Amarone and the opera

Filippo Magnani finds the famous wine of Valpolicella, made in a more refined contemporary style, goes together splendidly with a spot of Verdi, even in the summer season. The body and intensity of Amarone is traditionally associated with winter, wonderful if enjoyed in front of a warm, cosy fireplace. In fact, the anteprime dedicated to Amarone della Valpolicella has always been held in the earl...
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Discovering gold in a silver mine

Keith Grainger gets in some great Gewürztraminer, which is grown up high in the extreme north of Italy’s Alto Adige region, and aged within a mountain. He is joined by four other Circle members as part as a wider press trip. In the very north of Italy’s Alto Adige region (also known as Südtirol), an old silver mine can be found. No mining has taken place here for 50 years, but today deep undergro...
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Recognising the human factor in Sherry and Montilla

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CWW President Rosemary George has been made a Chevalier of the Ordre du Mérite

Sue Eames shares the news of Rosemary George MW being made a Chevalier of the Ordre du Mérite. We are very proud to share the news that the CWW President, Rosemary George MW, has been made a Chevalier of the Ordre du Mérite for her services to agriculture by the French Government. As Rosemary herself says, this is thanks to her writing about French wine for 40 years. The award will be formally pr...
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Meet the Member: Jasper Morris MW

Meet the Member, Jasper Morris MW interview with Amanda Barnes
One of the world’s most sought-after experts on Burgundy and author of Inside Burgundy, Jasper Morris MW has experience across the industry as a buyer, critic and writer. In this interview from Jasper’s home in Beaune, Amanda Barnes asks him about how he sees key changes in Burgundy playing out and what other wine regions make him tick.   How did you first get into wine? It came about thro...
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Small but beautiful: the return of London Wine Fair

Colin Hampden-White celebrates the small, but beautiful, return of London Wine Fair earlier this month. It was so good to see the London Wine Fair return this year. I have read various accounts of how this year was very small, and the number of visitors was down on previous years. This all may be true, but I think it was all the better for it.  Most visitors come to London Wine Fair for two of t...
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Contemplating the future of wine writing from the Gourmand Awards in Umeå

Keith Grainger heads to Sweden to receive a prestigious Gourmand Award, a couple of awards in fact, and shares his thoughts on the future of wine writing.  The 2022 Gourmand Awards Ceremony took place from June 1st to 5th in Umeå, together with the International Food Symposium. I was delighted to receive an award, and also make two presentations at the symposium.  Umeå is in the north of Sweden a...
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Hashing out Neszmély

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Congratulations to Amanda Barnes and Jasper Morris MW on winning the André Simon Awards 2021

Keith Grainger shares news of two Circle members taking home the prestigious wine book awards in André Simon Awards earlier this month.  Let’s give hearty congratulations to Circle members Jasper Morris MW, and Amanda Barnes for their success in the 2021 André Simon Awards.  The results of this prestigious competition were announced at virtual ‘Zoom’ Ceremony, which was held on 8th March 2022.  T...
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