Just back from a fantastic trip to South Africa, where I visited wineries in many of the major regions, including Stellenbosch, Hermanus, Robertson, Franschhoek, Durbanville and Paarl. I’ll be be posting my reviews of the wines I tasted over the next week or two. But in the meantime, here’s the complete list of the 44 wineries I visited/met with during my trip. Got a favourite South African wine? Amani Vineyards Boekenhoutskloof Bon Cap Boschendal Wines De Toren Delheim Bellingham Boschendal Bouchard Finlayson Creation Wines Durbanville Hills Fairview Flagstone Goats do Roam Graham Beck Hamilton Russell Vineyards Haut Espoir Kanonkop Estate […]
Uncorked Movie Premiere March 6
I’m excited to team up with Hallmark for the premiere of the movie Uncorked March 6. I’ll be tweeting wine tips daily via @HallmarkChannel on Twitter and you can find these posted at the Uncorked Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/hallmarkchannel?v=app_11007063052 The movie is the story of a no-nonsense businesswoman (played by Julie Benz) who heads to a conference with the intention of sealing a huge deal, but ends up being given a view of a different way of life when she meets a famous chef and his family. Scott Elrod plays the character Andrew, and Elliott Gould and JoBeth Williams are Paul […]
Twitter Trend Chart
Just discovered a nifty Twitter trend chart on the web called TwitterCounter above and plugged in my Twitter handle @NatalieMacLean. It tracks the growth and trends of your tweets and followers over time. You can do comparisons as well if you’re curious. (Don’t try Ashton Kutcher: your growth line will be crushed.) I can’t believe how many tools and add-ons there are for Twitter these days: It’s a testamount to social media’s growing influence, and Twitter in particular. I’ve been on Twitter now for just over a year and I love that I’ve found almost 8,000 new friends. And this […]
New Wine Reviews
Number of Wines Recommended: 43 Review date: February 20, 2010 The highlights in this Vintages release include: – Best value white: Lime-fresh white from Portugal for pork and shellfish $13.95 – Favourite white: Voluptuous, mouth-filling Niagara Chardonnay for cornish hen, lobster in butter 93/100 – Best value red (tied): Heart-stopping Australian Merlot prime rib and hamburgers $14.95 (scored 90/100) – Favorite red: Classic Rhone Syrah blend from Gigondas for hearty meat dishes 92/100 – Favourite Rosé: Strawberry fields forever, lovely and refreshing! 88/100 – Favourite Sparkling Wine: A toasty Spanish cava for big parties $17.95 You can see a […]
Which Wine to Pair with Lost?
Following on the briliant outpouring of creative suggestions for wines to drink while watching 24, herewith, we launch the quest to find wines to quaff while vegging out in front of the last season of Lost. May I kick things off with a modest suggestion of Tyrell’s Lost Block? Okay, that’s not a stretch so give your most creative wine pairings and I’ll post them here. Cheers, Natalie PS They look really thirsty here … someone open a refreshing Sauvignon Blanc for Pete’s sakes.
Which wines go best with Clam Chowder?
Most of us think of hearty wines with soups or stews because their meat and texture is appetizingly rich from slow cooking. These winter warmers often work, but you might also consider other ingredients. Spices, herbs and tomatoes add tangy notes that may call for wines with good acidity, while vegetables such as onions, carrots and squash add an element of sweetness and so wines with more rounded, lush fruity flavors work. Just as you experiment with different seasonings in your pot, try different flavors in your glass to see which ones you like best—and enjoy! These wine pairings and […]
New Wine Reviews
Number of Wines Recommended: 68 Review date: 2/6/2010 The highlights in this Vintages release include lots of amazing wines rated 90+ points for incredibly low prices. This is a terrific release and it’s reflected in how many wines I’ve recommended. Enjoy! – 14 wines under $20 – Best value white: A stunningly tasty Portuguese white ideal for fried chicken or fish – Favourite white (tied): Hazelnut melted butter goodness in this Aussie Chardonnay to pair with roast chicken 92/100 – Favorite white (tied): A classic Chablis with vibrant lime aromas, drink with shellfish, seafood 92/100 – Best value red (tied): […]
The Pleasures of Austrian Wine
Austria’s whites like Grüner Veltliner, Riesling or Sauvignon Blanc have shown their potential in many international blind tastings. Nowhere on earth are great wines more refreshing, so full of character. Enjoy Austria’s new red wine culture, lead by Zweigelt, Blaufränkisch and St. Laurent. Distinctively delicious and refreshingly different – these wines are far away from the uniformity of the international red wine mainstream. The intensive gold hue of Austria’s noble sweet wines glows in the glass like a peaceful sunset over the Neusiedlersee lake. Every sip of these rare velixirs of nature captures the senses. Truly unforgettable. A taste […]
Our cups run over: Wine fundraiser for Haiti Feb 9
Hats off to Steven Lifford & his team at Lifford Wine Agency for organizing a wine fundraiser on Feb 9 at Roy Thompson Hall in Toronto for victims of the earthquake in Haiti. The details are still coming together, but it’s promising to be a fabulous evening. The Lifford team has created the web site, Eat, Drink and Give. There’ll be a silent auction that evening for which I’ve thrown in 12 signed copies of Red, White and Drunk All Over and 5 complementary one-year subscriptions to my wine reviews. On Twitter the hash tag is #eatdrinkgive and you can […]
Which Wine to Pair with 24?
The new season of 24 has started with a bang. Wine lovers are wondering not so much how Jack Bauer will get out of his latest predicament, but rather, which wine(s) to drink while watching the series. Until that’s settled, there’s no way we can focus on the plot. So here are some fun suggestions to kick things off from my wine friends on Twitter, Facebook and elsewhere online: A tasty, and a challenging pairing! Probably something bianco & indigenous to Italy. Falanghina perhaps? @CityWineJournal I’m also thinking an Oregon Pinot might work… unassuming yet powerful (as in a Bauer […]
