Introduction How can carbon offsetting claims in the wine industry be a form of greenwashing? How does the natural fermentation process in winemaking create one of the most concentrated sources of CO₂ emissions in any industry? Can yeast selection and fermentation techniques make winemaking more sustainable? In this episode of the Unreserved Wine Talk podcast, I’m chatting with Andrew Neather & Jane Masters. You can find the wines we discussed here. Giveaway Two of you are going to win a copy of Andrew Neather & Jane Masters’ terrific new book, Rooted in Change: The Stories Behind Sustainable Wine. How to […]
Best Wines
Which 5 Wines Taste Like the Harvest Around the World This Fall?
Welcome back! As the seasons change, so do our palettes. And with the cooler weather settling in, it’s the perfect time to switch up your wines! Here with her favourite picks for fall is the editor of Canada’s largest wine review website, Natalie MacLean! Welcome, Natalie. Great to be back with you, ladies! Fall wine season is my Super Bowl, but with better drinks and snacks. What do you consider when you’re recommending wines for the fall? Fall is all about transition and comfort. I look for wines that can shift from patio […]
Have you joined the Come Over October wine movement yet?
Come Over October is a new global movement founded by Karen MacNeil, author of the Wine Bible. It invites us to create unforgettable moments with the people who matter most over a glass of wine or two. Who better to help us than our favourite drinks expert Natalie MacLean, editor Canada’s largest wine site at nataliemaclean.com. Welcome, Natalie. Great to be back with you! You know, Come Over October is proof that the best things in life aren’t downloaded, they’re uncorked. This movement celebrates wine’s 8,000-year history of bringing people together. Our ancestors didn’t need […]
Best LCBO Wine Reviews: Vintages Ratings: October 25, 2025
You can access the wines that I reviewed as a text wine list with my complete tasting notes, scores, food matches. If you are a Paid Member, you can add my wine picks to your custom shopping list with one click and access that list on your smartphone to find the stock for each wine in your closest LCBO store. You can also see my wine reviews for October 11th These are just some of the benefits of supporting our wine community as a Paid Member. Inventory stock numbers are usually posted online a day or two before the release based on the LCBO doing so. Curious […]
Rooted in Change: The Stories Behind Sustainable Wine with Andy Neather and Jane Masters
Introduction How can the wine world help tackle climate change, and why is choosing sustainable and biodynamic wines not enough? What happens when vineyards embrace biodiversity with cover crops, insects, and wildlife? How are wine producers in South Africa rebuilding natural ecosystems around their vineyards? In this episode of the Unreserved Wine Talk podcast, I’m chatting with Andrew Neather & Jane Masters. You can find the wines we discussed here. Giveaway Two of you are going to win a copy of Andrew Neather & Jane Masters’ terrific new book, Rooted in Change: The Stories Behind Sustainable Wine. How to Win […]
How Is The Spanish Sparkling Wine Cava Different From The Italian Bubbly Prosecco Iin Production, Taste and Reputation?
Introduction How is the Spanish sparkling wine Cava different from the Italian bubbly Prosecco? What makes Xarel·lo stand out from Spain’s other traditional Cava grapes? How did Alicante’s Monastrell grape give rise to the rare Fondillón wine, and what makes it different from Port or Sherry? In this episode of the Unreserved Wine Talk podcast, I’m chatting with Sarah Jane Evans, author of the terrific new book The Wines of Central and Southern Spain: From Catalunya to Cadiz. You can find the wines we discussed here. Giveaway Two of you are going to win a copy of Sarah Jane Evans’ wonderful new […]
Best LCBO Wine Reviews: Vintages Ratings: October 11, 2025
You can access the wines that I reviewed as a text wine list with my complete tasting notes, scores, food matches. If you are a Paid Member, you can add my wine picks to your custom shopping list with one click and access that list on your smartphone to find the stock for each wine in your closest LCBO store. You can also see my wine reviews for September 27th These are just some of the benefits of supporting our wine community as a Paid Member. Inventory stock numbers are usually posted online a day or two before the release based on the LCBO doing so. Curious about […]
Roero: Piedmont’s Hidden Wine Gem Sparkles With Arneis and Nebbiolo
By Carolyn Hetke The first time I tasted Arneis wine was at a trade tasting in Toronto. It made an immediate impression and I enthusiastically took note of the varietal. So I was delighted when I had the opportunity to visit the Roero wine region in Piedmont, Italy. Roero is the only region that produces Arneis and is also home to its own unique expression of Nebbiolo wines. Roero wine region, situated in Italy’s north-west Piedmont region, is burgeoning with pride, passion and ambition following its promotion to DOCG status and recognition of its 134 menzioni geografiche […]
Fall Wines: A Warming Taste Trend
Wine styles are as seasonal as clothing. In the summer, I drink light, refreshing wines that remind me of a simple T-shirt and shorts: perfect for sun-baked beaches and country road strolls. But in the fall, my wine, like my clothes, becomes warmer, more layered and better able to combat those cool winds of October. In the video above, Leanne and I chat about fall fashions in wine, from the run-way to your dining room table. The wines featured in this show include: Robert Mondavi Private Selection Chardonnay, California Toasted Head Chardonnay, California Clos du Bois Cabernet Sauvignon, California Santa […]
5 Tips to Pick Wines for Thanksgiving
No other holiday celebrates the gift of wine like Thanksgiving. Wine is a taste of the harvest along with all the delicious dishes on the table. But actually choosing a bottle can feel like a thankless task, especially with so many flavours to match. Relax. Have a drink. And try some of my suggestions for great wines to pair with Thanksgiving turkey and all the trimmings that Leanne and I chat about in the video above. You can also watch our first video on fall wines here. In my free online matching tool, you can click on “turkey holiday dinner” […]
