|
Joining the Circle of Wine Writers
The Circle of Wine Writers is an association of authors,
journalists, editors, publishers, broadcasters, lecturers, web
publishers and photographers who are professionally engaged in
communicating about wines and spirits. It was founded in 1960 by the
late Cyril Ray and now has more than 270 members in the UK and abroad.
TermsWhilst we welcome and will
consider all applications (with the exception of those from people who
are primarily involved in public relations and trade promotion), please
be aware that you will need to fulfil any or all of the criteria listed
below. Note that ‘regular' work is defined in Point One and applies to
all relevant points:
- Regular publication in a newspaper or periodical on a weekly or
monthly basis, or in every issue per annum for those publications that
appear less than 12 times per year
- Regular TV appearances, or regular broadcast on radio
- Regular lecturing on behalf of WSET, with full membership of AWE or
any other lecturing organisation that is recognized by the committee
- Own, or administer, a dedicated wine/spirits website that is
recognised as being a source of sound, accurate and well-maintained
information, in the opinion of the committee
- Author of any published book on wines or spirits
- Specialist in wine and/or spirit photography
- Publisher or editor of any wine/spirit publication(s)
To apply to join the Circle, please contact Andrea Warren at
This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it
for an application form. You will also need
to obtain a proposer and a seconder (both of whom should be current
members of the Circle). Please note that it is acceptable for your
proposer and/or seconder to email or fax his/her endorsement of your
application.
You are required to supply a detailed summary of all work carried out
over the past 15 months. Be aware that we review members' work on an
annual basis and, in accordance with rule 6b of the Constitution of the
Circle, “A member shall cease to be in membership of the Circle... If
he/she... ceases, for a period of fifteen months, to be professionally
engaged in communicating about wines and spirits”. You are also
required to submit a selection of published work, or other appropriate
supporting documentation.
Once you have returned the form and have supplied the appropriate
supporting documentation, your application will be put before the
committee at the earliest opportunity. The committee meets on a
bi-monthly basis, though in certain circumstances applications are
‘fast-tracked' in order to avoid unnecessary delays.
If your application is successful, the annual subscription fee is
£50.00 (plus banking fees for overseas members, as appropriate) and
gives you access to a number of benefits including Circle tastings and
social events, a copy of Circle Update (published five times a year)
and, for UK residents, reduced subscription rates to certain wine and
spirit publications, alongside a number of other special offers.
|
