Latest On The Circular
Txakoli producers to check out
Amaya Cervera and Yolanda Ortiz de Arri profile the producers of the three DOs. A version of this article was originally published on Spanish Wine Lover, and runs as a series with The Transformation of Txakoli.
Given the small size of the three txakoli DOs, there aren’t big producers in any of them. The largest are in Gipuzkoa (DO Getariako Txakolina), but annual production does not exceed 600,00...
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Stephen Brook publishes his memoirs ‘Memoirs of a freeloader’
Stephen Brook has been writing about wine and travel for 35 years, and published numerous books and articles on both subjects. In his latest book, Memoirs of a Freeloader, he reveals the lighter side of his occupation: press trips and festivals, officious PRs, venal bloggers, eccentric colleagues, gluttony, and things going wrong. Intended to amuse, not inform, this is an episodic and anecdotal to...
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Taking stock of an exceptional vintage in New Zealand with Cloudy Bay
Amanda Barnes tastes through the latest vintage from Cloudy Bay, and imagines how exceptional it will remain for decades to come. Originally published on 80harvests.com
Cloudy Bay is somewhat of a mecca for New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc. The first wine to really claim a premium price, and a wine whose release is hotly anticipated each year. The release this year, of the 2020 vintage, was, as with m...
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Paula Sidore launches TRINK
Circle member and wine writer Paula Sidore has recently launched a new wine magazine TRINK — the world's first English language digital publication dedicated to the wines of South Tyrol, Austria, Germany, and German Switzerland, four regions linked by far more than language alone.
TRINK trains a close eye on identity through a mix of fresh news angles, unexpected pairings and bottle picks, as ...
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Full Bodied: The faded memories of a big man in the wine trade
Christopher Fielden spent lockdown earlier this year penning his memoirs, Full Bodied: The faded memories of a big man in the wine trade, which Amanda Barnes reviews this month. We also publish an entertaining extract from the book as Christopher gets to grips with the Albanian wine market.
Christopher Fielden has incredible stories that you can truly relish in with him in his newest book, Full B...
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Meet the Member: Christopher Fielden
Christopher Fielden is a well-known personality in the wine industry, having spent the past 60 years working in the trade in various roles. As he releases his new memoir, Full Bodied, Amanda Barnes interviews him about his favourite wine regions, books and why there's no guilty pleasure in his wine closet. Christopher served on the Circle committee for 6 years from 2003 and, during that time, four...
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The Drinks Trust launches trade survey
As part of its continuing work to help everyone working in the drinks industry, the Drinks Trust carrying out its first-ever trade survey, seeking further information about the effect of Covid-19 and other current issues on individuals. The aim, says the Trust, is 'to establish how members of the hospitality and drinks industries are feeling, what their concerns are and to better understand what t...
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Meet the Friend: Su-Lin Ong
Su-Lin Ong is an independent wines and spirits consultant specialising in research and development, marketing and PR. For over 25 years she has worked with both long-established brands and helped launch new entrepreneurial brands, working also on cocktails, beers and tea infusions! Amanda Barnes interviews her about her parents' cocktail trolley, fast cars and slow wine, and why she'll be looking ...
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Occitanie Wine School launches series of educational videos
During these quiet months, Bureau de la Région Occitanie UK has been busy on its new initiative to support wine trade professionals who haven’t had the usual essential tastings, training and travel to enjoy. A new series of Occitanie Wine School videos has been swiftly filmed, to let them watch and learn anytime, anywhere in just five to ten minutes.
Each video is a compact, fast facts guide on a...
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New Member: Peder Lehmann Larsen
Peder Lehmann Larsen has worked in the wine industry for close to 20 years as an importer, wine writer, wine judge and wine educator. Peder serves as ambassador to Denmark for the worldwide Facebook community, #winelover, and writes with great passion about all things wine on social media, where he specialises in particular on Hungarian and Greek wines.
In 2019, Peder had his article Denmark fo...
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