The author visits legendary winemakers and their families and shares their stories in a conversational style – Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Having just returned from an unplanned six-week visit to my family home in Carmel, California, I find myself with a frighteningly short nine shopping days till Christmas! Thankfully, buying gifts for my wine-loving friends is much simpler than shopping for less laser-focused folks on my list. Sharing a passion with someone makes gift selection a cinch. Here is my list of what I hope to find under our tree. It’s a safe bet that these would be welcome items for other wine lovers. A wine book devoted to the search for bargain wines is “Unquenchable” by Natalie MacLean, a Canadian […]

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Having a Good Friend Bring You Along on Her Wine-Soaked Adventures – Living In The Kitchen With Puppies

Unquenchable A Tipsy Quest for the World’s Best Bargain Wines Written by Natalie MacLean Hardcover, 368 pages Also available as an eBook When I was young, wine seemed so grown up. It had its own glass and everything. At that point I knew 4 types of wine: red, white, pink and bubbly. I bought cheap wine because.. it was cheap. This is how most of us begin our wine journey. As I grew up I learned a little more about wine. I have incorporated it into my life like a good friend and while I might not know much if […]

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If You Only Buy One Book About Wine in Your Life Make it Unquenchable – Fiesta Farms Food Matters

By Ivy Knight, blogger for Fiesta Farms and contributor to the Globe & Mail If You Only Buy One Book About Wine in Your Life Make it “Unquenchable: A Tipsy Quest for the World’s Best Bargain Wines” by Natalie MacLean. The best­selling of author of “Red, White and Drunk All Over” is pos­si­bly the world’s most engag­ing and down-to-earth wine writer. In this book the Ottawa-based MacLean takes you on a world tour of Australia, Africa, Germany and more, meet­ing wine­mak­ers and tast­ing their wines. She takes us along for the ride and makes it so much fun that you […]

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Highly educational and witty, neophytes and professionals will drink this up – Wine Enthusiast Magazine

This holiday season, give a book to your favorite wine, spirits or culinary lover. Unquenchable by Natalie MacLean Chock full of insider tips and engaging anecdotes, this four-time James Beard award-winning author arms readers with the necessities to locate wines with the best value. Highly educational and witty, neophytes and professionals will drink this up.   You can read more reviews of my new wine book Unquenchable here. 

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Sticky Toffee Pudding Recipe Paired with Grant Burge 10 Year Old Tawny

This holiday classic is the perfect finale to Christmas dinner. A fantastic pairing with this dessert is Grant Burge 10 Year Old Tawny, a port-style blend of Grenache, Shiraz and Mourvedre. Makes 10 servings For the Puddings: 1 ¾ cups packed pitted dates, chopped 2 cups water 1 ½  tsp baking soda 2 cups flour ½ tsp baking powder ½  tsp ginger ½  tsp cinnamon ½  tsp salt 1/3 cup unsalted butter, softened 1 cup sugar 3 large eggs   For the Toffee Sauce: ¾ cup unsalted butter 1 ½ cup brown sugar 1 cup 35% cream ½ tsp vanilla […]

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Bites of Bliss – Holiday Cheese Hors d’Oeuvres Recipes and Wine Pairings Make for Festive Evenings

GOUDA ALL WAYS Holiday eating usually means large meals and I love the occasional feast as much as the next wine writer. But I also appreciate meals that give me a break in the middle of banquet season and still deliver sparkle and flavour. Let’s organize an event with no main course and enjoy tasty morsels of deliciousness: hors d’oeuvres! They’re perfect for a supper party because they can be eaten over a long period of time, delight the senses and still leave room for wine and conversation! So let’s have a great evening of appetizers and cheeses paired with […]

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Charity Wine Auction Fundraiser – Ashbury College in Rockliffe, Ontario, December 15

The Music and Beyond Fine Wine Auction will be held at Ashbury College Maclaren Hall (Ottawa, Ontario) on December 15, 2011. Registration is at 6:30 p.m. with a sommelier-led wine tasting hosted by Savvy Company. The live auction will begin at 7:00 p.m. with local celebrity auctioneers! There is free on-site parking and domestic and international shipping is available. All 170 lots can be viewed on our online auction site with descriptions and photographs. You can also start to bid right away on each lot on the Music and Beyond online auction site. Some of the extraordinary wines available at […]

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Wine writing brings a lushness that’s well-balanced and structured – Winnipeg Free Press

Natalie MacLean has made a name for herself as one of Canada’s best-known wine writers. Her first book, Red, White and Drunk All Over, was a decidedly no-nonsense affair that took readers around the world in a lighthearted attempt to shed light on the world of wine. Her new book, Unquenchable: A Tipsy Quest for the World’s Best Bargain Wines, continues the journey, albeit with a focus on getting the most bang for your buck when it comes to buying wine. MacLean is on a promotional book tour right now, and will hit Winnipeg on Tuesday as part of her […]

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A writer with undeniable moxie and spirited prose; her quirky and honest style that celebrates people and place that truly captivates – Oregon Wine Press Magazine

Globe-Trotting Page Turner With an affinity for fine shoes, I’ve developed a keen eye for bargains over the years. When shopping fashion, I’m always on the hunt for the best deal; but when it comes to food and wine, my budget is a bit more lax. I have so much appreciation for the labor and the process it takes to bring these products to the table that I am willing to pay the often-high price; but perhaps I need to review my culinary budget — I’m sure the amount I’ve spent in the past could have flown me to France […]

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Montes Carmenere, Casa Lapostolle Cabernet Sauvignon, Château La Dauphine Among the Top Wine Picks for LCBO Vintages Release December 10

Chile: 2009 Montes Carmenère Alpha, Colchagua Valley – $19.95 Love this Carmenere from Montes and buy it at every opportunity. From the Casa Lapostolle entry level, it’s a ‘high-end’ Carmenere for a fair price. Expect medium-full wine with beautiful mixed berries flavors. Drink it in the next 2-5 years. Chile: 2010 Casa Lapostolle Cabernet Sauvignon Cuvée Alexandre, Colchagua Valley – $24.95 Always consistently good. Never had less than very good wines from this winery. This is Casa Lapostolle mid level. Their Cab Sauv is a new world style wine with lots of fruit and ‘in-your-face’ flavors. Still very well balanced. […]

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