Join wine writer Natalie MacLean’s wine and travel world as she jets from one continent to another, from one wine region to the next exploring her passion for wine and highlighting some of the best values out there. Her style of writing is engaging, lively, and informative to the wine novice and educated consumer alike. She meets with owners and winemakers and explores the “stories” behind the wine. The book highlights the uniqueness, differences, and challenges that winemakers face in their respective regions. It is a wine book with truly a global perspective. At the end of each chapter/region Natalie […]
Chuckling at her Funny Tales, Captured by the Unique History of each Winery – Cookbooks and Apps
Don’t get me wrong… I love to drink wine. That said, I am definitely not a connoisseur, just one of those people who may not know about wines, or even want to really learn all the ins and outs of the various grapes, the distinctive wine making processes, or any of the other facts that real wine aficionados savour as much as the flavour. I’m one of those who hopes that the person selling the wine, really knows what will be the perfect choice for the dinner I’m preparing. The subtitle says it best “A Tipsy Quest for the World’s […]
Wine History and Definitions are Subtly Slipped into the Stories – San Francisco Bay Guardian
My recent flights overseas required some serious reading, and finishing Natalie Maclean’s new Unquenchable: A Tipsy Quest for the World’s Best Bargain Wines (www.nataliemaclean.com) helped a 10-hour flight pass quickly. Each section hits a different part of the world in search of high quality, value wines. From South Africa to Sicily, wine terms and history are subtly slipped into stories about individual winemakers and pairing recipes. A cheery book cover belies Ms. Maclean’s skill with imagery (she’s won the M.F.K. Fisher Distinguished Writing Award and four James Beard Foundation Journalism Awards). For example, in her particularly engaging chapter on German […]
Good Wine Doesn’t Have to be Expensive – Real Moms Love to Eat
Around the World in 8 Days: A Wine Guide That Gets It Right I’m no wine snob, but I can appreciate a good glass of…basically whatever my husband might hand to me. He’s even invested in a wine cooler so he can keep bottles stored at the right pressure and temperature. But do either of us know all the right words to use when describing it? Could we hold our own in a room filled with real wine connoisseurs? Not a chance, unless it involved talking with one of my new favorite writers, Natalie MacLean. This gal is a wine […]
A Wine Book with a Light, Funny and Conversational Style
If you are already thinking about the holidays and gift giving for wine lovers, I’ve got a recommendation. How about another book written by bestselling and award winning wine authority, Natalie MacLean? A few years ago I wrote a piece about a new wine book entitled, Red, White and Drunk All Over, by Natalie MacLean. I have known MacLean for many years through the Wine Writer’s Circle of Canada. Her first book was exceptionally well written and funny. I proclaimed to MacLean on many occasions, “Nat, you need to write a sequel!” (I’m sure that I’m not the only person […]
Crack a Bottle and a Book: Literary Gifts for Wine Lovers – Santa Barbara News-Press
While others across the country are imbibing in spiked eggnog, Santa Barbara County in particular will see wine lovers popping their favorite bottles during the holidays. Now come Christmas, when they open that pinot noir or pinot gris, they can enjoy it while drinking in one of the following wine titles they found under the tree. Unquenchable, subtitled “A Tipsy Quest for the World’s Best Bargain Wines,” by Natalie MacLean is a wine travelogue of sorts, detailing the author’s worldwide search for tasty but affordable everyday wines. Her search leads to the wine cellars, tasting rooms and dining tables in […]
Readable, Instructive, and Entertaining Book – New Jersey Monthly
If someone on your list thirsts for a readable, instructive, and entertaining book about wine, consider Unquenchable: A Tipsy Quest for the World’s Best Bargain Wines by Natalie MacLean. MacLean, a winner of four James Beard Foundation journalism awards, writes about her encounters and wine tasting experiences from around the world. Each chapter lists insider notes, best values, and recipes. Available at bookstores and online at www.nataliemaclean.com. You can read more reviews of my new wine book Unquenchable here.
Take It Inside – November is a Great Time for an Intimate Cheese Fondue Recipe
Cheese Fondue Fall is beautiful, colourful and very romantic. November rains are an invitation to cozy up indoors and appreciate the simple joys of life: the comforting presence of a loved one, a great meal and an intoxicating glass of wine. Forget your worries, embrace the moment and ask your better half to join you for an intimate dinner of cheese fondue and great wines. I propose this fondue of Canadian Swiss, Gouda and Cheddar cheese not only for its sensuality and warmth, but also for its wonderful flexibility and simplicity. I invite you to get creative with the dipping […]
Seasonal Cellar Wines – Best Picks from LCBO Vintages Release November 26
Yes, it’s this time of year in which all the good AND expensive stuff is offered at the LCBO – very seasonal. Here are a few exceptionally good “investments” to the cellar (in a decline price order) : 2009 Chateau de Beaucastel Chateauneuf-du-Pape – $89.95 If Chateauneuf-du-Pape had a similar classification as Bordeaux, no doubt that Beaucastel would be rewarded as “first growth”. However (and this is the good part), for this quality in Bordeaux, you would have paid 10-12 times more. Beaucastel has been consistently top quality wine with a “GPCi worthy” qualification. You can cellar these wines for 20-30 […]
Liquid Media Juggernaut Publishes Smart, Fast-Paced Wine Book with Wine Celebrity Interviews – Metro Canada
Canadian writer Natalie MacLean is a liquid media juggernaut whose just released Unquenchable: A Tipsy Quest For The World’s Best Bargain Wines is a smart, fast-paced chronicle of her adventures looking for cheap vino and meeting industry celebs along the way. This excerpt was published in 12 Metro daily newspapers across the country. You can read more reviews of my new wine book Unquenchable here.
