Circle of Wine Writers

The Circle of Wine Writers is a group of individuals involved in writing and communicating about wines and spirits. This includes authors, journalists, bloggers, broadcasters, photographers, and educators. Established in 1960 by the late Cyril Ray, this UK-based association has around 240 members from 30 different countries around the globe.

International, Consumer

English

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Articles

From the Chair: Considering criticism

6 days ago | circleofwinewriters.org | Meg Maker

I enjoy reading criticism of books, art, cinema, and architecture. As a writer who does some wine criticism, I find it instructive to see how critics from other domains approach the exercise. I was particularly struck by a recent New Yorker , an essay by Julian Lucas reflecting on the critic Hilton Als's profile of author Derek Walcott. That's meta, I know: a critic reviewing a critic writing about an author.
The Circle in Cyprus 2.0

1 month ago | circleofwinewriters.org | Amanda Barnes

This month our edition is dedicated to the Circle's trip to Cyprus, which took place in late April 2025, following fairly hot on the heels from last year's February visit to this exciting Mediterranean wine island. We hand over to members to report on their highlights of the trip, which took in an entirely different set of wineries to the 2024 tour. ...
From the Chair: Are we trying too hard to explain wine?

1 month ago | circleofwinewriters.org | Meg Maker

Circle Chair Meg Maker questions the role of the reader in wine writing, and in doing so, reflects on the purpose of the writing itself. I recently published a long memoiristic essay about a press trip I had taken in Northern Italy. A fellow wine journalist posted a comment asking, "Who's the reader?"It's a valid question. Whenever we sit down to write an article, we should consider our reader, and some ways that means we act as both writer and editor.
Gallery: Cyprus Trip 2025 by Matt Wilson

1 month ago | circleofwinewriters.org | Amanda Barnes
New Member: Jeroen Bronkhorst

2 months ago | circleofwinewriters.org | Amanda Barnes

Jeroen Bronkhorst is founder of Wijnstudio, a WSET wine school with venues all over the Netherlands. He is a Certified Madeira Wine Educator, Certified Sherry Educator, Certified Port Educator, Cavaleiro of the Confraria do Vinho do Porto, and an Ambassador for the German VDP. In the past, Jeroen was the owner and chef of a restaurant, awarded twice for 'Best National Wine List'. Having both a chef- and wine education, he develops learning materials about wine, and wine and food pairing.
New Member: Trevor Sharot

2 months ago | circleofwinewriters.org | Amanda Barnes

After university, Trevor Sharot vowed never to take any more exams. Some years later, he discovered a subject that required drinking Champagne in the exam hall! That changed everything. Trevor now runs GrapeDeal, a wine consultancy based in London, majoring on writing, photography and presentation. He gained the DipWSET, is Secretary of the Central London Wine Society and President of a Fine Wine Lunch club.
Members' insights: Navigating the trade war

2 months ago | circleofwinewriters.org | Amanda Barnes

Circle members share their perspectives on how wine writers and communicators should respond to the current trade war, and what the future might hold. These interviews are part of Meg Maker's 'Navigating the trade war - a communicator's role From the Chair: Navigating the trade war - a communicator's role' feature.
From the Chair: Navigating the trade war

2 months ago | circleofwinewriters.org | Meg Maker

How should wine writers respond to a global trade war? This is the question Circle Chair Meg Maker poses as she interviews some circle members and others address the current moment. What is the role and future of wine writing given this moment of global economic uncertainty? At the extreme, the flow of wine will slow, prices will rise, wine consumption will drop, and wine consumer demographics will shift. Wine communication will shift, too.
Nebbiolo, Dialect, and Dinner: Notes from Alba

Mar 26, 2025 | circleofwinewriters.org | Meg Maker
From two sides of the river

Mar 26, 2025 | circleofwinewriters.org | Amanda Barnes

In this extract from Beverley Blanning MW's Wines of the Loire Valley, published by The Classic Wine Library, Beverly intricately introduces the subtle and not so subtle differences between Sancerre and Pouilly Fumé. Sancerre: easy to say, easy to understand, easy to drink and, it seems, easy to sell. These crisp and vibrant white wines are the Loire's most reliable calling card worldwide and by far its most successful export, with up to 70 per cent of the wines sold outside France.