On CTV News, Leanne and I chat about why Californian wines are among the most popular at the liquor store. You can also watch our second chat about Napa Valley wines here. How the wildfires impacted California wineries? Thankfully, 2021 is a “drama free harvest.” It’s small but mighty, as drought is the defining feature in Napa and Sonoma, as it was the third-driest year in more than a century, and the stress has meant fewer grapes. But drought also causes smaller grapes with more concentrated flavor and tannins. People talk about intense aromas and depth, […]
Cabernet Sauvignon Blend
The Ultimate Super Bowl Wine and Snack Pairings
This Facebook Live Video Wine Tasting above, we chat about pairing wine with Super Bowl snacks. You can click on the arrow above to play the video. We’re joined by guest winemaker, David Joeky of Casella Family Brands to help us get ready for the big game. You’ll find our most recent live video wine tasting here: www.nataliemaclean.com/live We taste every Sunday evening at 6 pm eastern so add us to your calendar and grab a glass of wine. Click on the buttons for “Share” and “Like” on the page above to get notified when we go live. If you’d like to […]
Why is Cabernet Sauvignon the King of Red Wines? (Video)
Leanne and I chat about Cabernet Sauvignon in honour of Cabernet Day, the last Thursday before Labour Day… when we need something stronger in our glass than rose. ;) Here are some quick facts you should know about Cabernet Sauvignon: Cabernet Sauvignon was originally created by crossing the white grape Sauvignon Blanc and the red grape Cabernet Franc. Cabernet Franc is the parent grape of both Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon. Cabernet Sauvignon is most famous in Bordeaux, France, where it’s part of a blend that can include any or all of the following grapes to increase the complexity of the […]
Mark Oldman: The Wine World’s Greatest Showman Video
What a terrific chat with Mark Oldman author of How to Drink Like a Billionaire! Click on the arrow above to watch the video. Listen to Mark’s stories about adventures in the wine world. Discover more juicy tips that will make you wine smart. Cheers, Natalie P.S. Join us next Sunday, August 6, at 6 pm eastern right here with Ann Sperling, Winemaker Southbrook Vineyards: www.nataliemaclean.com/live Want to know when we go live next Sunday with Ann Sperling? Click on the Follow and Like buttons on this page to get notified when we go live. We’ll be simultaneously broadcasting […]
Henry of Pelham Wine Tasting Reveals Deep Roots in Niagara
Jennifer MacDonald Havers Wine Columnist, Ottawa Citizen What a lovely opportunity to sit down with the Speck Brothers (well, two of three – Paul and Daniel) from Henry of Pelham winery to learn more about their family’s winemaking as well to taste across their portfolio of wines. Their Henry of Pelham portfolio is generally set up along three tiers; Classic, Estate, and the Speck Family Reserve. Photo by Jennifer MacDonald Havers By adhering to rigorous quality standards and keeping production at modest levels for the higher tier (Speck Brothers Reserve), the resulting high quality wines trickle down to […]
Surprising Pairings for Villa Maria Wines from Antipasto to Steak
Canada’s top wine writers and sommeliers gathered in the nation’s capital for a comprehensive tasting of Villa Maria wines from New Zealand. Terry Jeans Wine Writer, Ottawa Wine Guide What an elaborate tasting! We had the chance to have an amazing tasting with one of the viticulturists from Villa Maria– Ollie Powrie, who presented us with an insightful session of tasting over a dozen wines from one of the only New Zealand owned and family operated wineries. Founded and owned by the venerated Sir George Fistonich, a real icon of the wine industry, who has been part of […]
The Makeover Miracle of Israeli Wines: Finding New Life in the Desert
By Rebecca Meïr- Liebman of Chef & Somm Some of the most brilliant minds come from Israel. Their creative thinking often challenges what many see as unchanging truths. The USB flash drive, GPS, WIX, and Solaris Synergy were all invented in Israel. Lucky for us, some of those creative minds are hard at work in Israel’s burgeoning winemaking industry, leading recently to substantial gains in quality and complexity. More and more Israeli wine professionals are traveling to Europe to learn from leading winemakers and educate and expand their palates. And, on a quest for the ultimate expression of Israeli […]
Rediscover Bordeaux with Château Phelan-Ségur
By Mymi Myriam On the eve of a massive winter storm that threatened to shut down most of the eastern coast of the United States, I had the pleasure of briefly sitting down with Pamela Wittman prior to attending the LCBO sponsored Union des Grands Crus Bordeaux tasting at the Carlu. An oenologist by profession, she is now the US representative for Château Phélan-Ségur located in the Médoc St-Éstèphe region of Bordeaux. The estate’s story starts with a young Irish wine merchant name Bernard Phelan who settled into the area in the late 18th century and married a local girl […]
10 Best GSM Wines to Buy Now + 5 Surprising Facts about GSM
By Lesley Quinn Acronyms are everywhere. LOL, AWOL, CSI, BFF, all the major sports leagues use them as do most major news stations. They are used in all walks of life and the wine industry certainly isn’t immune to the convenience of shortening a term. The problem arises when you have no idea what those letters actually stand for, so lets get one thing straight right off the bat, GSM stands for a blend of the following three grapes: Grenache, Syrah, and Mourvèdre. A wine blend is like a dinner entrée. It’s rare we eat a single thing all alone. […]
Grilled Polenta Bites with Friulano Recipe
Grilled Polenta Bites with Friulano A Trick-or-Treat Treat Fall is in full swing. And now that Thanksgiving is over, my next favourite festive event is here: Halloween. If you’re looking to add some scrumptious to your scary, I have a recipe that will do just the trick (or treat). These Grilled Polenta Bites with Friulano are a simple and easy snack for you to make just before you and your little ones head out for a night of spooky fun. They are a Canadian take on an Italian classic, with a delicious Canadian Friulano cheese. If you’ve never tried it […]
