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 […]
Wine Ratings
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 […]
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 […]
Toast to the Season: Choosing Wines for Every Celebration
‘Tis the season for holiday gift giving. What if you’d like to give someone a bottle of wine? 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, doubles are fine unlike toaster ovens, there are no wrong sizes unlike that ugly sweater and regifting is so much easier compared […]
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, […]
10 Best Cabernet Franc Wines to Buy Now + 5 Surprising Facts about Cabernet Franc
Cabernet Franc is one of the five grapes in Bordeaux blends, along with Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Malbec and Petit Verdot. You’ll find my top 10 Cabernet Franc reviews and ratings here. 5 Surprising Facts about Cabernet Franc: 1. Cabernet Franc is a thin-skinned, early-ripening grape with a lighter body and acidity than the robust Cabernet Sauvignon, but is more susceptible to spring frosts. 2. Cabernet Franc, along with Sauvignon Blanc, is actually one of the genetic parents of Cabernet Sauvignon. 3. In France, which boasts the most vineyard acreage of Cabernet Franc in the world, several regions […]
