Introduction How did winemakers first figure out how to remove alcohol from wine without destroying it? Why is it so difficult to perfect the flavours and aromas in wine once the alcohol is removed? Why do some non-alcoholic wines keep their fruity aromas while others seem to lose everything? In this episode of the Unreserved Wine Talk podcast, I’m chatting with Dr Wes Pearson, a senior research scientist at the Australian Wine Research Institute in Adelaide. 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 […]
Wine Articles
Wes Pearson: What Happens When the World’s Most Expensive Wines Are Tasted Blind
Introduction What really happens when the world’s most expensive wines are tasted blind, without their labels or reputations? Why is the Len Evans Tutorial considered such a valuable experience in the wine world? How did Grenache go from a filler grape to one that producers take seriously? In this episode of the Unreserved Wine Talk podcast, I’m chatting with Dr Wes Pearson, a senior research scientist at the Australian Wine Research Institute in Adelaide. 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 […]
How Did One Viognier Go From the Brink of Extinction to Being Planted Around the World?
Introduction How did one Viognier go from the brink of extinction to being planted around the world? Why is the Mistral one of the most miserable experiences for people, yet a saviour for Rhône vineyards? Why is working with bush vines so much harder than trellised vineyards? In this episode of the Unreserved Wine Talk podcast, I’m chatting with Matt Walls, author of the terrific new book The Smart Traveller’s Wine Guide to the Rhone Valley. You can find the wines we discussed here. Giveaway Two of you are going to win a copy of Matt Walls’ terrific new book, The […]
Why Did the Rhone Region Ban Flying Saucers? Matt Walls Reveals the Story Behind Why That Rule Still Exists
Introduction Which French wine region banned flying saucers from landing in its vineyards and why is the rule still there? How did the devastating February 1956 frost reshape the southern Rhône into the vineyard landscape we know today? What sets the northern Rhone apart from the south in terms of grapes and winemaking style? In this episode of the Unreserved Wine Talk podcast, I’m chatting with Matt Walls, author of The Smart Traveller’s Wine Guide to the Rhone Valley. You can find the wines we discussed here. Giveaway Two of you are going to win a copy of Matt Walls’ terrific […]
Why Are So Many Swiss Vineyards Planted on Dangerous Terrain? Simon Hardy Reveals Why in the Smart Traveller’s Guide to Switzerland
Introduction Why are so many Swiss vineyards planted on dangerous terrain? How do the “three suns of Lavaux” shape the ripeness and character of Chasselas? Which unexpected historical figure owns the world’s smallest vineyard in Switzerland? In this episode of the Unreserved Wine Talk podcast, I’m chatting with Simon Hardy, author of the terrific new book The Smart Traveller’s Wine Guide to Switzerland. You can find the wines we discussed here. Giveaway Two of you are going to win a copy of Simon Hardy’s terrific new book, The Smart Traveller’s Wine Guide to Switzerland. How to Win To qualify, all […]
The Smart Traveller’s Wine Guide to Switzerland with Simon Hardy
Introduction Why You Can’t Buy Switzerland’s Exceptional Wines Abroad? Why does Switzerland grow so many grape varieties, and which ones are the key players that define the country’s wine regions? What makes high-altitude wine regions uniquely capable of producing wines that balance great concentration without being too heavy? In this episode of the Unreserved Wine Talk podcast, I’m chatting with Simon Hardy, author of The Smart Traveller’s Wine Guide to Switzerland. You can find the wines we discussed here. Giveaway Two of you are going to win a copy of Simon Hardy’s terrific new book, The Smart Traveller’s Wine Guide to […]
Why did Cha McCoy create her own flavour wheel rather than rely on traditional wine-tasting vocabulary?
Introduction Why do certain spices and dishes show up far from their origins, and how can tracing these cultural “foodways” change the way we think about wine and food pairing? Why did Cha create her own flavour wheel rather than rely on traditional wine-tasting vocabulary? How can expanding your flavour vocabulary through travel, food, and culture help us describe wine in ways that feel relatable? In this episode of the Unreserved Wine Talk podcast, I’m chatting with Cha McCoy, author of the new book Wine Pairing for the People. You can find the wines we discussed here. Giveaway Three […]
4 Festive Wines That’ll Elevate Your Holiday Dinner
We’re heading into the holiday entertaining season. Whether you’re hosting an intimate dinner party or an informal potluck, choosing the right wines can elevate your evening. Who better to help us than our favourite drinks expert Natalie MacLean, editor Canada’s largest wine review site at nataliemaclean.com. Welcome, Natalie. Great to be back with you! The holiday season is the Super Bowl of wine because everyone gathers around, I provide running commentary that no one asked for but they tolerate because I brought five bottles of wine. Let’s start with something bubbly! What do you recommend? […]
4 Wine Gifts That Say “I Have Great Taste” (Without Breaking the Bank)
We’re heading into the holiday gift giving season. What if you’d like to give someone a bottle of wine? How do you know which one to choose? Here to help us with that is Natalie MacLean, editor of Canada’s most popular wine review site at nataliemaclean.com. Welcome back, Natalie. So if choosing the right wine is so tricky, why should we give wine as a gift at all? When you give the gift of wine, doubles are fine unlike toaster ovens, there are no wrong sizes unlike that ugly sweater and regifting is so much easier compared […]
Why Are Most Wine Pairing Rules Wrong for Global Cuisine? Cha McCoy Reveals What Really Works
Introduction How can you pair wine with spicy dishes in a way that enhances their flavour profile? Why do most wine-pairing guides ignore the traditions of global cuisines? How can you use wine pairings to explore under-the-radar wine regions instead of reaching for the same rosé or sparkling wine every time? In this episode of the Unreserved Wine Talk podcast, I’m chatting with Cha McCoy, author of the terrific new book Wine Pairing for the People. You can find the wines we discussed here. Giveaway Three of you are going to win a copy of Cha McCoy’s terrific new book, Wine […]
