Valentine’s Day is this Sunday, but what if you’re flying solo or want to celebrate the bonds that really last? Well, there’s a special day for you too. It’s called Galentine’s Day and it’s this Friday, February 13th. Who better to help us than Natalie MacLean, editor of Canada’s largest wine review site at nataliemaclean.com. Welcome, Natalie. Great to be back with you! You know, I always say that friends are the family you choose so let’s raise a glass to them! Love it! So tell us, what exactly is Galentine’s Day? It’s one of […]
Best Wines
Why is Your Taste in Wine as Individual as Your Fingerprint? Jordan Salcito Shares the Story
Introduction Why did this author start the book with tasting, rather than history, regions or grapes? Was that because you wanted to get right into the sensory experience, rather than maybe some of the drier knowledge? Why is your experience of what tastes good as personal as a fingerprint? When it comes to wine, what do you mean by structure? Why are these important, these structural components? Do you think they matter more than identifying that, that wine’s from Burgundy, that wine’s from Bordeaux? In this episode of the Unreserved Wine Talk podcast, I’m chatting with Jordan Salcito, author of […]
What are 5 Sensual Words in the Love Language of Wine?
On The Social, Canada’s largest daytime show, we chat about wine and romance. It’s a perfect pairing! Whether you’re planning a special Valentine’s Day celebration or just want to add some spark to date night, wine can help set the mood. But which wines should you choose? And what exactly do all those sensual wine terms mean? Joining us today is Natalie MacLean who offers Canada’s most popular online wine classes at nataliemaclean.com. Welcome, Natalie. Great to be back with you! Wine is all about seducing our senses and imagination. Some of the compounds that give […]
Best LCBO Wine Reviews: Vintages Ratings: February 7, 2026
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 January 24th 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 […]
What Makes a Wine Feel Soulful? Jordan Salcito Shares the Secret in Smart Mouth: Wine Essentials for You, Me, & Everyone We Know
Introduction What makes a wine feel soulful, transporting you beyond taste into a deeper emotional connection? What does experiencing harvest firsthand reveal about winemaking that never show up in books? What makes Northern Rhône Syrah come across as black peppery, smoky, and reminiscent of pastrami? In this episode of the Unreserved Wine Talk podcast, I’m chatting with Jordan Salcito who has published Smart Mouth: Wine Essentials for You, Me, & Everyone We Know, which was just selected as one of the best wine books of the year by the New York Times. You can find the wines we discussed here. […]
Which 8 Drinks Are Essential for Dry-ish January and Year Round?
January is when many of us try to cut back on alcohol after holiday indulgences. It is the month when calendars are clean, intentions are pure, and the recycling bin is still judging us quietly from the curb. So today we’re building the ultimate Dry January Survival Kit, with low- and no-alcohol options. Who better to help us than our favourite drinks expert Natalie MacLean, editor of Canada’s largest drinks review site at nataliemaclean.com. Welcome, Natalie. Great to be back with you! As we put together a collection of foolproof low-proof drinks, we’re going to play […]
How Do You Create A Successful International Wine Brand? Nam Stanley Tells The Story of Solicantus
Introduction What goes into creating a successful international wine brand that tells a story before the bottle is even opened? What does it look like to build a young wine brand vintage by vintage? What makes Bordeaux such a hard place to break into as an outsider? In this episode of the Unreserved Wine Talk podcast, I’m chatting with Namratha Stanley, author of the new memoir Vineyard Melody. You can find the wines we discussed here. Giveaway Three of you are going to win a copy of Namratha Stanley’s terrific new book, Vineyard Melody: How One Woman Rebuilt Her Life, […]
Best LCBO Wine Reviews: Vintages Ratings: January 24, 2026
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 January 10th 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 […]
How is Namratha’s “Vineyard Melody” memoir the wine version of Eat, Pray, Love?
Introduction How can a wine story rooted in darkness leave you feeling hopeful about your life? Why is France such a symbol of freedom, possibility and reinvention for her? How can discovering France through art, cinema, and wine become an escape into a completely different world? In this episode of the Unreserved Wine Talk podcast, I’m chatting with Namratha Stanley, author of Vineyard Melody: How One Woman Rebuilt Her Life, One Grape At A Time. You can find the wines we discussed here. Giveaway Three of you are going to win a copy of Namratha Stanely’s terrific new book, Vineyard Melody: […]
Why Do Some Non-Alcoholic Wines Keep Their Fruity Aromas While Others Lose Everything?
Introduction How did winemakers first figure out how to remove alcohol from wine without destroying it? Why is it so difficult to perfect the flavours and aromas in wine once the alcohol is removed? Why do some non-alcoholic wines keep their fruity aromas while others seem to lose everything? In this episode of the Unreserved Wine Talk podcast, I’m chatting with Dr Wes Pearson, a senior research scientist at the Australian Wine Research Institute in Adelaide. You can find the wines we discussed here. Join me on Instagram, Facebook and YouTube Live Video Join the live-stream video of this conversation on […]
