Which Hot New Wine Regions & Styles Should You Try? Amanda McCrossin & Vanessa Conlin MW Part 1

Introduction Have you ever dreamed of ditching your day job and starting a career in wine? What do wine and music have in common? What’s it like to share a bottle of wine with the famous wine critic Robert Parker? In this episode of the Unreserved Wine Talk podcast, I’m chatting with Amanda McCrossin & Vanessa Conlin of the Wine Access Unfiltered Podcast for part 1 of our two-part conversation. You can find the wines we discussed here.   Watch the Video     Giveaway You can win one of two signed copies of my books, “Red, White, and Drunk All Over” […]

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Dream Wine Careers with Susie Barrie & Peter Richards Part 2

Introduction Why are podcasts one of the best ways to learn about wine? How do English sparkling wines compare to Champagne, and should you seek them out? Why is the Master of Wine qualification valuable beyond the studies? What’s behind the low pass rate for the Master of Wine qualification? In this episode of the Unreserved Wine Talk podcast, I’m chatting with Susie Barrie and Peter Richards, Masters of Wine for part two of our two-part conversation. You can find the wines we discussed here.   Watch the Video   Giveaway You could win a prize pack that includes a personally signed copy […]

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Having a Wine Blast with Susie Barrie & Peter Richards

Introduction Have you ever wondered what it would be like to have a career in wine, whether as a TV or radio personality, writer, author, podcaster, event organizer, speaker or consultant? Well, our guests tonight have done it all and you’re in for a treat with colourful stories from their brilliant careers! In this episode of the Unreserved Wine Talk podcast, I’m chatting with Susie Barrie and Peter Richards, Masters of Wine for part one of our two-part conversation. You can find the wines we discussed here.   Watch the Video   Giveaway You could win a prize pack that […]

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Master of Wine vs Master Sommelier? Jane Masters Reveals the Difference

Introduction What’s the difference between a Master of Wine (MW) and a Master Sommelier (MS)? How can you take advantage of your surroundings to become a better wine taster? Is there a benefit to focusing on tasting notes instead of scores? What is involved in each of the stages of the MW exam? In this episode of the Unreserved Wine Talk podcast, I’m chatting with Jane Masters MW, Chairman of the Institute of Masters of Wine and independent consultant for the Opimian Society, Canada’s largest wine buying club. You can find the wines we discussed here.   Highlights How did […]

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The Best Wine Classes and Courses With Your Online Tasting Tribe (Video)

Many of us are starting to learn about wine online. Here to chat with us is Natalie MacLean who offers Canada’s most popular online wine and food pairing classes, including a free, wine and food pairing intro class here.   What have you observed that’s changed in the way people learn about wine during the lockdown? – The lockdown forced a mindset shift that you can learn about such a sensory subject like wine online just as effectively, if not more so, than in a physical class. – So there’s been a dramatic increase in the number of people taking […]

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The Use (and Abuse) of Wine Scores with Vino Mike and Pete on That Wine Pod

Introduction How does the 100 point scale make wine scores easier for you to interpret? How can you drink better wines by finding a wine critic whose style you like? How does grade inflation affect you as a wine lover? Why is taking an online wine course often better than an in-person course? In this episode of the Unreserved Wine Talk podcast, I’m sharing a conversation I originally had with Pete & Vino Mike on their podcast, That Wine Pod. You can find the wines we discussed here.   Highlights What’s my take on the best wine? Why should you […]

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CTV News: New Online Live Video Wine Course

Leanne and I chat about about my new online wine course . Do you want to feel confident about wine? You can find out more about this very personal and interactive series of live video wine workshops here.             Henry of Pelham Winery Cuvee Catharine Rosé Brut Niagara Escarpment, Ontario V.Q.A., Canada                   Taittinger Brut Reserve Champagne Champagne A.C., France                     Oyster Bay Sparkling Wine Marlborough, New Zealand                     […]

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Aphrodisiac Wine Pairings for Valentine’s Day

Introduction Do you need to follow a food and wine pairing rulebook? What wine-worthy aphrodisiacs should you add to your menu this Valentine’s Day? Does the classic romantic food, chocolate, have a perfect wine match you should try? Where does salinity in wine come from? In today’s episode, I’m chatting with you about aphrodisiac wine pairings and salt in wine. You can find the wines I discussed here. Enjoy!   Highlights What is the most important rule you should remember when choosing wine? Do you need to follow a food and wine pairing rulebook? What can history teach you about […]

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Single Vineyards versus Blends, Drops of God Manga Wine, Wine Scores

Introduction How does blending grapes impact the flavour profile of wine? What can blends give you that a single varietal can’t? What can you learn about wine from reading the Drops of God manga series? Why should you engage your creative side when it comes to wine? Why do you need to dive deeper into wine scores before buying? In today’s episode, I’m chatting with you about the power and problems with wine scores, whether single vineyard or blends are better and the viral sensation of the Manga wine series called Drops of God. Enjoy!   Highlights What can you […]

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Visiting Burgundy and Tasting Barolo with Matt Cauz

Introduction On today’s episode, I’m chatting with Matt Cauz, on his excellent podcast called Matt Talks Wine and Stuff with Interesting People. Matt interviews sommeliers, winemakers and wine writers so this is a bit of a turnaround from my usual format because Matt is interviewing me. I wanted to share this episode with you because we dig into lots of great wine tips, like how to make sense of the wine region Burgundy, how social media has changed the way we think about wine and a sneak peek at some of the topics in my third book, including the issues […]

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