Random House of Canada is experimenting with a different kind of book tour this fall–one that guarantees book sales from every person attending a launch. Working with strategic marketing partners such as Fairmont Hotels and Air Miles, the company is creating ticketed events that include a copy of the book in the price. It’s a different kind of business model, says Tracey Turriff, senior vice-president, director of marketing and communications. “There are some situations with bookstore events where even if you have a great crowd, you don’t necessarily always sell a lot of books at those events.” Granted, it may […]
Books: Wine
327 Pages of Wine Wit, Information, Adventure, Stories, Memories, and Lore – Hoosier Wine Cellar
I’m not just a pushover for wine books. Of the hundreds I’ve bought over the years, I’d like to say each one was judiciously and carefully selected, purchased only if it were of high quality and useful information. Of course, that’s not the case; my shelf is filled with trifling wine books, some pretty, some not; the point is that there are a lot of books out there and, as one would expect, some are better than others. Natalie MacLean’s just published Unquenchable goes right to the top of my list, just above her earlier book, Red, White and Drunk […]
An Entire Week’s Worth of Wine Pairings – Joy Farrell-Grove
Joy Farrell-Grove I was initially skeptical I would be engrossed in Natalie MacLean’s latest book, Unquenchable; most of my non-fiction reading is devoted to hefty school readings. The premise of a wine book did not immediately pique my interest, this in spite of my own affinity for a glass. It was, however, Natalie’s writing style that drew me in completely. Her writing is succinct in that you feel as though the book is whipping by and as it does, she fills your head with heady visions of lush wineries and eccentric characters. The style of writing is interesting. For much […]
Entertaining Anecdotes and Delicious Wine Recommendations – Reading Between the Lines
New Release: “Unquenchable” by Natalie MacLean If you know me personally, you probably know that I am a BIG wine fan. I’m not quite a connoisseur but I know enough to understand my father when he begins the wine talk as he decants and I can follow along when visiting a vineyard or wine bar. I’d love to learn more though–and with my friend Natalie MacLean’s new book, Unquenchable, releasing today I now have a great opportunity. Whee! Natalie has traveled the world researching, tasting, and exploring some of the best bargain wines. She’s taken those experiences and blended them […]
Rollicking Travelogue of her Journeys Around the World in Search of the Best Vino – Washinton Post
Interesting review and discussion here of several wine books that focus on bargain wines from the wine columnist for the Washington Post… Someone has declared war on wine. I think it’s the Tea Party. One salvo came from Slate, which used to be known for intelligent wine writing until it fired its wine writer, Michael Steinberger. Early this month, Slate published an essay by Brian Palmer under the headline, Drink Cheap Wine. (Palmer has probed other searing questions for Slate such as why Americans don’t eat horse meat and why some people pee themselves and others don’t.) Palmer quotes a […]
Canadian Wine Writer Pens New Bestseller – Wine Access Magazine
Wondering what to get for your favourite wine lover this holiday season? Consider a copy of Canadian wine writer Natalie MacLean’s new book. The book, Unquenchable: A Tipsy Quest for the World’s Best Bargain Wines, chronicles MacLean’s lively forays into wine regions and interviews with some of the world’s top winemakers, both familiar (Australia’s Wolf Blass) to less-known but equally influential (Italy’s Andrea Franchetti); the book is already on bestseller lists across Canada. Her award-winning first book, “Red, White and Drunk All Over,” was also a bestseller. It was published in 2006 in seven countries and several languages. In addition […]
Unquenchable Becomes a Page-Turner after Reading a few Pages – Winesworld’s Magazine
Unquenchable is packed with colourful stories about passionate personalities who inhabit the world of wine, award-winning writer Natalie travelled to Germany, Australia, Argentina, Chile, South Africa, and the Niagara region in Ontario in search of in-depth knowledge and value bottles. After all, she is of Scottish origin, and cannot resist a bargain. She conveys her deep love and knowledge about wine (she worked as a sommelier, as a cellar hand, and has been involved with wine for a few decades) in her witty writing style. The narrative is so captivating that Unquenchable becomes a page-turner after reading a few pages […]
Engaging, Lively and Informative Wine Writing for the Wine Novice – Dave’s Travel Corner
Join wine writer Natalie MacLean’s wine and travel world as she jets from one continent to another, from one wine region to the next exploring her passion for wine and highlighting some of the best values out there. Her style of writing is engaging, lively, and informative to the wine novice and educated consumer alike. She meets with owners and winemakers and explores the “stories” behind the wine. The book highlights the uniqueness, differences, and challenges that winemakers face in their respective regions. It is a wine book with truly a global perspective. At the end of each chapter/region Natalie […]
Chuckling at her Funny Tales, Captured by the Unique History of each Winery – Cookbooks and Apps
Don’t get me wrong… I love to drink wine. That said, I am definitely not a connoisseur, just one of those people who may not know about wines, or even want to really learn all the ins and outs of the various grapes, the distinctive wine making processes, or any of the other facts that real wine aficionados savour as much as the flavour. I’m one of those who hopes that the person selling the wine, really knows what will be the perfect choice for the dinner I’m preparing. The subtitle says it best “A Tipsy Quest for the World’s […]
Wine History and Definitions are Subtly Slipped into the Stories – San Francisco Bay Guardian
My recent flights overseas required some serious reading, and finishing Natalie Maclean’s new Unquenchable: A Tipsy Quest for the World’s Best Bargain Wines (www.nataliemaclean.com) helped a 10-hour flight pass quickly. Each section hits a different part of the world in search of high quality, value wines. From South Africa to Sicily, wine terms and history are subtly slipped into stories about individual winemakers and pairing recipes. A cheery book cover belies Ms. Maclean’s skill with imagery (she’s won the M.F.K. Fisher Distinguished Writing Award and four James Beard Foundation Journalism Awards). For example, in her particularly engaging chapter on German […]
