Introduction Why is the Daiquiri with just rum, lime and sugar used as a litmus test to see if a bartender is capable of making a decent drink? What is oleo saccharum and why is it a gorgeous way to sweeten sophisticated cocktails? What is tepeche and why do fermenting pineapples make a delicious cocktail? In this episode of the Unreserved Wine Talk podcast, I’m chatting with Kaitlyn Stewart, author of Three Cheers: Cocktails Three Ways: Classics, Riffs, and Zero-Proof Sips. You can find the wines we discussed here. Giveaway Three of you are going to win a copy […]
Best Wines
How Does It Feel Competing Against The World’s Best Bartenders Making Six Cocktails in Six Minutes in Front of a Large Audience?
Introduction How does it feel competing against the world’s best bartenders making six cocktails in six minutes in front of a large audience? How can bartending become a form of storytelling instead of simply making drinks? How did the Mojito begin as a 16th-century medical remedy? In this episode of the Unreserved Wine Talk podcast, I’m chatting with Kaitlyn Stewart, the first Canadian to win the prestigious title of World Class Bartender of the Year and author of the book, Three Cheers: Cocktails Three Ways: Classics, Riffs, and Zero-Proof Sips. You can find the wines we discussed here. Giveaway […]
Travel the World One Glass at a Time with These 5 Wines
Travel costs are climbing, so today we’re taking a trip that needs no suitcase. We’re turning our kitchen counter into a world tour, one glass at a time. Who better to help us than our favourite drinks expert Natalie MacLean, editor Canada’s largest drinks site at nataliemaclean.com. Welcome, Natalie. Thank you for flying with me today! I’ll be your captain and sommelier for this taste bud trip that has no gate changes, nobody has given one person with a scanner god-like authority and no middle seat guy snoring on your shoulder. The only turbulence is deciding […]
How Did One Decision Trigger Sherry’s Decline From Britain’s Favourite Drink?
Introduction How did a single decision trigger Sherry’s decline from Britain’s favourite drink? What would it take for Sherry to make a comeback after decades of decline? How can you make the most out of your trip to the Sherry region of Spain? In this episode of the Unreserved Wine Talk podcast, I’m chatting with Ben Howkins, author of a new book on Sherry. You can find the wines we discussed here. Giveaway Two of you are going to win a copy of Ben Howkin’s terrific book, Sherry: Maligned, Misunderstood, Magnificent! How to Win To qualify, all you have […]
How Does The Solera System Give Every Glass Of Sherry Centuries Of History?
Introduction How does the Solera system give every glass of sherry centuries of history? How does Sherry’s “second terroir” shape the wine just as much as the vineyard itself? Why should every great wine cellar have mature, dry Sherry? In this episode of the Unreserved Wine Talk podcast, I’m chatting with Ben Howkins, who has just published a new book on Sherry. You can find the wines we discussed here. Giveaway Two of you are going to win a copy of Ben Howkin’s terrific book, Sherry: Maligned, Misunderstood, Magnificent! How to Win To qualify, all you have to […]
Can Bordeaux Reinvent Itself? How One of Wine’s Greatest Regions is Adapting to a Changing World
Introduction Can Bordeaux adapt to changing wine tastes without losing its identity? Bordeaux is pulling up thousands of hectares of vines because of overproduction. How does Mouton Cadet’s model offer a way out for some wine growers? How are modern Bordeaux producers, like Mouton Cadet, creating wines with more energy, smoothness, and drinkability for today’s consumers? In this episode of the Unreserved Wine Talk podcast, I’m chatting with Véronique Hombroekx, the Managing Director for the Mouton Cadet Brand and Jérôme Aguirre, Director, Mouton Cadet Wines, about their Fair for Life program. You can find the wines we discussed here. Join […]
How do Canada’s ancient volcanoes, limestone escarpments and massive tides shape our wine?
Welcome back, everyone! From the ocean breezes of Nova Scotia to the valleys of British Columbia and the vineyards of Niagara, Canada’s wine regions are as diverse as the wines they produce. Joining us to explore how geography shapes flavour from coast to coast to coast is the editor of Canada’s largest wine review website, Natalie MacLean! Welcome back to the show! Before we dive into the wines, give us the big picture. What are some of the key landscapes that shape Canadian wine regions. This is my favourite kind of geography lesson: the map is […]
Why did Mouton Cadet, Bordeaux, decide that sustainability needed to include people, not just the environment?
Introduction Why did the Bordeaux wine Mouton Cadet decide that sustainability needed to include people, not just the environment? Why is the Fair for Life certification that’s focused on people, community, and respect the environment a perfect fit for Mouton Cadet? What does it mean to create trust with more than 100 grape growers that lasts for generations? In this episode of the Unreserved Wine Talk podcast, I’m chatting with Véronique Hombroekx, the Managing Director for the Mouton Cadet Brand and Jérôme Aguirre, Director, Mouton Cadet Wines, about their Fair for Life program. You can find the wines we discussed […]
What are 4 terrific wines to celebrate Canada Day?
Canada Day is almost here, and what better way to celebrate than with a glass of something truly Canadian. Who better to help us than Natalie MacLean, editor Canada’s largest wine review site at nataliemaclean.com. Welcome, Natalie. Great to be back with you! And what a week to raise a glass. Let’s start on the East Coast. Nova Scotia has been making a name for itself as a wine region. What makes it special? Benjamin Bridge Nova 7 Gaspereau Valley, Nova Scotia, Canada Nova Scotia’s Atlantic coastline is […]
Can You Get Wine From Coast to Coast for Canada Day? Yes and No
Canada Day is almost here. For the first time, some provinces are shipping wine to each other directly. Joining us for an update and a few BC bottles to celebrate is editor of the country’s largest wine review site at nataliemaclean.com. Welcome, Natalie. Great to be back with you! You know, for years Canadians couldn’t ship wine across provincial borders, but this year, some of those barriers are finally coming down. What we have is a patchwork. Ontario and Nova Scotia now have a deal to ship to each other as do Alberta and BC. But […]
