What makes a well-made Mint Julep Cocktail much more complex than you expect? James Chatto reveals the secret

Introduction What makes a properly made mint julep much more complex than people expect? How did an Indian revolutionary leader end up creating one of Japan’s most famous curry recipes? How did a recipe collected during a 1930s concert tour in Indonesia become the legendary Queen Mother’s Cake, different from every other chocolate cake you’ve ever had? In this episode of the Unreserved Wine Talk podcast, I’m chatting with James Chatto, co-author of the terrific new book Acquired Tastes: The Lives and Recipes of Eight Culinary Ambassadors. You can find the wines we discussed here.   Giveaway Three of you are […]

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Acquired Tastes: The Lives and Recipes of Eight Culinary Ambassadors with James Chatto

Introduction What did lasagna taste like in Renaissance Italy before tomatoes and ragù became standard? Why are some of Thailand’s most iconic royal desserts rooted in Portuguese convent recipes? How did a chance conversation at dinner unexpectedly unlock hidden pieces of food history? In this episode of the Unreserved Wine Talk podcast, I’m chatting with James Chatto, co-author of the terrific new book Acquired Tastes: The Lives and Recipes of Eight Culinary Ambassadors. You can find the wines we discussed here.   Giveaway Three of you are going to win a copy of James Chatto’s new book, Acquired Tastes: The Lives […]

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What’s The Difference Between Drinking For Pleasure And Drinking For Relief? Dr. Charles Knowles Reveals The Difference

Introduction What’s the difference between drinking for pleasure and drinking for relief? How does your body’s early reaction to alcohol predict your long-term risk of developing alcohol dependence? How do some people drink heavily for years without developing the same dependence that others struggle to escape? In this episode of the Unreserved Wine Talk podcast, I’m chatting with Dr. Charles Knowles, author of Why We Drink Too Much: The New Science of Alcohol. You can find the wines we discussed here.   Giveaway Three of you are going to win a copy of Charles Knowles’ new book, Why We Drink […]

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Why is moderation easy for some people, yet impossible for others? Dr. Charles Explains In Why We Drink Too Much: The New Science of Alcohol

Introduction What can your first experiences with alcohol tell you about the relationship you’ll have with it later in life? Are we fighting with our own biology when it comes to alcohol? Why is moderation impossible for some people? In this episode of the Unreserved Wine Talk podcast, I’m chatting with Dr. Charles Knowles, author of Why We Drink Too Much: The New Science of Alcohol. You can find the wines we discussed here.   Giveaway Three of you are going to win a copy of Charles Knowles’ new book, Why We Drink Too Much: The New Science of Alcohol.   […]

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What Are the Insider Tips to Discovering and Buying the Best Cheese of Your Life? with Michael Finnerty

Introduction Why does buying from a good cheese shop often beat picking up a wedge from the supermarket? How do people underestimate the physical labor and other demands of being a cheesemonger? How does using a cheese iron reveal where a wheel of cheese is in its life? In this episode of the Unreserved Wine Talk podcast, I’m chatting with Michael Finnerty, author of the terrific new book The Cheese Cure: How Comté and Camembert Fed My Soul. You can find the wines we discussed here.   Giveaway Three of you are going to win a copy of Michael Finnerty’s new […]

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The Cheese Cure: How Comté and Camembert Fed My Soul With Michael Finnerty

Introduction Why do some wine and cheese pairings taste better together than either one alone? Why do some wines collapse when paired with certain cheeses? What will surprise you about cheese that’s similar to wine? In this episode of the Unreserved Wine Talk podcast, I’m chatting with Michael Finnerty, author of the terrific new book The Cheese Cure: How Comté and Camembert Fed My Soul. You can find the wines we discussed here.   Giveaway Three of you are going to win a copy of Michael Finnerty’s new book, The Cheese Cure: How Comté and Camembert Fed My Soul.   How […]

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How Did a World Memory Champion, a Theatre Director, a Voice Coach, a TV Actor, and a Professional Magician Help Gerard Basset Win the World’s Best Sommelier Competition?

Introduction How did a world memory champion, a theatre director, a voice coach, a TV actor, and a professional magician all help one person win the World’s Best Sommelier Competition? How do top performers use nerves and adrenaline to their advantage? What do high achievers do when they accomplish the dreams they’ve been chasing for years? In this episode of the Unreserved Wine Talk podcast, I’m chatting with Nina and Romané Basset who have just published the commemorative edition of Tasting Victory: The Life and Wins of the World’s Favourite Sommelier, Gerard Basset. You can find the wines we discussed here. […]

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How Did Discovering Wine Lead Gérard Basset to Become the World’s Best Sommelier?

Introduction How did Gérard Basset discover wine and then go on to become the World’s Best Sommelier? What does truly exceptional hospitality look like in practice? How did a man with no fine dining background develop such a deep understanding of what excellence looked and felt like? In this episode of the Unreserved Wine Talk podcast, I’m chatting with Nina and Romané Basset, who have just published a commemorative edition of the book Tasting Victory: The Life and Wine of the World’s Favourite Sommelier by Gerard Basset. You can find the wines we discussed here.   Giveaway Two of you […]

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Is It the Wine or Is It You? Alan Ramey on What Really Makes Wine Taste Good

Introduction Is a fully organic future in agriculture possible or even affordable, or are there limits to how far we can go? Why has biodynamics thrived in wine when many of its founder’s ideas were rejected in medicine and education? How much of what you enjoy in wine comes from what’s in the glass versus your mental perception of what you’re drinking? In this episode of the Unreserved Wine Talk podcast, I’m chatting with Alan Ramey, author of Pressing Matters: The Debates, Controversies and Mysteries that have Shaped the World of Wine. You can find the wines we discussed here.   Giveaway […]

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The Debates, Controversies and Mysteries That Have Shaped the World of Wine Like Organics With Alan Ramey, Author of Pressing Matters

Introduction What might surprise you about the amount of research on organic versus conventional farming when it comes to winemaking? Why are many strong opinions in wine accepted without much challenge or push for validation? Why are traditional wine regions being forced to balance heritage with visibility and branding in today’s market? In this episode of the Unreserved Wine Talk podcast, I’m chatting with Alan Ramey, author of the new book, Pressing Matters: The Debates, Controversies and Mysteries that have Shaped the World of Wine. You can find the wines we discussed here.   Giveaway Two of you are going to […]

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