Aspirin, caffeine, blowfish. What really cures a 2012 hangover (Happy, happy by the way)? We’re going with cheap — but good — wine. Sure, ’tis this time of year for New Year’s resolution cliches. But as wine journalist Natalie MacLean is well aware, the key is finding those bargain wines that actually are worth a second sip. In her latest book, Unquenchable: A Tipsy Quest for the World’s Best Bargain Wines, MacLean offers up her personal winery tasting experiences followed by tips for seeking out wine bargains in various regions. You know, the typical practical wine advice set up. Only […]
What’s Different in Wine Country Ontario – Toronto Tasting January 16
Toronto Event Monday, January 16, 2012, Reception: 6:00pm, Tasting: 6:30pm The Ontario Wine Society Toronto Presents: “What’s Different in Wine Country Ontario” Some Ontario wineries out there are “pushing the envelope” … “thinking outside the bottle” … “venturing in new directions”. They are making wines from non-mainstream varietals or different styles from mainstream varietals. And, they are doing a great job of this. We thought that you would be interested in trying some. We know that the winemakers would love to have you taste their pioneering efforts. So, we have assembled a collection of some of these interesting wines for […]
La Pieve Barolo, Fattoi Brunello di Montalcino, Domaine De L’arnesque Cuvée Capalane Among Top Wine Picks for LCBO Vintages Release January 7
By Gaby Israel The “Day After Tomorrow” is not only a name of a apocalyptic movie. It’s also a phenomena known at the LCBO as the month of January. After all the December hype with a huge variety of expensive wines a person can find in one single release, there isn’t any money left in the wallet (regardless of how deep your pocket used to be), and it seems as if there is nothing interesting left on the shelves… Or is there? Here are my top 3 picks for ‘The Day After Tomorrow’ release: 2007 La Pieve Barolo – $28.95 […]
Unquenchable Will Make you Feel Warm and Fuzzy; I love her lively writing – Reader’s Digest
This wine book will make you feel warm and fuzzy in its own way, by steering you toward low-priced yet high quality booze. In between cage diving with South African sharks, touring vines with a rosé-guzzling French mule and peeling potatoes with a Canadian special effects producer-turned-organic wine maker, MacLean visits some of the world’s most acclaimed wineries and takes notes on the best deals in everything from Shiraz to Pinot Noir to Port. She highlights one region per chapter, offers excellent “wine cheapskate” tips and suggests dishes crying out to be washed down by the local wares. I love […]
Inniskillin Chardonnay, Perrin & Fils Les Sinards, Kim Crawford Chardonnay, Urban Malbec among the Best Wines in the Vintages Release January 7
You can get all 48 of the top rated wines and smart buys that I’ve recommended from this release of wines as they encompass many price points, styles and regions. It always helps to have some back-up choices in case those below are already sold out. You can also add my Wine Picks to your custom shopping list by clicking on the little shopping cart icon. Stock up for the weekend, then enjoy! [table id=23 /]
Is there a big difference between a $10 and a $30 wine? How can you find good but affordable wines in the liquor store? The Link, CBC Radio
How do you find wines that are affordable, but still delicious and not too corporate or homogenized? Is there really a big difference in quality and taste between a $10 and a $30 wine? Does your ability to taste diminish as you get older? How can you become a better wine taster? Marc and I chat about these and tips on how to find these wines in the liquor store.
A First Rate Writer, With a Warm, Engaging Style… Compulsively Readable – Gerald Asher
Gerald Asher is my favourite wine writer: elegant and effortless in his prose. In 1974, the French government awarded him the Order of the Mérite Agricole, France’s oldest Civil Award, and in 2009 he was inducted into California’s Vintners’ Hall of Fame. His books, drawn mainly from his columns in Gourmet Magazine, for which he was the wine editor for 30 years, include On Wine, Wine Journal, Vineyard Tales, and The Pleasures of Wine. These are his thoughts on Unquenchable … Natalie MacLean is a first rate writer, with a warm, engaging style. Her interviews are excellent: she captures the […]
An Engaging Style That Makes the Book Fun to Read – San Jose Mercury News
The end of the year always brings flurries of new wine books, many of which are destined to become gifts for some wine lover. Two topics are getting a lot of attention this year: budget wines, and the tension between technology and “naturalness” in winemaking. For a view of “budget” wine, there’s “Unquenchable: A Tipsy Quest for the World’s Best Bargain Wines” by Natalie MacLean. Her book is arranged by days of the week, with each day representing a region of the world. The Australia chapter (Sunday) focuses most of its attention on Penfolds and Henschke. Each chapter ends with […]
Restaurant Wine Lists: Choosing Wines, Sommeliers, Fair Markups – The Restaurant Guys Radio Show
I chat with radio hosts Mark and Francis about restaurant wine lists, from advice on how to choose wines from a list to whether the markups are fair. We also cover a wide variety of other wine topics, including how do you earn a living from wine writing and the new book Unquenchable to shopping for wine with mobile apps and the power of social media, especially Twitter and Facebook, for finding new wines you love.
Top 10 Champagnes and Bubblies to Celebrate the New Year – Festive Fizz from France to Niagara, from Prosecco to Cava
The countdown to New Year’s Eve begins! Here are some terrific sparkling wines to help you celebrate. So many wine regions now produce bubblies: there’s a style and price point to make everyone feel festive. Cheers! Natalie [table id=24 /]
