Opinion Archives - Page 8 of 21 - Circle of Wine Writers

Re-romancing Cabernet Franc

Posted on July 23, 2021July 25, 2021 by Richard Lane

Friend of the Circle, Richard Lane rekindles an old flame in the form of the elusive, enigmatic and less widespread Cab, and may not be that much the wiser, but is more than happy to go back. It was around 15 years ago when I first fell in love with Cabernet Franc. All I recall is the name Chinon, and the wine’s haunting aromas of violets, pencil shavings and succulent red and black fruit, beaut...

Felicity Carter tackles Clean Wine in the Circle’s “Let’s Talk About” webinar

Posted on July 23, 2021July 23, 2021 by Meg Houston Maker

Meg Houston Maker reports on the implications of this new commercial ‘cleaner than thou’ vinous phenomenon, as sketched out by the wine journalist and editor, who sees it as possibly being hugely harmful and offers a wake-up call for the wine industry. Felicity Carter’s been writing about wine for 20 years. “In all of that time,” she says, “I haven’t seen anything as potentially damaging and dan...

The Canary wine challenge continued

Posted on July 23, 2021 by Jochen Erler

Following on from his challenging quest to uncover the wines of Gran Canaria, Jochen Erler takes the ferry to over to El Hierro, hoping to unfurl the island’s fine wines. After an overnight stay on the island of Tenerife, near one of its two airports, I took the ferry to El Hierro. With the island’s map in hand, I planned to use the excellent public bus service as much as possible. My experience...

Vlog: Alentejo’s ancient telha wines

Posted on June 20, 2021 by Stephen Quinn

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Mornington Peninsula not a million miles away from home

Posted on June 12, 2021July 4, 2021 by Liz Sagues

Liz Sagues reports on the first of the Circle's May 2021 Let's talk about... webinars, presented by Kate McIntyre, marketing and business development manager at Moorooduc Estate. Time and again, as Kate McIntyre described viticulture and winemaking on the Mornington Peninsula, I thought: I've heard this before, but from somewhere far across the world from Australia. The story of that cool, windy,...

The fatal spring 2021 frost in France

Posted on May 12, 2021May 15, 2021 by LM Archer

From Burgundy to Southern France, vine growers are grappling with the catastrophe of precocious budding cut short by sub-zero temperatures from April 5-8, reports L.M. Archer. “C’est reparti (Here we go again),” posted Véronique Drouhin-Boss on Instagram April 5 Her image, of a hazy night sky punctuated by hundreds of smudge pots flickering amidst frozen vineyards, foretold the unfolding guerre d...

Perusing premium Nebbiolo

Posted on May 5, 2021 by Filippo Magnani

Shooting for sustainability in McLaren Vale

Posted on May 5, 2021May 15, 2021 by Amanda Barnes

Stepping out of the Laguedoc’s shadow: The Wines of Roussillon

Posted on April 25, 2021May 15, 2021 by Rosemary George MW

The wines of Roussillon by Rosemary George MW

Rosemary George MW shares why she believes that Roussillon deserves to be recognised as its own distinct wine region, no longer only an appendage to Languedoc, and how she researched her latest book on the region, The Wines of Roussillon. Why write a book on the wines of Roussillon? For the simple reason that Roussillon stands alone, proud and independent. For so long it has suffered a union of...

The Gran Canaria wine challenge

Posted on April 10, 2021April 14, 2021 by Jochen Erler