two rounds will cover other aspects of Australian wine as well as a ‘mixed bag’ of questions more broadly across the world of wine.
This online quiz is perfect for wine students preparing for their WSET, MW or Court of Master Sommeliers exams, but anyone from the trade is very welcome. The three participants with the highest scores will each win a bottle of premium Australian wine (UK addresses only).
The quiz will take place on Zoom and it will last around 45 minutes.
For more information and to register, please visit https://wineaustralia.com/whats-happening/events/tasting-blind-club-quiz-2021

New Zealand Winegrowers - very first Virtual New Zealand Wine Week
2021-02-08 09:00 - 2021-02-12 17:00
New Zealand Winegrowers, are delighted to announce our very first Virtual New Zealand Wine Week, kicking off on 8th February 2021.
With activities planned across UK, USA, and Canada we are excited to invite you to join us for wide range of programmes including tastings, discussions, and online activities.
These events will provide you with some great content about our New Zealand wine story and the opportunity to participate in live discussions with leading wine voices from around the world.
With valuable content and insight from a range of renowned speakers, these events are not to be missed!
You can find details of it here: https://www.nzwine.com/en/events/new-zealand-wine-week/

New York State of Wine - webinar, episode 4
2020-12-16 17:00 - 18:00
Do please join us for – Boldy, Rooted – led by wine writer and author, Jamie Goode, the fourth chapter of the webinar series focuses on the diverse grape varieties that thrive in New York State and the wine styles they produce.
Joined by a panel of New York winemakers, Jamie will explore internationally renowned varieties and lesser known, alternative grapes planted in New York, and of course, the cold hardy hybrids that are so well suited to New York’s extreme climate.
Joining Jamie from the Finger Lakes AVA are:

Nathan Kendall of Nathan K Wines;
Ben Riccardi of Osmote Winery;
Nova Cadamatre MW of Trestle 31

Please feel free to share this with any wine lover who may also be interested to join.
Registration link: http://bit.ly/ny-state-of-wine-webinar-series

Webinar: Rutherglen Muscat - Australia’s liquid gold
2020-12-10 10:00 - 11:00
Carefully crafted from over 100 years of rare stocks, family secrets and skills, Rutherglen’s fortified wines are intrinsically Australian and unique in the world of wine.
Come on a journey of discovery with some of Australia’s best Muscat producers – Jane Campbell, Stephen Chambers, Wendy Killeen, and Jen Pfeiffer. Live from Rutherglen, they will take you through the classifications of Rutherglen Muscat (Rutherglen Muscat, Classic Rutherglen Muscat, Grand Rutherglen Muscat, and Rare Rutherglen Muscat) and will also discuss the wineries’ varied house styles.
Hear from producers with stocks of Muscat that have been handed down through three, four and even five generations, and discover the family secrets behind this iconic wine.
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://wineaustralia.com/whats-happening/events/rutherglen-muscat-australias-liquid-gold

CWW Seasonal & Festive Cheer
2020-12-01 19:00 - 20:00
Circle members are invited to join fellow members and guests for this Seasonal and Christmas Cheer with Charles and Oz. It’s the Circle’s Annual Party Online and we are hoping that members across the globe can join in. Please register with Andrea if you wish to attend so she can send you the Zoom link.

''Let's talk about Saint Chinian - the appellation and its geology"
2020-11-27 14:00 - 15:00
This CWW seminar will be presented by Elisabeth Poux and Luc David. Elisabeth, who is on the communications committee for the appellation and winegrower/owner at Domaine de Pech-Ménel, will introduce the Saint Chinian appellation where her family have been vignerons since the mid-19th century. Luc, who is a geologist, will explain the particular geology of appellation, made up predominantly of schist and clay-limestone, plus give you an insight into his study of the geomorphology zonage of the area.
Guests are welcome, please let us know their name if possible.

Copy of CWW - 'Let's talk about.....' weekly webinar
2020-10-30 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.

New York State of Wine - webinar, episode 2
2020-10-21 17:00 - 18:00
Do please join us for this second episode, which is focused on the rich and long history of grape growing and winemaking in New York State, Felicity Carter of Meininger’s Wine Business International will host a panel of New York winery representatives to explore important milestones in the wine region: from its pre-prohibition beginnings, to the renaissance of quality winemaking in the 1960s, to the new trends emerging today.
Joining Felicity are benchmark producers from the historic region of the Finger Lakes:

Cameron Hosmer & Julia Hoyle – Hosmer Winery
Meaghan Frank – Dr. Konstantin Frank Winery
Scott Osborn – Fox Run Winery

Register here: http://bit.ly/ny-state-of-wine-webinar-series

CWW - 'Let's talk about Ramón Bilbao in Rueda – Verdejo and Sauvignon Blanc with Sara Bañuelos'
2020-10-16 14:00 - 15:00
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.
