New Year, New Resolutions I always get a pang of excitement when January begins. I know resolutions can be a bit cliché, but to me a new year is the perfect clean slate for adapting some better habits. At first I couldn’t decide what I wanted my resolutions to be this year, but after some thought, I resolved to really enjoy every day to its fullest and take more pleasure in the simple things. I also wanted to work more vegetables into my day, so I started collecting some delicious recipes to help me do just those things. I was […]
Tips on Finding Great Value Wines in the Liquor Store – Global TV The Morning Show
We had great fun chatting about bargain wines on Global TV’s The Morning Show recently. We focused on Niagara wines and why they truly are such a bargain. Got a favourite? Cheers, Natalie (I really should learn to brush the back of my hair … looks like I slept in a medieval cellar.) Posted with permission of Global TV.
Submitting Wine Samples + Updating Bottle Shots
Here are some short videos, each only about 2-3 minutes, to help you update your wines on our site quickly. Please e-mail me if you need help. 1. Agencies & Wineries: Update Bottle/Label Shot for a Wine on the Site: 2. Agencies & Wineries: Add a New Vintage for a Wine Already on the Site: 3. Agencies: Add a New Wine to the Site: 4. Wineries: Add a New Wine to the Site: Here are details on my wine tasting and review process. E-mail me (natdecants at nataliemaclean.com) if you wish to send samples or want gold […]
Cheddar Stuffed Meatballs Recipe, Cabernet Franc Wine Pairing
Tis’ the season to complete last year’s resolutions. I can’t believe it’s already the beginning of January! I know it sounds cliché, but this year definitely flew by. And now that it’s almost over I have a list of resolutions that I need to complete. My first to-do: learn how to make the perfect meatballs. Here’s a recipe I found for Cheddar Stuffed Meatballs with Rosemary that is absolutely mouth-watering. Not only is it a delicious recipe, the meatballs are made with wholesome ingredients like real Canadian Cheddar that will help you beat the winter blues. My next to-do, finding […]
Wine Reviews: Smart Buy Bottles and Value Wine Ratings: LCBO Vintages Jan 4
The best wines in January are priced under $20, the the smart buy value wines that help us tighten our belts and wallets. The LCBO often features bargain-priced wines at this time of the year, right after the holidays when we’ve blown our budget with champagne and expensive gift wines. What is value when it comes to wine? That’s subjective, but many of these bottles hit above their price-point in quality. Even types of wines that are usually more expensive like pinot noir, chianti and port are represented well in this release. Here’s a sampling of my best wine […]
Get Out of Your Wine Rut in 2014: Try These Wines
What are the best wines to try in 2014? Want get out of your wine rut? That’s our wine topic on the CTV News video clip above. We looked at great wines to try based on what you already like, similar to how Amazon recommends books: if you like this one, then you might like that one. Let me know about a new wine that you discovered this year in the comments below. Get Out of Your Wine Rut in 2014: Try These Wines News Anchor: And now back to Leanne Cusack with a little more on the good […]
Ontario Wines Coming to Farmers Markets
The new law allowing Ontario VQA wines to be sold at farmers’ markets is our topic of discussion in the CBC Metro Morning clip below. The change affords Ontario VQA wines greater awareness among new customers, access to new markets and new streams of revenue. Click on the arrow above to listen to the clip. Access to farmers’ markets is especially important for the 100 smaller wineries that currently do not have wines sold in the LCBO liquor stores because they don’t produce enough to meet the requirements of that retail channel. Currently, the can only sell their wines at […]
Mascarpone Truffles Recipe Paired with Chardonnay
Take Holiday Entertaining to a Delicious new Level There’s something about the holiday season that I just can’t get enough of. Sure last minute holiday shopping and menu preparing can be stressful, but sitting down with loved ones for a savoury holiday feast makes it more than worth it. I have a big family, so when it comes to holiday meals it can be tough deciding what to make. Aside from my tried and true holiday recipe favourites, I decided to get a little adventurous this year and experiment with a new dessert. And I’m so glad I did. This […]
Gorgeous Wine Book Maps Wine Regions and Grapes
Want to learn about wine without falling asleep? Want to engage your visual senses while you taste wines from around the world? The Wine Lover’s Coloring Book is a great place to start. In the video above, author Louise Wilson and I chat about how she conceived the idea while taking the International Sommelier Guild courses. While the book may sound like it’s for children, don’t be deceived (or have preconceived notions). It’s part of next evolution of wine books that engage our senses. Really? Yes. Currently, a scratch and sniff wine book by a master sommelier is #11 on […]
