In part two of our video chat below, Kevin O’Leary shares what he would consider to be the toughest questions he’d have to answer if he were pitching the idea for his own wine brand on Dragon’s Den. Plus he gives the Cold Hard Truth for the Ontario wine industry … Some would say that celebrity wines are derivative or even worse, a disservice that takes the focus off the wine region and on to the celebrity. What do you say to that? Your fellow dragon Arlene Dickinson also just launched her own wine brand: what’s your opinion […]
Wine Videos
Kevin O’Leary Wines for a Dragon: Launching a Brand Video
In this video below, Kevin O’Leary, best known as the prickly Merchant of Truth on CBC’s Dragons’ Den as well as on ABC’s Shark Tank, talks about his latest venture in launching his own wine brand. He has also built a software company that was acquired for more than $4 billion dollars and now runs O’Leary Funds, an investment firm with assets of more than $1.5 billion. It was just coincidence that Kevin’s smartphone dinged as I introduced him, but it seemed that he was instantly beamed down from the Investment Mother Ship for our conversation at the […]
Pairing Meat + Wine: Fowles Wines Australia Video
We continue our video chat below with Matt Fowles about pairing wine with game and wild meats, and how he has created wines with flavours and texture to suit these dishes. You can watch our first video conversation here. You may also enjoy these video chats: Game and Wine Pairings Viognier and Yalumba Wines Australia Canadian Cheese and Wine Tasting See all wine video chats here. Is there someone else with a fascinating wine story whom you think I should interview? Please e-mail me: [email protected].
Game and Wine Pairings: Ladies Who Shoot Their Lunch Video
Matt Fowles is the man behind the Australian wine called Ladies Who Shoot Their Lunch. In the video chat below, he discussed how to pair wine with game meat, especially those you hunt yourself as he does. When did you develop your passion for hunting? How is the taste of game and wild meat different from commercially raised meat? How does that affect the wine you pair with it? How did you come up with the name Ladies Who Shoot Their Lunch? Ladies Who Shoot Their Lunch Plunkett Fowles Shiraz 2009, Strathbogie Ranges, Victoria, Australia: Smoky […]
Viognier and Yalumba Wines Australia: Video Chat
In the video chat below, Louisa Rose of Yalumba Wines Australia has some fascinating insights into the lovely floral white wine Viognier, including how it affects the robust red wine Shiraz when even just 5% is added to the blend. This is one of the most aromatic and under-appreciated white wines, perfect for a variety of dishes, including hearty meats when you don’t want to drink red. Yalumba Viognier 2010 Eden Valley, South Australia, Australia: Love it: beautiful and exotic with white floral notes. Drink: 2012-2015. 954644 13% XD 750 mL $24.95 Score: 91/100. Yalumba Shiraz Viognier 2008 Eden Valley, South […]
Canadian Cheese and Wine Tasting: Video Chat
Our second Canadian wine and cheese Google Video tasting below was terrific! We had just as much fun as the first tasting, but this time we incorporated more pairing tips and background on the cheeses. We’re pioneering the use of this hottest new social media tool, so each time is a technical leap forward and we’ll continue to optimize it. If you’d like to taste along with us, you’ll find all the cheeses and wines in this first post, as well as the names and sites for all the great participants. Kick back during an evening at home […]
Wine and Book Pairings: Breakthrough Research Published in Unquenchable
This decidedly tongue-in-cheek video interview below focuses on the new chapter in the paperback edition of Unquenchable, which hits stores October 23. Find out why wine and book pairing is the new food and pairing and the reason I’ve dedicated my life to this field of research. (Many have tried, but no one makes fun of me like I do.) Here’s the link to online booksellers. In addition to paperback, Unquenchable is also available as an e-book for Amazon’s Kindle, Sony e-Reader, Indigo-Chapters Kobo, Barnes & Noble Nook and Apple iPad. Dorothy Parker said it best: “There’s a […]
Tyrrell Wines Australia Video: Semillon Magic + Shiraz
Bruce Tyrrell was a pleasant surprise: terrific interview with a great wit and insights into the Australian wine industry in this video chat below. He frames the magic of semillon, old and young… plus there’s his Rufus Stone Shiraz, black liquid enchantment. The Tyrrell family has been producing wines in Australia’s Hunter Valley since 1858. Bruce Tyrell is the fourth generation of his family to run the winery that now produces 500,000 cases per year. In 2006, Bruce was recognized with an Order of Australia medal for his contribution to the Australian wine industry; improving grape quality, research, tourism and […]
Wine and Cheese Tasting on Google Video Hangouts October 10
The Wine & Cheese Gang is back together again for another Google + Video tasting on October 10 at 8 pm. After the fun we had during our first tasting, we started planning this one. The wines and cheeses are different, but we’ll take the same conversational approach, weaving in some great insights on pairing wine and cheese. Taste along with us that evening! In the meantime, we’ll also be on Twitter using the hash tag #CDNcheese. Cheers! La Fromagerie du Presbytère Bleu d’Élizabeth, Sainte-Élisabeth-de-Warwick, Quebec Elizabeth Blue is an organic semi-soft cheese made from pasteurized milk with non-interior mold. […]
John Duval Wines Australia Video
In the video below, we chat with John Duval, who was the winemaker for one of Australia’s most coveted labels, Penfolds, for 29 years. He’s won many awards over his career, including Winemaker of the Year at the International Wine and Spirit Competition in London. In 2003, he left Penfolds to start his own winery. Why is Penfolds such an iconic wine? What has been your most memorable winemaking experience to date? How are you own wines different from Penfolds? Why is there a myth that Australian wines can’t age? We’ll post part two of our conversation […]
