Latest On The Circular
Stephen Barrett: A tribute
Stephen Barrett was a popular wine writer and educator, as well as a successful restauranteur. Well loved by many members of the wine trade, Stephen was a long-standing member of the Circle of Wine Writers and Association of Wine Educators. He passed away aged 77 in his home in Plymouth. Fellow members pay tribute.
"I have fond memories of Stephen, particularly of his passion for food and wine ...
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The time is nigh for Tardif et al
Liz Sagues discovers once-abandoned grape varieties from south-west France and sees their new and growing importance in mitigating the climate crisis.
For too long, south-west France has been in the shadows when there's discussion on indigenous grape varieties. But with ever-increasing recognition of the effects of the climate crisis, there is new focus on a region with a unique vine heritage. An...
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From the Chair: Ask three questions
Circle Chair Meg Maker shares a simple technique to prompt good storytelling for her column this month.
Readers want stories. But how do we, as interviewers and interpreters, tease stories from people who aren’t natural storytellers?
Before speaking with a producer, we arm ourselves with facts, the essentials of their biography. We pore over their website for details about family, place, wines, ...
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The secrets to Istrian Malvasia: Dimitri Brečević interview
Amanda Barnes shares her video interview with winemaker Dimitri Brečević, one most celebrated producers in the region of Istria.
Making his own wines under the Piquentum brand and consulting to Clai d.o.o., this video interview focuses on the particularities of Istrian Malvasia. One of the most important native grapes in Croatia, the Malvasia from Istria is unique in form and flavour, and requ...
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Golden Slavonia and its gorgeous Graševina
Dijana Grgić calls in on Kutjevo, the Croatian heartland of the grape variety that has nothing to do with Riesling, as well as the neighbouring strongholds of Pakrac and Požega-Pleternica, and also takes the Rose and Wine Road.
Požega-Slavonia County is home to three notable sub-regions and is the home of Croatia's most important white wine variety, Graševina. The vineyards of Kutjevo, Po...
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Down dramatic Dalmatia way
Jolanta Smičienė takes off to southern, coastal Croatia for a bevvy of steep vineyards, stunning views and rare, indigenous grape varieties, which can require traversing narrow tunnels to view in their element. A version of this article first appeared in Lithuanian at vz.lt
With its stunning views, including some of Europe's most beautiful natural gems scattered along its Adriatic coast, amazin...
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From the Chair: What’s in a name?
Circle Chair Meg Maker explores the extremely diverse composition of the Circle of Wine Writers' membership base, which has reached far beyond the realms of both wine and writing, as well as geographically, from its initial UK base.
In 1960, journalist, social historian, and wine commentator Cyril Ray convened a handful of British wine writing colleagues to form a new association. At the time, t...
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Meet the Member: Kevin Day
Kevin Day has been blogging about and photographing wine for over decade and has found a niche in writing about the wines of Italy and France via his online magazine, Opening a Bottle. In this interview, Amanda Barnes finds out why Kevin is concerned about the impact of AI on wine writing and learns about some of his favourite vinous gems from Italy, including Schioppettino and the white blend...
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Quality perception concerns from the Cape
Michael Fridjhon ponders the perils of privileging wine rarity, whereby it is often assumed that only small can be beautiful in South Africa. Consequently, wines made from larger producers are too readily dismissed in quality terms, no matter how good they might be. A version of this article was first published at WineMag.co.za
South Africa has a number of very successful producers, and the count...
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Switzerland surprises with staggering assortment of grapes
Sue Eames discovers that the Swiss wine scene isn’t solely about Chasselas, far from it in fact, and is spoilt for choice with a plethora of exciting indigenous varieties, crossings and PIWIs, to choose from.
Judging in any wine region is always a great opportunity to visit local wineries and explore the latest trends, and our trip to Le Mondial du Chasselas in Aigle, Switzerland, in late May was...
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