Men Versus Women Winemakers: Battle of the Bottles?

  In honour of International Women’s Day, we chatted with one of Canada’s best winemakers, Ann Sperling, who just happens to be a woman ;) You can click on the arrow above to watch our interview. You can also read more than 75 comments here: https://www.facebook.com/pg/natdecants/posts We discussed Ann’s pioneering work with biodynamic and organic viticulture, her various vineyards across Canada and in Argentina, and her own approach to winemaking. Want to get one of Ann’s wines? You have a wide choice: Southbrook, Versado, Sperling Vineyards and she has consulted for Benjamin Bridge. You’ll also find the specific wines we tasted […]

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Why is the Languedoc a Hotbed of Experimentation? Rosemary George Reveals What This Means for the Wines You Drink

Introduction Why is the Languedoc a hotbed of experimentation, and what does that mean for the wines you drink? What role have white and rosé wines played in the transformation of the Languedoc wine scene? What prompted the shift from mass-produced table wines to higher-quality appellation wines in Languedoc? In this episode of the Unreserved Wine Talk podcast, I’m chatting with author Rosemary George. You can find the wines we discussed here.   Giveaway Two of you are going to win a copy of her terrific book, Wines of the Languedoc.   How to Win To qualify, all you have to do […]

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Which Wines Win in the Battle of the Boxed versus Bottled Wines?

  Did you know that boxed wines are having a moment? But can they really compete with bottled wines? We’re about to find out!   Joining us today is Natalie MacLean who offers Canada’s most popular online wine classes at nataliemaclean.com. Welcome, Natalie.   Great to be back with you! I’m here to help us think outside the box – and to drink inside of it.   Natalie, many of us remember boxed wines from college days, and not fondly. What’s changed?   Everything! Don’t think of these as Chateau Cardbordeaux. They’re actually one of the fastest growing categories in […]

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Cupid’s Crush: What’s the Best Wine for Each Stage of a Relationship?

  Have you ever wondered which wines pair best with the roller coaster of romance? From first dates to final goodbyes, we’re exploring wines that match every stage of your love life.   Joining us today is Natalie MacLean who offers Canada’s most popular online wine classes at nataliemaclean.com.   Welcome, Natalie.   Great to be back with you! My motto for Valentine’s Day is candy is dandy and liquor is quicker – but wine is divine.         Let’s start with first dates. What wine would you recommend for those nerve-wracking initial encounters?         […]

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Best LCBO Wine Reviews: Vintages Ratings February 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 February 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 about […]

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Why are Languedoc Wines Capturing Worldwide Attention? Rosemary George Tells the Story

Introduction What makes the Languedoc particularly well-suited for organic viticulture? How have the wines of the Languedoc evolved since the 70s? How do the wines of the Languedoc region of southern France differ from neighbouring Roussillon? In this episode of the Unreserved Wine Talk podcast, I’m chatting with Rosemary George You can find the wines we discussed here.   Giveaway Two of you are going to win a copy of her terrific book, Wines of the Languedoc.   How to Win To qualify, all you have to do is email me at [email protected] and let me know that you’ve posted a review […]

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Forget Roses: Which Wines Say “I Love You”?

    Have you ever wondered which wines pair best with the roller coaster of romance? From first dates to final goodbyes, we’re exploring wines that match every stage of your love life.   Joining us today is Natalie MacLean who offers Canada’s most popular online wine classes at nataliemaclean.com.   Welcome, Natalie.   Great to be back with you, Crystal! My motto for Valentine’s Day is candy is dandy and liquor is quicker – but wine is divine.   Let’s start with first dates. What wine would you recommend for those nerve-wracking initial encounters?       Lenz Moser […]

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Why Did Greece Have the First Sommeliers, Wine Tastings and Writers? Konstantinos Lazarakis Reveals the Answers

Introduction What are some of the significant contributions that Greece has made to the world of wine? How does the Greek volcanic island of Santorini produce wines of stunning depth and freshness at the same time? How are Greek wines shifting the perspective on what’s possible for warm climate wines? In this episode of the Unreserved Wine Talk podcast, I’m chatting with Master of Wine Konstantinos Lazarakis. You can find the wines we discussed here.   Giveaway Two of you are going to win a copy of his terrific book, The Wines of Greece.   How to Win To qualify, all you […]

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Dry January: A Shift Toward Alcohol-Free Wines and the ‘Dry-ish’ Trend

  The start of 2025 brings a shift in drinking habits, with a new movement called “Dry January.” It’s gaining popularity with those seeking reduce or eliminate alcohol consumption while still enjoying the occasional glass or two.   Joining us today is Natalie MacLean who offers Canada’s most popular online wine classes at nataliemaclean.com. Welcome, Natalie!   Great to be back with you, Mona! I’m thrilled to chat about wines that have great taste without the alcoholic heft.   Tell us about the scale of this movement.   The numbers are revealing – 46% of Generation Z embraced Dry January […]

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What are the Surprising Wines and Regions of Greece? Konstantinos Lazarakis Shares His Favourites

Introduction What makes wine worth waiting for? How much wine is produced in Greece? What would surprise you about the wines of Greece? In this episode of the Unreserved Wine Talk podcast, I’m chatting with Konstantinos Lazarakis, author of the new book The Wines of Greece. You can find the wines we discussed here.   Giveaway Two of you are going to win a copy of his terrific book, The Wines of Greece.   How to Win To qualify, all you have to do is email me at [email protected] and let me know that you’ve posted a review of the podcast. It […]

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