Welcome back everybody. We’re all familiar with wines like Chardonnay and Merlot but there are so many lesser-known grapes out there to discover! Here to highlight vineyard vanguards to sip this spring is Natalie MacLean who offers Canada’s most popular online food and wine pairing classes. Welcome back, Natalie! Natalie, before we get to the wine, congratulations are in order because you were selected as the 2024 Canada Wine Champion Award! It’s presented to an individual who has demonstrated outstanding leadership, commitment and passion for the advancement of the Canadian wine industry. Today we’re […]
Wine Picks
Raise a Glass to Red, White and True North Strong Canadian Wines & Whiskies
American wines and spirits are off liquor store shelves due to the ongoing U.S. tariff disputes. What do you do if you’re missing your favourite California Cabernet or Kentucky Bourbon? Our next guest has you covered. Joining us today is Natalie MacLean who offers Canada’s most popular wine review site at nataliemaclean.com. Welcome, Natalie. Great to be back with you! I’m excited to share with you some Team Canada picks for red, white and booze! Not only is the quality of these drinks superb, but the industry also injects $20 billion into […]
Uncork Spring Splendour in Your Glass: Rosé All Day!
Is there any happier sign of spring than Rosé in your glass? Here to tell us which ones we should try, is Natalie MacLean who offers Canada’s most popular online wine pairing classes at nataliemaclean.com. Welcome back, Natalie. Great to be back with you, Meredith! Okay, on to Rosé! Why is it exploding in popularity? Rosé is packed with flavour and food versatility but not the heavy oak or alcohol of big red wines or even in some whites that have you falling asleep on the sofa at 7 pm. It’s time to lighten up our […]
6 Best Spring Wines for Sipping and Drinking (Video)
Mel As the weather warms up, it’s not just our wardrobes that need a seasonal update, our taste buds crave change too. So cast off those woolly-sweater wines and sip on something light, fresh and new. Here with the wine trends to look out for this spring is Natalie MacLean, who offers Canada’s most popular online wine classes. • Natalie Hello Lainey We’re starting with a trend that I’m really excited about, Pink Prosecco. Why are they so popular right now? Natalie • Take two already trendy wines—rosé and prosecco—and combine them for a mashup of this season’s […]
6 Sensational Wines to Toast National Drink Wine Day
Canada may have been built on beer and whisky, but on National Drink Wine Day, let’s raise a glass to wine. It’s become the drink of choice for many, so we’re going to uncork some fascinating facts about this ancient beverage that dates back more than 8,000 years. Joining us today is Natalie MacLean, editor Canada’s most popular wine review site at nataliemaclean.com. Welcome, Natalie. Great to be back with you! Natalie, you’re going to put me to the test today. For each wine we taste, you’ll share a fact or fiction about wine generally. […]
CTV National News Update on the Dry January Trend
On CTV’s National News, we discuss the growing trend called Dry-ish January for those who want to either moderate or eliminate their alcohol consumption. Joining us today is Natalie MacLean who offers Canada’s most popular online wine classes at nataliemaclean.com. How big is this trend? Market research shows that 46% of Gen Z participated in Dry January last year, with Millennials and Gen X at about 20%. Even more are choosing “Dry-ish” or “Damp” January with low alcohol wines. A whopping 94% of those who buy alcohol-free wines also buy traditional wines. This category is […]
Vines with Values: Wines That Taste Good and Do Good
On The Social, Canada’s largest daytime show, we chat about how we, as consumers can make an impact with our wine purchases. If wine is on your gift list, you can shop with intention since many wineries are prioritizing sustainability and community support. Here to highlight wines that taste good and do good is Natalie MacLean who offers Canada’s most popular online wine classes! Welcome back to the show! Welcome, Natalie. Great to be back with you! I think of these wines as drinking with a conscience — we get to feel virtuous and tipsy at the […]
Holiday Spirits: How to Choose a Great Gift Bottle
‘Tis the season for holiday gift giving. What if you’d like to give someone a bottle of wine or spirits? How do you know which one to choose? Here to help us with that is Natalie MacLean, who offers Canada’s most popular online wine classes at nataliemaclean.com Welcome back, Natalie. So if choosing the right bottle is so tricky, why should we give wine or spirits as a gift at all? When you give the gift of wine or spirits, doubles are fine unlike toaster ovens, there are no wrong sizes unlike that ugly sweater […]
How Much do you Know About Champagne? Take the Pop Quiz
Got your champagne ready for New Year’s? Here are my Top 20 Champagnes to celebrate the New Year and which stores have them in stock now. Take the Pop Quiz below and you’ll have some trivia to drop this evening as you celebrate the New Year! Pop Quiz 1. Is all sparkling wine champagne? No. Only sparkling wine from the Champagne region of France may be called Champagne. It’s a trademarked word. 2. Before the modern era of product placement in movies, which Champagne was the favourite of James Bond? Bollinger or as Bond would call it, Bolly. That was also in […]
Game Snack Match: 4 Perfect Pairings for Game Night Nibbles
Click on the image above to play the video It’s easy to pair a gourmet meal with wine, but what about our favourite game snacks? Here to help us is Natalie MacLean who offers Canada’s most popular online wine classes at nataliemaclean.com. Welcome Natalie. Great to be back with you! We’re going to drink outside the box with these unusual but delicious pairings. Sounds good! We’re starting with popcorn – got a wine for that? Yes, what would be better with popcorn than Bread & Butter?! Bread & Butter Pinot Grigio California, […]
