Riesling’s Big Personality and Germany’s Hidden Wine Gems with Anne Krebiehl

Introduction How do the soils of Germany change the expression of Riesling in your glass? What would surprise you about the size and of German wine production in relation to other leading wine-producing countries? How is climate change dramatically changing the way Germany cultivates vines? In this episode of the Unreserved Wine Talk podcast, I’m chatting with author Anne Krebiehl. You can find the wines we discussed here.   Giveaway One of you will win a copy of Anne Krebiehl’s terrific book, The Wines of Germany.   How to Win To qualify, all you have to do is email me at [email protected] and let […]

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Untangling German Wine Styles, Laws and Mysteries with Anne Krebiehl, Author of The Wines of Germany

Introduction Why has German beer been so much more successful marketing-wise than German wine in foreign markets, particularly in the U.K. and North America? How does German law make it complex to navigate the country’s wines for consumers? What is selective harvesting, and why is it fundamental to understanding German wine? In this episode of the Unreserved Wine Talk podcast, I’m chatting with author Anne Krebiehl. You can find the wines we discussed here.   Giveaway One of you will win a copy of Anne Krebiehl’s terrific book, The Wines of Germany.   How to Win To qualify, all you […]

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How Pigs, Sheep and Bats Help in the Vineyard with Wine Writer Sophie Menin

Introduction Why are pigs roaming up and down the rows of more and more vineyards? Do biodynamic preparations really help vineyards by treating them more holistically or is this junk science? How does fog help vineyards, especially in Napa and Sonoma? In this episode of the Unreserved Wine Talk podcast, I’m chatting with author Sophie Menin. You can find the wines we discussed here.   Giveaway Three of you will win a copy of Sophie Menin and Bob Chaplin’s terrific new book, A Year In The Vineyard.   How to Win To qualify, all you have to do is email me […]

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The Pitfalls and Pleasures of Being a Working Mom in the Wine Industry

  Editor’s Note: You’ll find more media coverage for the book here.   Looking for a sizzling summer read? In her new memoir, Wine Witch on Fire: Rising from the Ashes of Divorce, Defamation, and Drinking Too Much, Natalie MacLean writes about resurrecting her life and career in the glamourous but sexist wine industry. The book has just become a national bestseller. Welcome Natalie.   So what is the book about? Wine Witch on Fire: Rising from the Ashes of Divorce, Defamation, and Drinking Too Much starts with my shock when my husband of twenty years demands a divorce. My year gets […]

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Why Wine Growing is a Nail-Biter Experience with Sophie Menin, Co-Author of a Year in the Vineyard

Introduction Why do many wineries plant roses at the end of each vine row? What does bee activity tell you about a vineyard? What does it mean for winemakers to have an “aesthetic vision”? In this episode of the Unreserved Wine Talk podcast, I’m chatting with author Sophie Menin. You can find the wines we discussed here.   Giveaway Three of you will win a copy of Sophie Menin and Bob Chaplin’s terrific new book A Year In The Vineyard.   How to Win To qualify, all you have to do is email me at [email protected] and let me know that you’ve posted […]

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Pairing Quebec and Nova Scotia Wine with Books (Video)

We’re back with more Canadian books and bottles to help you celebrate your long weekend. You can watch our previous segment with BC and Ontario books and wines here. Natalie, you’re starting with Quebec. What do you recommend?   I have a zesty sparkling wine from Domaine Pelchat in Quebec’s Eastern Townships, with aromas of freshly baked bread and green apples. Domaine Pelchat Lemaître-Auger La Noce Sparkling Wine Quebec, Canada It would pair well with shellfish, spicy dishes and La Belle Bête (Mad Shadows), written by Marie-Claire Blais when she was just twenty years old.         It […]

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Why Wildfire Smoke Taint in Wine Intensifies as it Ages with Dr. Wes Zandberg

Introduction Should we, as consumers, be concerned about buying wines from regions which have experienced wildfires? Why does smoke taint intensify as a wine ages? How can wineries mitigate the risk of producing smoke-tainted wine? In this episode of the Unreserved Wine Talk podcast, I’m chatting with researcher Wes Zandberg. 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 as we watch it […]

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7 Best Wine and Book Pairings: What to Drink While You Read (Video)

Alex and I had so much fun chatting about pairing bottles with books on CTV’s morning show. What’s the first pairing you recommend? We’re starting on the west coast with The New York Times bestselling memoir, Wild, by Cheryl Strayed. After Cheryl loses her mother to cancer and her own marriage is destroyed, she decides to hike the Pacific Northwest Trail, more a thousand miles, from the Mojave Desert through California and Oregon to Washington State alone and without any training. It’s a deeply moving story of how this young woman heals through this treacherous journey     I’d pair […]

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How Wildfires Affect the Taste of Your Wine with Dr. Wes Zandberg

Introduction What are the main causes of wildfires in wine country? Which two weather-based factors are the strongest predictors of the severity of wildfires each season? What impact do wildfires have on the taste of your wine, and why is it difficult to predict whether smoke-exposed grapes will, in fact, produce tainted wine? In this episode of the Unreserved Wine Talk podcast, I’m chatting with researcher Wes Zandberg. 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 […]

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Ontario Wines, the Women Behind Them and at the Forefront with Jennifer Wilhelm

Introduction What is agri-tourism and why did people begin to embrace the farming experience? Why don’t Ontarians drink as much of our own wine as other provinces or countries? How did one woman lead the charge for biodynamic and organic wines in Canada? In this episode of the Unreserved Wine Talk podcast, I’m chatting with author Jennifer Wilhelm. You can find the wines we discussed here.   Giveaway Three of you will win a copy of Jennifer Wilhelm’s terrific new book Sharing a Glass: Inspirational Memoirs & Memories of the Women Who Shaped Ontario’s Grape & Wine Industry.   How to Win […]

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