As do many people, I like drinking wine. But I don’t know how to assess which wines are worth the money and which aren’t. One day, I stumbled upon a book at an Indigo store and bought it right away. I liked the cartoons on the cover and the title, Unquenchable: A Tipsy Quest for [...]

The best way to a woman’s heart on Valentine’s Day is a subject that’s always up for debate. Even though flowers and heart-shaped boxes of chocolates have been go-to contenders for decades, the old adage goes that candy is dandy but liquor is quicker. Natalie MacLean, the wine expert and author of Unquenchable: A Tipsy [...]

Bev and I chat about 5 to-die-for wine and chocolate pairings on Canada AM. Here are my top 10 matches to give you some more wines for your sweetie: Dark Chocolate and Masi Costasera Classico Amarone, Italy. Chocolate-Covered Biscotti and Henry of Pelham Vidal Icewine, Niagara. Chocolate-Orange Cake and Quinta de Ventozelo Reserva Ruby Port, [...]

By Kate Parsons In this ambitious and thoroughly entertaining book, Natalie MacLean chronicles her travels to five continents and eight countries in search of quality wines at good prices. Along the way, she meets the quirky personalities behind the wine and picks up a wealth of practical information about where they’re made, what to pair [...]

  I can’t remember the last  time I picked up a book and could not wait until I had some free time to pick it up again. I am only on page 72 of Unquenchable and I just love the way you are able to set the scene, it’s witty, engrossing and thoroughly entertaining. As [...]

The last chapter of my new book Unquenchable: A Tipsy Quest for the World’s Best Bargain Wines is about the lovely rosés of Provence. I was fortunate not only to sample many mouth-watering, bone-dry, food-friendly rosés, but I also cooked a multi-course meal with one winemaker and met the rosé-drinking donkey of another. (You’ll just [...]

Great chat with Kim Fraser, host of Montreal’s CJAD call-in talk show. I love her witty comments and questions, everything from describing wine with aromas of buffalo chips and dew-dappled violets to where that sweet spot is for finding wines that taste twice as expensive as they cost. Why I had to milk a goat [...]

What defines a bargain wine? Is it just a low price or is there something more? What are some tips on finding wines that are affordable but still delicious in the liquor store? Wines mentioned in this video: Segura Viudas Cava, Spain Yum, smells like fresh baked bread just out from the oven! Wonderfully toasty, [...]

Unquenchable: A Tipsy Quest for the World ‘s Best Bargain Wines You’ll remember how Dorothy sighed “lions, and tigers, and bears; oh, my” in the Wizard of Oz . Well, we might be hearing Natalie saying something like “hawks, and sheep, and goats, and turtles, and baboons; oh, boy” in her new book Unquenchable.  And [...]

What factors contribute to the cost of a wine? Which regions offer great value? Why “go south” in traditional wine producing countries? How do you go into a liquor store and find those bottles? Why are people so fascinating in the wine industry?