Anna Spooner

@JessicaCarpani are you still the best point of contact for Telegraph commissions? Thanks so much :)

Spending the morning sending out press releases for my newly launched coursesannaspoonerwine.com - please drop me a line if you would like a free press pass to learn about wine in an original, relaxed way :) #pressrelease #journorequest

@jamiegoode @VergelegenUSA @AngloAmerican Totally agree. Was there in November. Wowed by the whites in particular, and the plans for the BBQ spot up top at the winery 😉

Vergelegen Rebooted: this important South African winery had lost is lustre a little, but with a change at the winemaking helm they now look to have re-found their mojo. Here's an in-depth report based on a recent visit wineanorak.com/2025/01/21/ver… @VergelegenUSA @AngloAmerican

@atkinson_mw When I lived in Essex before the move to France, these glorious cracks twisted my ankle on a fair few dog walks 🤭 good job it makes for great wine!

22 Brix for Essex Clay. Hold-off on reading the last rites. Vintage ‘24 very much alive.

@TheWineSociety What a wonderful bunch! 🍇 Gutted to not be there but looks like you all had a ball :)

An unforgettable evening in Edinburgh celebrating 150 years of The Wine Society! 🎉🍷 If you missed out tonight, there's still a chance to join the festivities tomorrow 🤩

@tracyasaunders @TheWineSociety @lenclume It was great to chat again Tracy!

@jamiegoode We’ve had lovely weather this week! Hope you’re having a nice trip!

Gigondas on form this afternoon

Back on the old blog... A Love Letter to Grenache, by @AnnaSpooner #wine open.substack.com/pub/annaspoone…

@cevalogistics I’ve been waiting for a delivery for nearly a month and I can’t get hold of anyone to help me. Please can you let me know who to speak to. (Shipment from Spain to France, 4th Jan)

@PettittEmily And then they will have a human (two if you’re lucky) manually checking tickets upon entry at Stansted station. A stressfully slow experience which is the perfect end to your journey if your train was delayed and you’re worried you might miss your flight…

“Welcome to the railway, we’re glad to have you.” 😁🫢

@wineandwords @owmarcel @TheWineSociety Just read Marce’s original comment 😜I think you’re right, I think this year. Although lots of Gigondas producers I spoke to this week didn’t know it was happening!

Nothing like a magnum. 2018 Laudun, a blueprint for the new cru. This is sensas! @TheWineSociety

An honest and unedited account of my feelings about my MW results… annaspooner.substack.com/p/stage-2-resu… #mw #masterofwine #wine

@macdudeuk @jamiegoode @colinonwine @VieilleAbeille @AsaFoodAndWine @ADHalliwell Lopez de Heredia do crop between replanting sites to help get rid of nematodes. I’ve got the exact length of time and crop written somewhere…

@jamiegoode @colinonwine @VieilleAbeille @AsaFoodAndWine @ADHalliwell Also for nematodes.

*A more personal essay about my MW experience* by @AnnaSpooner #masterofwine #mw #winetwitter open.substack.com/pub/annaspoone…

@PlanetVictoria @BestyMike @guyawoodward @Masterofwhine @Wine_GB Yes, I suppose for my consumer events I know that about 80% end up in the bin… or sometimes in the loo before they’ve even left the building

@AnnaSpooner @BestyMike @guyawoodward @Masterofwhine @Wine_GB No idea why a paper booklet that will be referred to for 6-12 months is suddenly a big wastage issue. There's more paper/cardboard waste in the packaging of a single bottle sent to me through the post. I tasted about 30 wines yesterday compared to my usual 100.

What a mess yesterday's @Wine_GB tasting was. Such a missed opportunity. Thought perhaps only I'd had a frustrating visit but messages from colleagues/others suggests otherwise. Sales of GB wines were down one million bottles last year (from 9m to 8m)

@BestyMike @PlanetVictoria @guyawoodward @Masterofwhine @Wine_GB Very interested to hear this. Generally is a paper option preferred? Having run so many of these it’s tricky to judge wastage vs convenience

@PlanetVictoria @guyawoodward @Masterofwhine @Wine_GB So much of it was great, but yes the tasting booklet thing is SO important.

Big news is coming… currently quite small news, with some live events (suitable for beginners) head-to-head pre tastings for some rugby games. Invite some friends and open some bottles! annaspoonerwine.com #wine #winetasting

@HarrietFL Thank you so much for the opportunity Harriet! So fun to see it in the flesh

And here’s @AnnaSpooner on something that has fascinated me since I started this job — how to become a Master of Wine (more people have been to space!) on.ft.com/45FjboF

Here are links to some of my favourite other pieces in the wine issue that will sneak you behind the paywall. London’s coolest sommelier @SteemsonMolly on what you should ask her for (and why “a dry white” is never the right answer) on.ft.com/3QTum8s

@TonyTassell Thanks so much Tony! It’s challenging but it’s really rewarding too :) especially the people you meet

Great piece here by @AnnaSpooner on what it takes to become a Master of Wine - a lot. Must be one of the toughest courses going. There at just 412 current Masters of Wine ft.com/content/bad753…