Today we’re taking a stroll through floral-scented wines that herald the arrival of spring. Our garden guide is Natalie MacLean who offers Canada’s most popular online wine and food pairing classes at www.nataliemaclean.com Welcome, Natalie. Is comparing wines to flowers really just a form of wine snobbery? I’m shocked at what you’re implying! Just kidding 😉 Floral descriptions are more than poetic fancy or wine geek speak. It’s actually a reflection of the intricate chemistry of grapes and the artistry of winemaking. Grapes, like flowers, are profoundly influenced by their terroir – the unique environment in […]
Wine Witch on Fire Calls Out Sexist Wine Marketing on CTV’s The Social
Editor’s Note: You’ll find more media coverage for the book here. Our next guest as The Social’s resident wine expert but today she’s here in a different capacity, as an author! Her deeply personal memoir “Wine Witch on Fire” is about divorce, defamation, and drinking too much. Please join us in welcoming Natalie MacLean back to the show! Nat, we want to start with a toast to say congratulations on the book! We’ve all got a little bubbly, mine is non-alcoholic, so let’s do a cheers to you! Thank you so much, it’s great to […]
On Tuscany: From Brunello to Bolgheri, Tales from the Heart of Italy with Susan Keevil
Introduction How was Brunello discovered? How did the medieval sharecropping system help to shape Tuscany’s wine landscape? What’s the origin of the iconic black rooster symbol of Chianti Classico? In this episode of the Unreserved Wine Talk podcast, I’m chatting with Susan Keevil, editor of the beautiful hardcover On Tuscany: From Brunello to Bolgheri, Tales from the Heart of Italy. You can find the wines we discussed here. Giveaway Two of you are going to win a copy of her terrific book, On Tuscany: From Brunello to Bolgheri, Tales from the Heart of Italy. How to Win To qualify, all […]
Best LCBO Wine Reviews: Vintages Ratings March 15, 2025
You can access the wines that I reviewed as a text wine list with my complete tasting notes, scores, food matches. If you are a Paid Member, you can add my wine picks to your custom shopping list with one click and access that list on your smartphone to find the stock for each wine in your closest LCBO store. You can also see my wine reviews for March 1st These are just some of the benefits of supporting our wine community as a Paid Member. Inventory stock numbers are usually posted online a day or two before the release based on the LCBO doing so. Curious […]
Ask for More Canada! Canadian Wine and Spirit Substitutes for US Brands
American wines are being pulled off the shelves across Canada, retaliation for the tariffs imposed by the U.S. earlier this week. So might this prove to be an opportunity for Canadian wines? Joining us now… our resident wine expert… Natalie MacLean. How popular are American wines in Canada? In Quebec, for example, are French and Italian wines more popular? In the SAQ, the US ranks fourth for wine sales after France, Italy and Spain, representing $85 million a year, mostly from California, Oregon, and Washington, and not counting as well as Kentucky bourbon and […]
What do Famille Perrin, Torres and Gaja Wines Have in Common that Makes Them Uncommon? Fiona Morrison Goes Behind the Scenes of These Family Businesses
Introduction What is unique about Famille Perrin in France’s approach to running their family wine business? How do traditional wine families differentiate their brands and market their wines in a crowded marketplace? How has the Gaja family of Italy made significant contributions to winemaking and the Piemonte community? What is unique about Famille Perrin in France’s approach to running their family wine business? In this episode of the Unreserved Wine Talk podcast, I’m chatting with Fiona Morrison You can find the wines we discussed here. Giveaway Two of you are going to win a copy of her terrific book, 10 Great Wine […]
8 Best Wines for St. Patrick’s Day + Irish Food Pairings (Video)
St. Patrick’s Day is often celebrated with a pint or two, but what if you love wine? On CTV News, we chat about the best pairings for Irish food and classic dishes. Is there a wine that pairs with corned beef and cabbage? This begs the question: Can we skip the corned beef and cabbage and just have wine? My Irish grandmother is probably turning over in her grave. Traditional matches for this meal usually include Irish stout, like Guinness. But what about wine? Corned beef is salty and cabbage can be skunky, so you’ll avoid those wines […]
Top 10 Green Wine & Food Matches for St. Patrick’s Day
Which wines go best with the “green food” that we’ll enjoy on St. Patrick’s Day, such as corned beef and cabbage or Irish stew? How about those fresh spring vegetables that will soon be on our plates? Which wines go best with the “green food” that we’ll enjoy on St. Patrick’s Day, such as corned beef and cabbage or Irish stew? How about those fresh spring vegetables that will soon be on our plates? Green foods are the problem children of the wine world. But as a stubborn hedonist whose grandmother’s name was Brophy, I’ve found some terrific wines to […]
German Riesling: The World’s Most Versatile, Food-Friendly White Wine Grape
Someone has a big birthday on March 13th. Here to tell us more about that is Natalie MacLean who offers North America’s most popular online wine classes. Welcome Natalie. So who’s celebrating a birthday this Sunday? Although it’s actually a grape, it’s so personable that you’re right to call it someone, Bob ;) The iconic German white wine grape turns 590; it was first written about in 1435. Yet it’s irrepressibly young and vibrant, looking not a day older than 585. What makes German Riesling so special? Riesling is a tough-skinned little […]
Who Are The 10 Great Families of Wine? Fiona Morrison Gives Us A Tour Through Europe
Introduction How do you tame a grape like Merlot which actually has higher sugar and alcohol levels than Cabernet Sauvignon? What’s the little-known history behind the cult wines of Le Pin in Bordeaux that sell for as much as $10,000 a bottle when first released and then go up from there at auction? Why is it an advantage to have many stakeholders in family-owned estates? In this episode of the Unreserved Wine Talk podcast, I’m chatting with Fiona Morrison, author of the terrific book 10 Great Wine Families: A Tour Through Europe. You can find the wines we discussed here. […]
