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 […]
Food & Wine Pairing
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
Which Maritime wines belong on your Friendsgiving table?
The Friendsgiving Weekend Thanksgiving weekend is almost here, and there’s a second celebration on the calendar. Friendsgiving is the friends’ version of the long weekend. It’s also part of Come Over October, a movement that encourages us to put down our phones and invite the people who matter most to come over to share a glass of wine. Who better to help us than Natalie MacLean, editor of Canada’s largest wine review site at nataliemaclean.com. Welcome, Natalie. Great to be back with you! Friendsgiving is Thanksgiving without the seating chart. That’s why Come Over October […]
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 […]
Fracette: The Sparkling Wine Canada Invented
Canada has a brand-new wine category. Not a new label, not a new winery, a whole new category with its own rules written into our wine regulations. The first bottles have just arrived in liquor stores. Who better to help break the latest wine news than Natalie MacLean, editor of Canada’s largest wine review site at nataliemaclean.com. Welcome, Natalie. Great to be back with you! I’ve spent years explaining other countries’ bubblies. Now I get to tell you about one that’s all ours. Today is pretty much the peak of my career :) So […]
