Opinion Archives - Page 5 of 22 - Circle of Wine Writers

The Jewel in the Crown

Posted on December 28, 2022 by Fiona Morrison MW

In this excerpt from On Champagne: A tapestry of tales to celebrate the greatest sparkling wine of all…, Fiona Morrison MW falls in love with the Vieilles Vignes Françaises, Champagne’s most mysterious wine, which hails from a tiny walled plot of Pinot Noir vines in the Grand Cru village of Aÿ. Treasured possession of the house of Bollinger, this is a site that’s been admired for its wines since m...

My wine Bucket List

Posted on October 10, 2022October 25, 2022 by Neal D. Hulkower

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The future of Madeira wine

Posted on September 22, 2022 by Richard Mayson

Reviving Carema with hiking boots, heart, and grit

Posted on September 22, 2022 by Marisa Finetti

Marisa Finetti is not only blown around, but also blown away by Nebbiolo from the Alpine foothills in the northern part of Piedmont, and the incredible effort and unswerving dedication taken to grow it. The wind snapped my umbrella inside out. The impression of Carema while standing on the edge of the dramatic hillside on this blustery day was quickly leaning toward sheer intensity. Fede...

Saving and savouring South Africa’s veteran Vitis vinifera

Posted on September 22, 2022September 22, 2022 by Michèle Shah

During judging at the Michelangelo Awards competition, Michèle Shah took time out to visit to the Old Vine Project in Stellenbosch, where she witnessed the wonderful work of André Morgenthal and Rosa Kruger. Being based in Stellenbosch on my recent visit, the traditional heart of the South African wine industry, presented a great opportunity to meet up with André Morgenthal and Rosa Kruger, who s...

Champagne vs. ‘Champagne’

Posted on August 22, 2022August 27, 2022 by Markus Hungerbühler

Markus Hungerbühler reports from Switzerland on the Swiss Federal Supreme Court’s rejection of the Protected Designation of Origin ‘AOC Commune de Champagne’. In March 2022, another case concerning the use of the designation ‘Champagne’ for wine from the municipality of Champagne in the Canton Vaud in Switzerland ended. The Federal Supreme Court, the highest court of the country, terminated the d...

Discovering gold in a silver mine

Posted on August 22, 2022August 26, 2022 by Keith Grainger

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...

Recognising the human factor in Sherry and Montilla

Posted on July 11, 2022 by Yolanda Ortiz de Arri

English effervescence

Posted on June 27, 2022June 28, 2022 by Tobias Gorn

Contemplating the future of wine writing from the Gourmand Awards in Umeå

Posted on June 24, 2022June 28, 2022 by Keith Grainger

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...