Introduction How can Romania have one of Europe’s largest vineyard areas and a winemaking history stretching back thousands of years, yet remain relatively unknown internationally? How did communist rule transform Romania’s once-celebrated wine industry? How does Romania’s geography create such diverse wine-growing conditions? In this episode of the Unreserved Wine Talk podcast, I’m chatting with Anne-Wies Van Oosten. You can find the wines we discussed here. Giveaway Three of you are going to win a copy of Anne-Wies Van Oosten’s terrific book, Romanian Wines Uncorked: Your Insider’s Guide to Exploring Romanian Wines. How to Win To qualify, all you have […]
Wine Tasting Notes
How do you pair 1 cheese with many drinks on your holiday table?
Holiday guests are on their way. Can one cheese handle every drink on the table? Here to help us is Natalie MacLean, editor of Canada’s largest drinks review site at nataliemaclean.com. Welcome, Natalie. Great to be back with you! I brought one cheese and three drinks today, which is the first time I’ve ever packed this light. Canadian Reserve Gouda This is the new Canadian Reserve Gouda. It has just arrived in grocery stores. It’s proudly made in Canada by master cheesemakers. Each package features an etched drawing of an iconic Canadian animal. […]
Why is sake a better match for fish and certain cheeses than wine?
Introduction How have wineries helped rebuild communities devastated by natural disasters? Why do Japanese vineyards often grow grapes overhead on pergolas instead of traditional trellises? Why is sake a better match for fish and certain cheeses than wine? In this episode of the Unreserved Wine Talk podcast, I’m chatting with Nick Rowan 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 Wednesday at 7 pm eastern on Instagram Live Video, Facebook Live Video or YouTube Live Video. I’ll be jumping into the comments […]
What would surprise you about Japanese wine? Nick Rowan shares an intriguing piece of history
Introduction What would surprise you about Japanese wine? How has climate change transformed Japan’s once-frigid Hokkaido into one of its most promising wine regions? How did a chance encounter in a Japanese wine bar lead to a winemaker rediscovering a wine he’d almost forgotten making? How did a 13-year-old samurai smuggled out of Japan become California’s celebrated Wine King? In this episode of the Unreserved Wine Talk podcast, I’m chatting with Nick Rowan. 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 Wednesday at […]
How do 3 wines from 3 provinces make Come Over October easy?
A new movement is making waves across the country. Put down the devices, get away from the screens and connect with others. Not by text or FaceTime—we’re talking face-to-face, real-time conversation. Natalie MacLean, editor of Canada’s largest drinks review site at nataliemaclean.com, joins us to talk about Come Over October. Good afternoon! Let’s talk about the concept of Come Over October… We see each other less than we once did. In 1986, nearly half of us saw a friend on any given day. Today, it’s fewer than one in five of us. Just like […]
Why does a Manhattan cocktail and a hamburger make an insanely great pairing?
Introduction Why does a Manhattan cocktail and a hamburger make an insanely great pairing? Can strongly brewed black tea really scratch the itch for whiskey in a non-alcoholic Old Fashioned? How did the arrival of drinking straws make new types of cocktails possible? In this episode of the Unreserved Wine Talk podcast, I’m chatting with Kara Newman, the author of eight cocktail books. You can find the wines we discussed here. Giveaway Three of you are going to win a copy of one of Kara Newman’s terrific drink decks. How to Win To qualify, all you have to […]
Which 3 B.C. wines should you pour for Come Over October?
Come Over October: Pull Up a Chair This month, Wine Growers Canada is inviting us to put down our screens and pull up a chair. It’s called Come Over October. The idea is simple. Open your door, make room for one more, and share a glass with the people around you. Who better to help us than drinks expert Natalie MacLean, editor of Canada’s largest wine review site at nataliemaclean.com. Welcome, Natalie. Great to be with you, Mona! Come Over October is a simple idea. Invite someone over, open your door, and open a […]
Which 3 drinks, 3 friends & 3 chairs for Come Over October?
Pull Up a Chair for Friendsgiving Thanksgiving is this weekend, but it’s also Friendsgiving and Come Over October. Come Over October is a global movement that’s changing how we gather. It invites us to break free from scrolling on our phones and rediscover the magic of real connection, by having the people who matter most come over. Here to help us with who we should invite and what to pour is Natalie MacLean, editor of Canada’s largest drinks review site at nataliemaclean.com. Welcome, Natalie. Great to be back with you! Friendsgiving is Thanksgiving without […]
How is the new Canadian sparkling wine, Fracette, poised to take on Champagne, Prosecco and Cava? John Boynton, CEO of Arterra Wines, reveals the strategy
Introduction France has Champagne. Italy has Prosecco. Spain has Cava. So what’s the new Canadian sparkling wine style that’s just launched? Will Canadians remain loyal to domestic wines once American wines return to store shelves? Is the wine industry making a costly mistake by assuming young drinkers will turn to wine as their incomes grow? How could boxed wine change the way you think about buying and enjoying wine at home? In this episode of the Unreserved Wine Talk podcast, I’m chatting with John Boynton, CEO of Arterra Wines Canada. You can find the wines we discussed here. Join […]
Which 4 toasts and wines will make your Thanksgiving table cheer?
The Grateful Toast Thanksgiving is the one dinner of the year where someone is expected to stand up and give a toast. Most of us mumble something into our glass and sit back down. Who better to help us than the toastess with the mostest, Natalie MacLean, editor of Canada’s largest wine review site at nataliemaclean.com. Welcome, Natalie. Great to be back with you! Thanksgiving is the one dinner of the year where the speech has more critics than the turkey. Not to worry though because I have a toast for every pour. Borrow […]
