Opinion Archives - Page 2 of 21 - Circle of Wine Writers

From the Chair: Wine writing reimagined

Posted on July 30, 2024July 30, 2024 by Meg Maker

Circle Chair Meg Maker reflects on the changing world of wine writing in her inaugural column for The Circular. Wine and spirits writers are a creative lot. We’re cultural commentators, observers who tap into the shape-shifting zeitgeist, so we can frame the product in ways that connect. We imagine new words to meet the moment, modifying or inventing language to say what we mean. All languages...

Istrian winemakers delight the crowd at the 30th edition of Vinistra

Posted on June 29, 2024June 29, 2024 by Dijana Grgić

Dijana Grgić enjoys some marvellous Malvasias and other local treats at the event held on the Istrian peninsula, which is fast becoming a Croatian classic. The 30th anniversary of Vinistra saw exhibition spaces adorned with the colours of the new logo, which is in the shape of a bunch of grapes, and the different sizes of the berries symbolise the unity of Istrian winemakers. It is precisely this...

Way beyond the Bordeaux comfort zone

Posted on June 29, 2024June 29, 2024 by Michael Fridjhon

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Cherishing a Cape classic and more

Posted on May 28, 2024May 31, 2024 by Colin Harkness

Colin Harkness calls in on Klien Constantia, meets winemaker Matt Day, himself fresh from fixing the date for the start of the harvest, and savours the sumptuously sweet Vin de Constance, dry Sauvignon Blancs and a red from Stellenbosch. Jane Austen is in some rather A-List company when she mentions the luscious dessert wine, Vin de Constance, from Klien Constantia Wine Farm, near Cape Town, Sout...

Ningxia dominates the Chinese Wine Awards 2024

Posted on May 28, 2024 by Annabel Jackson

Annabel Jackson reports from Macau on the inaugural edition of the competition that seeks to give local winemakers critical feedback from outside experts, and around which there is a buzz. The gold medal and trophy winners at the inaugural Chinese Wine Awards 2024, held in Macau, at Wynn Palace, in March, were announced at a glossy gala dinner in the hotel’s ballroom in April. The results are a...

Reuse rather than recycle — the greener bottle solution

Posted on April 29, 2024 by Liz Sagues

Liz Sagues summarises the learnings and challenges presented in the recent Let's talk about... webinar, featuring three members of Porto Protocol — Diana Snowden Seysses, Marta Mendonça and Muriel Chatel, and moderated by L.M. Archer. Is it idealistic fantasy that the wine bottle you're pouring from now could, over months or years to come, be refilled again and again rather than ending up in a ...

A pair of great Danes

Posted on April 29, 2024 by Jochen Erler

Prosecco: what’s in a name?

Posted on April 22, 2024 by Marc Millon

Marc Millon rediscovers the joys of the now hugely famous sparkling DOCG that hails from hills that lie between Conegliano and Valdobbiadene. He encounters such complexity of terroir that different sub-zones and even single vineyards can express their own characters and personalities. I first visited the wine hills between Conegliano and Valdobbiadene more than 40 years ago in search of a wine I’...

Spectacular Temecula can do good wine too

Posted on February 28, 2024 by Becky Sue Epstein

Next time you’ve got an extra couple of days in Los Angeles or San Diego, Becky Sue Epstein recommends a visit to the Southern California wine region, which she recently visited after a long absence and found the wines are a changing for the good. If wine grapes have been grown in California’s Temecula Valley since the 1820s, why are we only hearing about it now? And what are the wines like? Tha...

Mountain magician

Posted on February 28, 2024 by Kathleen Burk

Kathleen Burk meets and eats extremely well with Chris Carpenter, who crafts finely chiselled Chardonnays and reds from above the fog line in Napa, and much more, also for Jackson Family Wines, such as making wine in Walla Walla Valley and McLaren Vale. The quality of the lunch at Kerridge’s Bar and Grill in London was a delicious bonus when I accepted an invitation to attend a lunchtime tasting...