Introduction Why is the Daiquiri with just rum, lime and sugar used as a litmus test to see if a bartender is capable of making a decent drink? What is oleo saccharum and why is it a gorgeous way to sweeten sophisticated cocktails? What is tepeche and why do fermenting pineapples make a delicious cocktail? In this episode of the Unreserved Wine Talk podcast, I’m chatting with Kaitlyn Stewart, author of Three Cheers: Cocktails Three Ways: Classics, Riffs, and Zero-Proof Sips. You can find the wines we discussed here. Giveaway Three of you are going to win a copy […]
Books and Wine
How Does It Feel Competing Against The World’s Best Bartenders Making Six Cocktails in Six Minutes in Front of a Large Audience?
Introduction How does it feel competing against the world’s best bartenders making six cocktails in six minutes in front of a large audience? How can bartending become a form of storytelling instead of simply making drinks? How did the Mojito begin as a 16th-century medical remedy? In this episode of the Unreserved Wine Talk podcast, I’m chatting with Kaitlyn Stewart, the first Canadian to win the prestigious title of World Class Bartender of the Year and author of the book, Three Cheers: Cocktails Three Ways: Classics, Riffs, and Zero-Proof Sips. You can find the wines we discussed here. Giveaway […]
How Did One Decision Trigger Sherry’s Decline From Britain’s Favourite Drink?
Introduction How did a single decision trigger Sherry’s decline from Britain’s favourite drink? What would it take for Sherry to make a comeback after decades of decline? How can you make the most out of your trip to the Sherry region of Spain? In this episode of the Unreserved Wine Talk podcast, I’m chatting with Ben Howkins, author of a new book on Sherry. You can find the wines we discussed here. Giveaway Two of you are going to win a copy of Ben Howkin’s terrific book, Sherry: Maligned, Misunderstood, Magnificent! How to Win To qualify, all you have […]
How Does The Solera System Give Every Glass Of Sherry Centuries Of History?
Introduction How does the Solera system give every glass of sherry centuries of history? How does Sherry’s “second terroir” shape the wine just as much as the vineyard itself? Why should every great wine cellar have mature, dry Sherry? In this episode of the Unreserved Wine Talk podcast, I’m chatting with Ben Howkins, who has just published a new book on Sherry. You can find the wines we discussed here. Giveaway Two of you are going to win a copy of Ben Howkin’s terrific book, Sherry: Maligned, Misunderstood, Magnificent! How to Win To qualify, all you have to […]
Can Bordeaux Reinvent Itself? How One of Wine’s Greatest Regions is Adapting to a Changing World
Introduction Can Bordeaux adapt to changing wine tastes without losing its identity? Bordeaux is pulling up thousands of hectares of vines because of overproduction. How does Mouton Cadet’s model offer a way out for some wine growers? How are modern Bordeaux producers, like Mouton Cadet, creating wines with more energy, smoothness, and drinkability for today’s consumers? In this episode of the Unreserved Wine Talk podcast, I’m chatting with Véronique Hombroekx, the Managing Director for the Mouton Cadet Brand and Jérôme Aguirre, Director, Mouton Cadet Wines, about their Fair for Life program. You can find the wines we discussed here. Join […]
Why did Mouton Cadet, Bordeaux, decide that sustainability needed to include people, not just the environment?
Introduction Why did the Bordeaux wine Mouton Cadet decide that sustainability needed to include people, not just the environment? Why is the Fair for Life certification that’s focused on people, community, and respect the environment a perfect fit for Mouton Cadet? What does it mean to create trust with more than 100 grape growers that lasts for generations? In this episode of the Unreserved Wine Talk podcast, I’m chatting with Véronique Hombroekx, the Managing Director for the Mouton Cadet Brand and Jérôme Aguirre, Director, Mouton Cadet Wines, about their Fair for Life program. You can find the wines we discussed […]
Soil, Soul, and the Sacred Cup: Wine in the Hebrew Bible and New Testament with Mark Scarlata
Introduction How did wine transform biblical meals into symbols of the covenant in the ancient world? Why did overflowing vineyards and giant clusters of grapes become such powerful symbols of the Promised Land? Why did religious leaders label Jesus a glutton, a drunkard, and a friend of sinners? In this episode of the Unreserved Wine Talk podcast, I’m chatting with Professor Mark Scarlata, author of Wine, Soil, and Salvation in the Hebrew Bible and the New Testament. You can find the wines we discussed here. Join me on Instagram, Facebook and YouTube Live Video Join the live-stream video of this […]
Why does wine play a central role in the Bible and our culture, symbolizing abundance and joy, and not other food or drink? Dr. Mark Scarlata shares the story
Introduction How does biking through wine country help you better understand the wines? Why has wine held a unique place in the Bible and our culture when so many other foods like milk, olive oil, honey, dates, and pomegranates symbolize abundance and blessing? How do the aromas and complexity of wine create such deep connections to memory in the brain? Why do so many people feel disconnected in modern life despite being more connected than ever? In this episode of the Unreserved Wine Talk podcast, I’m chatting with Professor Mark Scarlata, author of the new book Wine, Soil, and Salvation […]
What makes a well-made Mint Julep Cocktail much more complex than you expect? James Chatto reveals the secret
Introduction What makes a properly made mint julep much more complex than people expect? How did an Indian revolutionary leader end up creating one of Japan’s most famous curry recipes? How did a recipe collected during a 1930s concert tour in Indonesia become the legendary Queen Mother’s Cake, different from every other chocolate cake you’ve ever had? In this episode of the Unreserved Wine Talk podcast, I’m chatting with James Chatto, co-author of the terrific new book Acquired Tastes: The Lives and Recipes of Eight Culinary Ambassadors. You can find the wines we discussed here. Giveaway Three of you are […]
Acquired Tastes: The Lives and Recipes of Eight Culinary Ambassadors with James Chatto
Introduction What did lasagna taste like in Renaissance Italy before tomatoes and ragù became standard? Why are some of Thailand’s most iconic royal desserts rooted in Portuguese convent recipes? How did a chance conversation at dinner unexpectedly unlock hidden pieces of food history? In this episode of the Unreserved Wine Talk podcast, I’m chatting with James Chatto, co-author of the terrific new book Acquired Tastes: The Lives and Recipes of Eight Culinary Ambassadors. You can find the wines we discussed here. Giveaway Three of you are going to win a copy of James Chatto’s new book, Acquired Tastes: The Lives […]
