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 […]
Books and Wine
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 […]
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 […]
How can a bottle of wine become the invitation for Come Over October? John Boynton, CEO of Arterra Wines Canada, shares his insights
Introduction How can a bottle of wine become the invitation, slow down the moment, and create space for real conversation? Why does the wine industry need to look beyond wine itself to win back consumers? How can wine become more relevant to younger consumers? In this episode of the Unreserved Wine Talk podcast, I’m chatting with John Boynton 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 […]
How can two rums taste completely different even though they’re both made from sugar cane? Kara Newman reveals the secret
Introduction How can two rums taste completely different even though they’re both made from sugar cane? What makes Jamaican rum so famously funky, and what does a dunder pit have to do with it? How does the type of ice you use change the strength, temperature, and texture of a cocktail? 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 One of you is going to win a copy of one of Kara Newman’s The Cocktail Cabinet. How to […]
How are modern whisky makers using blending to capture emotions and experiences?
Introduction How does smoking whisky grains with elephant dung translate into flavours like raspberry and sandalwood? What does the saying “you can’t turn a donkey into a racehorse” reveal about making great whisky? How are modern whisky makers using blending to capture emotions and experiences? In this episode of the Unreserved Wine Talk podcast, I’m chatting with Kristiane Westray. You can find the wines we discussed here. Giveaway Three of you are going to win a copy of Kristiane Westray’s terrific book, Savour. How to Win To qualify, all you have to do is email me at [email protected] and let […]
In “Savour,” Kristiane Westray reveals: Is smelling whisky different from smelling a glass of wine?
Introduction Is smelling or nosing whisky different from smelling a glass of wine? How did a 1960s marketing campaign convince generations of whisky drinkers that single malt was better than blended whisky? What is it like to step inside a working whisky kiln and experience peat smoke firsthand? In this episode of the Unreserved Wine Talk podcast, I’m chatting with Kristiane Westray, author of Savour: A Guide To Tasting and Exploring Whiskies of the World. You can find the wines we discussed here. Giveaway Three of you are going to win a copy of Kristiane Westray’s terrific book, Savour: A […]
How Did The Launch of the Super Premium Rosé Whispering Angel from Château D’esclans Change Provence?
Introduction How did Sacha Lichine’s launch of Garrus and Whispering Angel from Château d’Esclans, which now exceeds 10 million bottles a year change Provence? What happens to a wine region when historic family estates are increasingly bought by wealthy outsiders and corporations? How can classifying wine by colour get in the way of understanding what’s actually in the glass? In this episode of the Unreserved Wine Talk podcast, I’m chatting with Liz Gabay and Ben Bernheim. You can find the wines we discussed here. Giveaway Two of you are going to win a copy of Liz Gabay and Ben […]
Why Has Rosé Wine Struggled To Be Taken Seriously By Professionals Despite Its Popularity With Consumers?
Introduction How is Provence far more diverse as a wine region than just Rosé? Why has Rosé struggled to be taken seriously by wine professionals despite its enormous popularity with consumers? Does Provence make the best Rosé in the world or simply the best Rosé in its style? In this episode of the Unreserved Wine Talk podcast, I’m chatting with Liz Gabay and Ben Bernheim. You can find the wines we discussed here. Giveaway Two of you are going to win a copy of Liz Gabay and Ben Bernheim’s terrific book, The Wines of Provence. How to Win To […]
What’s the difference between a lean wine and one that’s thin? Maryse Chevriere on How to Sound Wine Smart
Introduction What’s the difference between a wine that’s lean and one that’s thin? Why is asking for a “smooth” wine one of the least helpful ways to describe what you actually want? What’s the fastest way to learn more about wine without feeling intimidated? In this episode of the Unreserved Wine Talk podcast, I’m chatting with Maryse Chevriere, author of the terrific new book, How to Sound Wine Smart. You can find the wines we discussed here. Giveaway Three of you are going to win a copy of Maryse Chevriere’s terrific book, How to Sound Wine Smart: An Illustrated […]