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Robin Goldsmith rounds up the fabulously jovial Circle of Wine Writers Festive Party 2024. 'Twas a cold evening outside, but the warmth positively radiated inside urban winery, London Cru, on the 9th December.  This was the venue for the eagerly anticipated Circle of Wine Writers Festive Party.  Attended by an international jamboree of joyous journalists and specially invited wine trade guests, a...

Michele Padberg is a freelance writer, international wine judge, advanced sommelier, and member of the Association of Wine Educators. With over 23 years of experience in the wine industry, she was part of the editorial board and a contributor on the e-book The New Normal in the Wine World, and has published work in the USA as well as Europe. She crafts insightful lectures and hosts elite V...

Diana Thompson is based in Edinburgh and writes the wine column for The Sunday Post – Scotland’s most read Sunday paper as well as other local publications including Spotlight Magazine. She contributes to various digital food and drink online platforms such as Tom’s Food! With over 30 years’ experience in the wine industry Diana has worked with various international companies and now runs Wine Ev...

Margot Mazur is a wine writer, educator, and sommelier who specializes in American wine and sustainability. With a passion for making wine accessible and engaging, Margot writes for publications like Wine Enthusiast and Travel and Leisure and runs "The Fizz," a newsletter featuring interviews with wine industry professionals across the United States, highlighting American wine and culture. As a...

Shelley Boettcher is a wine writer based in Canada and Italy. She holds her master’s degree in journalism and her advanced WSET certification, as well as her level 2 International Sommelier Guild certification. Shelley has written three books about wine and her byline has appeared in magazines and newspapers around the world, including the New York Times, The Guardian, The Globe and Mail and Po...

Beth Willard was first involved in wine as a buyer but is now a writer and wine judge. For nearly a decade Beth travelled the world buying wine for Direct Wines and received awards including UK Retail Buyer of the Year from the Drinks Business Awards, as well as Personality of the Year from Wines of Rioja. She has now left the commercial world behind and is writing about Spain, her main passion...

Cindy-Marie fell in love with Pinot Noir at a very young age, then lived in Piemonte, so developed a passion for Nebbiolo, white truffles and all things Italian. For 27 years, she has been organising and leading wine tours – including France, throughout Italy, Spain, Portugal, South America, New Zealand and Slovenia. She is passionate about communicating her love of wine in an approachable styl...

Dijana Grgić is the editor-in-chief of the Croatian magazine Vinum.In. She writes about Croatian wines and organizes wine seminars. Her goal is to educate wine enthusiasts and professionals about Croatian wine production, and share the stories of winemakers, which led her to organise 'Wine story by Dijana Grgić' wine events. This year, she will publish a special edition of the magazine about...

Emily Cappiello is an experienced travel, food and beverage writer, often writing about the intersection of delicious bites, sips and travel adventures. .. Publications she has contributed to include Fodors Travel, SevenFifty Daily, Liquor.com, Travel + Leisure, Conde Nast Traveler, Vinepair, Wine Enthusiast, Martha Stewart, Bar + Restaurant News and Edible East End. She has a Master's Degree in...