Wine can sometimes feel intimidating, like you need a degree or a fancy vocabulary to enjoy it. But hosting your own wine tasting at home can be one of the most fun, relaxed ways to spend an evening with friends. Here to help us organize a tasting is author of 3 national bestsellers on wine, Natalie MacLean! You know, Mary, I always say a wine tasting is a book club for people who didn’t read the book. You get all the great conversation and laughs, but the only homework is drinking wine! You say hosting your own […]
Wine Articles
What Does It Mean For A Wine To Gain Wisdom As It Ages? with Neal Hulkower
Introduction Should wine competitions give judges the option to say that none of the wines in a category deserve a medal? Why have some classic regions become inaccessible while others remain within reach for wine drinkers? What does it mean for a wine to gain wisdom as it ages? In this episode of the Unreserved Wine Talk podcast, I’m chatting with Neal Hulkower, a PhD rocket scientist, who has just published his first book, Grape Explications. You can find the wines we discussed here. Giveaway Three of you are going to win a copy of Neal Hulkower’s terrific new […]
Which 4 Drinks Pair Best with the Stages of a Relationship?
Have you ever wondered which drinks pair best with the roller coaster of romance? From first dates to final goodbyes, we’re exploring wines that match every stage of your love life. Joining us today is Natalie MacLean who offers Canada’s most popular online wine classes at nataliemaclean.com. Welcome, Natalie. Great to be back with you! My motto for Valentine’s Day is candy is dandy and liquor is quicker, but wine is divine. Let’s start with first dates. What wine would you recommend for those nerve-wracking initial encounters? Saintly The Good Sparkling […]
Dating & Wine: Which 5 Sips Make the Perfect Match
Welcome back, everyone! Today, we’re mixing two of life’s great love stories; dating and wine. Because both are all about finding the right match. What makes your best friend swoon might not appeal to you and that’s not a flaw in the person or the bottle, it’s chemistry! So, who better to help us find our perfect pairing than the editor of Canada’s largest wine review website, Natalie MacLean! Welcome back to the show! You’ve created dating profiles for five fabulous wines. We’ll get to know them, take a sip, and decide if it’s a match for […]
Which 5 Drinks Pair Best With Libido-Lifting Aphrodisiac Foods?
Valentine’s Day is Saturday, and whether you’re planning an intimate dinner for two or celebrating with friends, pairing drinks with passion-inducing aphrodisiac foods can turn any evening into something truly memorable. Who better to help us than our favourite drinks expert Natalie MacLean, editor of Canada’s largest wine review site at nataliemaclean.com. Welcome, Natalie. Great to be back with you! These libido-lifting matches will prove that the way to the heart is through the stomach, with a detour to the taste buds first. Let’s start with what many consider the ultimate aphrodisiac. Tell us about […]
What Can 1970s Wine Notes Reveal About Luxury Wines Today?
Introduction How can a single bottle of wine completely change your understanding of what wine can be? What makes a wine so remarkable that you can almost taste it again in your memory decades later? Why are people drawn to tasting notes even when words can never fully capture the experience of tasting and smelling wine? In this episode of the Unreserved Wine Talk podcast, I’m chatting with Neal Hulkower, a PhD rocket scientist, who has just published his first book, Grape Explications. You can find the wines we discussed here. Giveaway Three of you are going to win a […]
What are 4 Fabulous Drinks to Toast Galentine’s & Valentine’s Day?
Valentine’s Day is this Sunday, but what if you’re flying solo or want to celebrate the bonds that really last? Well, there’s a special day for you too. It’s called Galentine’s Day and it’s this Friday, February 13th. 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! You know, I always say that friends are the family you choose so let’s raise a glass to them! Love it! So tell us, what exactly is Galentine’s Day? It’s one of […]
Why is Your Taste in Wine as Individual as Your Fingerprint? Jordan Salcito Shares the Story
Introduction Why did this author start the book with tasting, rather than history, regions or grapes? Was that because you wanted to get right into the sensory experience, rather than maybe some of the drier knowledge? Why is your experience of what tastes good as personal as a fingerprint? When it comes to wine, what do you mean by structure? Why are these important, these structural components? Do you think they matter more than identifying that, that wine’s from Burgundy, that wine’s from Bordeaux? In this episode of the Unreserved Wine Talk podcast, I’m chatting with Jordan Salcito, author of […]
What Makes a Wine Feel Soulful? Jordan Salcito Shares the Secret in Smart Mouth: Wine Essentials for You, Me, & Everyone We Know
Introduction What makes a wine feel soulful, transporting you beyond taste into a deeper emotional connection? What does experiencing harvest firsthand reveal about winemaking that never show up in books? What makes Northern Rhône Syrah come across as black peppery, smoky, and reminiscent of pastrami? In this episode of the Unreserved Wine Talk podcast, I’m chatting with Jordan Salcito who has published Smart Mouth: Wine Essentials for You, Me, & Everyone We Know, which was just selected as one of the best wine books of the year by the New York Times. You can find the wines we discussed here. […]
Which 8 Drinks Are Essential for Dry-ish January and Year Round?
January is when many of us try to cut back on alcohol after holiday indulgences. It is the month when calendars are clean, intentions are pure, and the recycling bin is still judging us quietly from the curb. So today we’re building the ultimate Dry January Survival Kit, with low- and no-alcohol options. Who better to help us than our favourite drinks expert Natalie MacLean, editor of Canada’s largest drinks review site at nataliemaclean.com. Welcome, Natalie. Great to be back with you! As we put together a collection of foolproof low-proof drinks, we’re going to play […]
