As winter settles in and temperatures drop, many of us reach for a cozy blanket and a comforting glass of wine. But what makes a wine a winter warmer? Today we’re exploring the art of choosing wines that warm you from the inside out, perfect for cold weather gatherings or quiet nights by the fire. Who better to help us than Natalie MacLean, editor Canada’s largest wine review site at nataliemaclean.com. Can you start by explaining what are the characteristics of a warming wine? Baby, it’s cold outside, so you’ll want winter warmers have four […]
Wine Ratings
Make Your Holidays Merry with These 5 Festive Wines and Spirits
‘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 and regifting […]
Fashion Meets Fermentation: Which 5 Drinks Pair Best with Your Closet?
Welcome back! Winter is here, and we’re doing something a little different today. We’re pairing drinks with your winter wardrobe. Who better to help us than our favourite drinks expert Natalie MacLean, editor Canada’s largest wine review site at nataliemaclean.com. Welcome, Natalie. Great to be back with you! Fashion meets fermentation today – we’re matching the textures of your favourite winter pieces with the sips of the season. Wine is like fashion for your taste buds. Some days you want bold and structured, other days you want soft and flowing. And some days you want […]
Toast to Dad: Perfect Father’s Day Wine and Book Gifts
Father’s Day is Sunday, so why not toast Dad with wines that not only pair well grilled favourites, but also with some terrific new books? Here with her tips is Natalie MacLean who offers Canada’s most popular online wine and food pairing classes at nataliemaclean.com. Welcome Natalie. Great to be with you, Crystal! What are you recommending first? I have Farmhouse Vegetables: A Vegetable-Forward Cookbook by the award-winning chef Michael Smith from PEI. This collection of vibrant recipes is inspired by the culinary bounty of his farm at the Inn at Bay […]
Which Wine Matches Your Mom’s Personality? A Mother’s Day Tasting Guide
Mother’s Day is this Sunday, and what better way to toast these important women than with wines to match their unique personalities? And who better to help us than our favourite drinks expert Natalie MacLean, editor Canada’s largest wine review site at nataliemaclean.com. Welcome, Natalie. Great to be back with you, Dina and Tim! Picking the right wine for your mom is like finding the perfect Mother’s Day card — personal, heartfelt, but not homemade – at least when it comes to wine. If you truly love your mother, please don’t do that! […]
Eggs, Ham, and a Dram: Which Wines & Whiskies to Pour for Easter?
Just in time for Easter and Passover we’re going to crack open some common wine and whisky myths. And who better to lead our eggs-pedition than our favourite drinks expert Natalie MacLean, editor of Canada’s largest wine review site at nataliemaclean.com. Welcome, Natalie. Dina and Tim, as the Mad Natter, I’m egg-cited to hop into this topic with you! Clearly, the yolk’s on us for this episode 😉 Great! Where are we starting? Many of us will be enjoying an Easter brunch of omelettes or quiche. So myth number 1 is that eggs […]
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 […]
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 […]
