As many as 68,000 people are living with HIV/AIDS in Canada. One third of them don’t even know it. To date, there is no cure and no vaccine to prevent new infections. This topic may sound completely unrelated to wine, but it’s not. In the video below, we talk to Bruno Zaratin from the Italian winery Santa Margherita, which been a major supporter of the Scotiabank AIDS Walk for Life that happens across the country every September for the past six years. What is Scotiabank AIDS Walk for Life? Santa Margherita goes well beyond writing a cheque: […]
How to Get Started on Twitter in 5 Minutes
Twitter makes it easy to sign up: Go to https://twitter.com/signup. Enter your name, email and password. Click Sign up for Twitter and choose your user name. That’s it! You can follow a few more steps if you like to fill out profile info, but that’s optional. Next, connect your Twitter account with your account on my site so that we can tweet together: Go to www.nataliemaclean.com/myaccount. Half way down the page, beside the blue button, fill in your Twitter name and click on the button. Ignore the overwrought warning, which is Twitter covering its, umm, bases. This is the standard text for […]
Video: Wine Industry Must Adapt or Face Digital Darwinism Part 2
The flood of e-mails, tweets and Facebook requests to post this second part of this video conversation below with Paul Mabray of Vintank on the wine industry and Digital Darwinism is heartening. Sometimes, you think you’re just talking to yourself … but when Paul Mabray is part of the conversation, people listen. Didn’t catch Part One of this conversation about wine and social media? Pull up a comfy chair, top that glass up and let it play. Here’s Paul’s presentation: Wine + Digital Here are the Robert Mondavi wines that we tasted: […]
Torres Celeste Crianza, Santa Rita Medalla, E. Guigal Gigondas: Best Cellar Wines in LCBO Vintages Release July 7
By Gaby Israel Here’s my best cellar wines list for this release as a shopping list that you can print. This time I have arranged my recommendations based on preference. The value-for-money and GPCi are still, as always, my guide. Chile – Maipo Valley – Santa Rita Medalla Real Gran Reserva Cabernet Sauvignon 2008 – $17.95 One of my favourites in this release. I have had this wine before and have recommended it several times. One of the best Cab Sauv you`ll find for $18. Expect full flavours Cab and enjoy it with a good juicy steak. Wine Enthusiast rewarded […]
Wynns Riesling, Thomas George Pinot Noir, Flat Rock Cellars Pinot Noir Rose: Best LCBO Wines Vintages Release July 7
Here are my top picks from the July 7 Vintages Release. You can also get all 67 of my Best Value Wines and Top Rated Wines for red, white, rose, sparkling and dessert wines that encompass many price points, styles and regions. I’ve also posted my picks for everyday good value wines from the regular list of wines as well as the July 7 Vintages Release. You can add my wine picks to your shopping list by clicking on the little shopping cart icon. You can also create a custom list just for this release that will be saved […]
Wine Marketing Brand Launch: Henry of Pelham Sibling Rivalry
In the video below, Daniel Speck shares a behind-the-scenes look at the incredibly successful launch of the wine brand Sibling Rivalry. How can you use consumer package goods marketing to such a fragmented, quirky and artisanal category like wine? In 1984, many people thought that the Speck family in Niagara was crazy when they ripped out their Concord grapes at their own expense and instead planted Chardonnay, Riesling and Cabernet Sauvignon. Today, they’re considered prescient for having been one of the first wineries in the region to make the leap to premium grapes and wine. Three […]
Tasting Pinot Noir, Tips for Writers Wine and Otherwise with Sideways Author
We continue our conversation with the author of the mega-hit wine book and movie Sideways, Rex Pickett, in the video below. Rex shares tips for aspiring writers who want to get published and we taste the famous Hitching Post Pinot Noir from the movie together. You’ll find part one of our conversion on the Sideways Wine Book and Movie here. You may also enjoy these video chats: Biodynamic and organic wines: do they taste better? Healthier? We chat with winemaker Ann Sperling, Southbrook Vineyards Social Media & Wine: Part 1 of Vintank’s Paul Mabray […]
Best Food (and Wine) Writing Story Collection
The editor of the annual anthology Best Food Writing got in touch yesterday to say that an excerpt from Unquenchable will be published in this year’s edition. The book collects the best food (and occasionally wine) writing of the year from magazines and books, such as Anthony Bourdain (Kitchen Confidential), Ruth Reichl (Gourmet Magazine), Gabrielle Hamilton (Blood, Bones & Butter), Frank Bruni (New York Times), Alan Richman (GQ), Madhur Jaffrey (Indian Cooking), and Colman Andrews (Saveur). It also includes food-related writing from “non-food” writers such as Calvin Trillin (New Yorker), Michael Lewis (Moneyball, Liar’s Poker) and Barbara Kingsolver (Poisonwood Bible). If […]
Sideways Wine Book and Movie: Pinot Noir, Rex Pickett and Yes Merlot
In this exclusive video interview below with Rex Pickett, author of the mega-hit wine book Sideways that was made into an Oscar-award-winning movie, we chat about his journey to publishing the book, how he learned about wine and why he loves pinot noir (not f****** merlot, as his character Miles would shout). Sideways is more than just a buddy road trip through California wine country with Paul Giamatti and Thomas Haden Church. It touches on themes of love, friendship, career disappointment, loyalty, loss and of course, pinot noir. But before the movie, there was the book. A bestseller, Sideways […]
Grilled Flank Steak Sandwich Recipe with Gorgonzola, Roasted Red Pepper Paired with Liberty School Cabernet
This isn’t your average steak sandwich. Pair this recipe with a wine that offers lots of ripe red fruit flavours and firm, but silky tannins. A great choice would be Liberty School Cabernet Sauvignon 2009 from the California’s Paso Robles region.
