A Post-Ski Meal Ski season is well underway, and there’s nothing more exhilarating than soaring down the slopes on a nice, brisk day. It’s so great to be outside, even if it is quite chilly. But the part I enjoy even more about ski season, is the après-ski unwinding. It’s a great time to sit down and eat a hearty meal with a delicious glass of wine. Lounging in a chalet with warm and comfy clothes and some great food and drinks after a full day on the hills? Sounds like absolute bliss to me. This recipe for Raclette de […]
Author: Natalie MacLean
Toronto Sommelier Masters 4,300 Bottle Wine List
Mark Moffatt, wine director at Bosk restaurant in Toronto’s Shangri-La Hotel. What was your most memorable wine experience? While I was working as a sommelier at The Fairmont Palliser Hotel, we created a display of an entire vertical of Château Mouton Rothschild from 1945 to 1994. Learning about each of these bottles, and the stories behind them, motivated me to learn more about wine. What would you be doing if you weren’t a sommelier? I would be an Extreme Sports athlete in winter skiing. I have always loved skiing, and I haven’t yet met a jump, cliff or ledge that […]
Top 10 Most Influential Wine Bloggers on Twitter
A Twitter storm erupted today, so I clicked through to to see what the fuss was about … how we love top 10 lists, no matter how encouraging or provocative. Cision, a global firm that tracks and reports on the top social media sites and conducts media research on key influencers, published its list of the Top 10 Most Influential Wine Bloggers on Twitter today: “This list includes the most influential wine bloggers on Twitter, ranked by number of Twitter followers. Using Cision’s media database, we compiled the list based on Cision’s proprietary research. All numbers were pulled on January […]
SAQ Wines of the Week – CJAD Morning Show
This morning, during one of our regular chats on Andrew Carter’s CJAD Morning Show in Montreal, we talked about great wines in the SAQ for your weekend. Not only can you create a custom shopping list, but we’re the first wine site and mobile app that allows you to see which of your closest SAQ stores have that wine in stock right now (and how many bottles of it). Enjoy! Natalie CJAD Wines of the Week Kim Crawford Pansy! Rose Hawkes Bay, North Island, New Zealand This Rosé has an almost neon pink hue, and is just as vibrant […]
Best BC Wines Shine in the LCBO Vintages Jan 18
BC wines take the spotlight in the LCBO January 18, and among my best wine reviews and ratings for this release. The range of wineries in British Columbia is astonishing, as is the breadth of their wine styles. Both new and established producers are represented in this release of wine, from sparkling wine to robust reds and ethereal whites. Now’s your chance to try the best BC wines on offer here. This just a sampling of wine ratings, the most quoted Canadian source of reviews in the Vintages Magazine. VIP Members can access all 88 wines that I reviewed […]
Roasted Vegetable Salad Recipe with Gunn’s Hill Five Brothers Cheese Paired with Chardonnay
New Year, New Resolutions I always get a pang of excitement when January begins. I know resolutions can be a bit cliché, but to me a new year is the perfect clean slate for adapting some better habits. At first I couldn’t decide what I wanted my resolutions to be this year, but after some thought, I resolved to really enjoy every day to its fullest and take more pleasure in the simple things. I also wanted to work more vegetables into my day, so I started collecting some delicious recipes to help me do just those things. I was […]
Tips on Finding Great Value Wines in the Liquor Store – Global TV The Morning Show
We had great fun chatting about bargain wines on Global TV’s The Morning Show recently. We focused on Niagara wines and why they truly are such a bargain. Got a favourite? Cheers, Natalie (I really should learn to brush the back of my hair … looks like I slept in a medieval cellar.) Posted with permission of Global TV.
Submitting Wine Samples + Updating Bottle Shots
Here are some short videos, each only about 2-3 minutes, to help you update your wines on our site quickly. Please e-mail me if you need help. 1. Agencies & Wineries: Update Bottle/Label Shot for a Wine on the Site: 2. Agencies & Wineries: Add a New Vintage for a Wine Already on the Site: 3. Agencies: Add a New Wine to the Site: 4. Wineries: Add a New Wine to the Site: Here are details on my wine tasting and review process. E-mail me (natdecants at nataliemaclean.com) if you wish to send samples or want gold […]
Cheddar Stuffed Meatballs Recipe, Cabernet Franc Wine Pairing
Tis’ the season to complete last year’s resolutions. I can’t believe it’s already the beginning of January! I know it sounds cliché, but this year definitely flew by. And now that it’s almost over I have a list of resolutions that I need to complete. My first to-do: learn how to make the perfect meatballs. Here’s a recipe I found for Cheddar Stuffed Meatballs with Rosemary that is absolutely mouth-watering. Not only is it a delicious recipe, the meatballs are made with wholesome ingredients like real Canadian Cheddar that will help you beat the winter blues. My next to-do, finding […]
Wine Reviews: Smart Buy Bottles and Value Wine Ratings: LCBO Vintages Jan 4
The best wines in January are priced under $20, the the smart buy value wines that help us tighten our belts and wallets. The LCBO often features bargain-priced wines at this time of the year, right after the holidays when we’ve blown our budget with champagne and expensive gift wines. What is value when it comes to wine? That’s subjective, but many of these bottles hit above their price-point in quality. Even types of wines that are usually more expensive like pinot noir, chianti and port are represented well in this release. Here’s a sampling of my best wine […]
