In the excerpt below from Wine Witch on Fire: Rising from the Ashes of Divorce, Defamation and Drinking too Much, I talk about moderating my wine consumption without going sober. I realized I wanted my evenings back. I had to tell myself that the night wouldn’t get any better or more fun with more wine. I’d just end up saying things I’d regret, fall asleep early in front of the TV, wake up in the morning gutted. I also wanted to command my own boundaries rather than worry about developing a soggy reputation with friends. She sure likes to […]
Books: Wine
Wine and Fashion Share Aspirational Marketing and Self-Identification with Jessica Kogan of Vintage Wine Estates
Introduction How will new technology affect the way you buy and learn about wine in the future? What does it take to launch a winery into the digital space? Which aspects of the fashion industry could the wine industry benefit from emulating? In this episode of the Unreserved Wine Talk podcast, I’m chatting with Jessica Kogan, a digital brand marketing executive who has successfully launched brands such as Gucci, Prada, Charles Schwab, Cameron Hughes, and now Vintage Wine Estates. You can find the wines we discussed here. Join me on Instagram, Facebook and YouTube Live Video Join the live-stream video of […]
How Memoir Can Be Deeply Satisfying and Scary? CTV News Ottawa
While this book deals with serious issues, there’s lots of humour. How do you strike a balance between the two? Has anything really changed in the time since the events in this book took place? Can you share an example of how sexism is embedded in wine tasting notes? Throughout your memoir, you describe the slick marketing that encourages women to drink too much. Can you elaborate on this? Why include stories of women behind wine labels? Are there book launch events coming up? I’ll be doing a book launch at the Cordon Bleu in Ottawa on Wednesday, May 31st. […]
How Does Some Wine Marketing Encourage Women to Overdrink? CTV News Ottawa
What is the book about? How did you come up with the title? Who is the book dedicated to? Why write this book? Inspiration Why write this book now? Do you feel more exposed for having written this memoir? You’re a wine professional in the public eye, and you write about your own issues with drinking too much. This is a deeply personal, revealing memoir. Was it difficult to write with such openness and vulnerability? Although this isn’t a self-help book, you do share tips on how you moderated your own alcohol consumption. Share a few of those with us […]
How Labels on Wine and People Can be Misleading – CTV News Montreal
Most of us live our lives, as we believe things to be. We label, we judge, we make assumptions about ourselves and others. Sometimes we’re right. Often, we are wrong. We know Natalie MacLean. She joins us often to give us advice on wine, and I call her our resident bon vivant. But from a woman who makes her living studying wine labels, she will be the first to tell you that when it comes to labels. It’s complicated. Her latest book is called, Wine Witch on Fire. Rising from the Ashes of Divorce, Defamation and Drinking too Much. How […]
What Will Readers Learn from Wine Witch on Fire? CTV’s Morning Show
Annette and I chat about the memoir on CTV’s Morning Show. 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. Indigo has named it one of the “Most Anticipated Books of the Season.” Natalie joins us now to chat about her memoir. 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 […]
Best Wine & Food Pairing Tips + California Wines with Chuck Cramer
Introduction Which California wine should be at the top of your must-try list? Which simple tips can you use to identify successful food and wine pairings? What should you know before starting a podcast? In this episode of the Unreserved Wine Talk podcast, I’m chatting with Chuck Cramer, host of On The Road With Mr CA Wine. 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 […]
Wine Marketing that Encourages Overdrinking + Sexism in Wine Tasting Tasting Notes
Introduction How does slick wine marketing encourage us to drink too much? Has anything really changed in the wine industry in the last ten years since the incidents in the book took place? How is sexism still embedded in wine tasting notes today? What would I advise young women and men entering the wine business today? I’ll be sharing those stories and more in this special episode of my podcast. My new memoir Wine Witch on Fire: Rising from the Ashes of Divorce, Defamation, and Drinking Too Much just launched yesterday, May 9th in Canada. It will launch in the US and […]
Dark Side of the Wine World + Tips for Moderate Drinking
Introduction How did I first fall in love with wine? Do I feel more exposed now for having written this third book? What are my best tips for moderate drinking? I’ll be sharing those stories and more in this special episode of my podcast as we get closer to the May 9th launch of my new memoir Wine Witch on Fire: Rising from the Ashes of Divorce, Defamation, and Drinking Too Much. You can find the wines I mentioned here. Join me for my Toronto Launch Party Save your spot now for this invite-only book launch event and tasting. Treat […]
Wine Etiquette in Different Cultures and at Festivals with Dr. Clinton Lee
Introduction How can wine help you to broaden your understanding of different cultures? Which stark differences in culture and decorum will you see in various wine regions? What’s the right way, etiquette-wise, to receive your tasting sample at a wine festival or show? In this episode of the Unreserved Wine Talk podcast, I’m chatting with Dr. Clinton Lee, Executive Director of the Asia Pacific Wine and Spirit Institute. 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 […]
