Here are my top 5 wines for Canada Day … be sure you’re well stocked up! Cheers, Natalie [table id=9 /]
Month: June 2011
Best Wine Books – Summer in a Glass
There are lots of terrific wine books you can enjoy this summer, including my recent discovery: Summer in a Glass: The Coming of Age of Winemaking in the Finger Lakes by Evan Dawson. Evan is managing editor of the New York Cork Report and morning news anchor at WHAM-TV in Rochester. He’s penned a terrific account of one of the fastest growing wine regions in the U.S. by telling the stories of the winemakers, characters who leap off his pages. I love this approach to learning about wine rather than the encyclopedias and guide books … you don’t even realize […]
Enjoying Kelowna’s Stately Wines
By Michael Fagin What does Michael Fagin have in common with both Queen Elizabeth II and President Barack Obama? We all like British Columbia white wines. President Obama sipped the Quails’ Gate Okanagan Valley Chenin Blanc in Ottawa and my wife and I sipped Quails’ Gate Estate wine in Kelowna. And Queen Elizabeth II? She also sipped Okanagan wine in the 1980’s. This was, incidentally, about the same time that a Michael Fagan broke into the Queen’s bedroom at Buckingham Palace and stole a half bottle of wine (type unknown). It needs to be clarified here that that Michael Fagan […]
Vintages Release June 25: Malbec and Chardonnay from Argentina + Barbecue Wines
Here are some of my top picks and best value wines from the June 25 Vintages Release. You’ll find all 75 wines here that I’ve recommended from a wide range of price points, styles, scores and food pairings. (Make sure you have some back-up choices in case some of these are sold out.) You can also put my best value and top rated wines into your custom shopping list by clicking on the little shopping cart icon. Then follow your wine bliss! Natalie [table id=8 /] You get all of my recommendations when you subscribe to my wine reviews […]
Stoneleigh Wines and some great summer reads
Sponsored Post With summer finally here, avid readers are finding time to unwind and enjoy a good book. Whether in the backyard, at the beach, or on the dock, summer’s slower pace allows time to tackle that book club reading list. And what better accompaniment to a compelling story than a cool, crisp white wine, or a complex red? Stoneleigh® Wines from Marlborough, New Zealand are the Official Wine Partner of Random House of Canada Limited. Together, they have a range of book recommendations and accompanying wine suggestions. [table id=3 /] [table id=5 /] [table id=6 /] […]
Let’s take the party outside: barbecue cheeseburger and wine pairing
There’s only one thing better than eating and drinking, and that is eating and drinking outdoors. We waited patiently through the winter and remained calm and humble when spring brought us a little warmth. But now the moment has arrived. We can boldly step outside with our plates of food and glasses of wine and celebrate the arrival of summer. Let’s organize a good old-fashioned family BBQ party. The key words for this party are “simple” and “fun.” We are going to please everyone and make the most delicious hamburgers ever – Three-Cheese Burgers. And here’s the brilliant part. We […]
Wine Label Scan Mobile App Featured on Business News Network (BNN)
I’m thrilled that our new (free) wine label-scanning mobile app will be featured on the Business News Network (BNN) on June 7 at 8 p.m. There’ll be a demo of how the Natalie MacLean Wine Picks & Pairings app works and help consumers find terrific wines in the LCBO and other liquor stores across the country. Tune in then, and I’d love to hear what you think of version 2.1 that Apple just approved this afternoon with new features and bug fixes!
LCBO Vintages Release June 11: Father’s Day wines, big Australian and Italian red wines, zesty white wines
The LCBO Vintages June 11 Release features some terrific wines for Father’s Day, full-bodied, fleshy red wines from Italy, zippy whites for summer salads and seafood, and robust Australian shiraz and cabernet for your barbecue. I’ve highlighted some of my best value and top rated picks here. You can find all 49 wines that I’ve reviewed here as well as here on the site. I’d love to know what your favs are! White Wine 2010 Arboleda Sauvignon Blanc, Acongagua Valley, Chile: VC: Founded by Chilean superstar Eduardo Chadwick of Viña Errazuriz fame and California’s Robert Mondavi (Chadwick now owns solely […]
Wine and War: the French, the Nazis, and the Battle for France’s Greatest Treasure
Wine and War: the French, the Nazis, and the Battle for France’s Greatest Treasure Don & Petie Kladstrup The story of how French winemakers were able to preserve their wines from the occupying Germans during World War II is expertly told in Wine & War: The French, the Nazis & the Battle for France’s Greatest Treasure by Don and Petie Kladstrup. The French used such clever tactics as creating false cellar walls behind which they hid their best vintages, smuggling Allied soldiers out in their barrels and passing off poor vintages to the German troops. It’s a thrilling read for […]
Welcome to the new site and blog!
After six months of research, development and pinot noir, we’re finally ready with the new site and blog. I hope you find it useful, yet fun. Please let me know what suggestions you have by commenting here or just e-mail me at [email protected]. I raise my glass to you! Natalie
