Canadian Icewine: Extreme Winemaking

In our Facebook Live Video Wine Tasting above, we chat about the difficulty in making icewine and why it’s so expensive. We also welcome our special guest, Daniel Speck of Henry of Pelham Winery, Niagara, Ontario. You can click on the arrow above to play the video. If you’d like to read the 100+ comments, or make a comment yourself, visit: https://www.facebook.com/natdecants/videos/10154730618869845/ You’ll find the most recent live video wine tasting at the top of the timeline here: https://www.facebook.com/pg/natdecants/posts/ We taste every Sunday evening at 6 pm eastern so add us to your calendar and grab a glass of wine. Click […]

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Best LCBO Wine Reviews: Vintages Ratings January 6, 2024

  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 December 16th. These are just some of the benefits of supporting out 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 […]

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The Toughest Interview for Wine Witch on Fire Explores Shame and Resilience on CBC’s All in a Day

  I thought this topic might be interesting to those of you who are recalibrating your alcohol intake after the holidays. Several of you asked if I’m participating in dry or damp January. I’m not changing my habits specifically for January, but my year-round goal is to enjoy wine just three nights a week, and on those nights I aim for a maximum of two glasses.   Although December was a challenge given my heavy social calendar (just kidding about the social calendar bit), I’ve generally been able to stick to this. I feel great and at peace with my […]

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Icewine: Canada’s Gold in a Glass

Icewine: Canada’s golden winter elixir … that’s the hot topic of our segment above on CTV’s The Social. What is icewine and how is it different from other sweet wines? Why is Canada the world leader in producing it? Which are the best Icewines to buy right now and which food pairs best with Icewine? You’ll find all of the icewines we discussed in this segment, along with dry red and white wines, showing you the stock for each wine at your closest liquor stores so that you can try them this weekend. Where was Icewine first made? Icewine is believed […]

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From Andes to Amazon: A Wine Lover’s Guide to South America’s Hidden Vineyards with Amanda Barnes

Introduction Which types of global dishes can you pair with South American wines? What’s one of the best but little-known Chilean wine regions you need to try? Which types of wine do they make in other South American countries, such as Uruguay, Peru, Bolivia and Brazil? In this episode of the Unreserved Wine Talk podcast, I’m chatting with Amanda Barnes, author of The South America Wine Guide. You can find the wines we discussed here.   Join me on Instagram, Facebook and YouTube Live Video Join the live-stream video of this conversation on Wednesday at 7 pm eastern on Instagram Live Video, […]

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Malbec Magic: Argentina’s Bold Twist on a Classic with Amanda Barnes, Author of The South America Wine Guide

Introduction How did the South American wine industry develop? What might surprise you about the variety of wines produced in South America? How has Argentina’s flagship red wine, Malbec, changed over the past five years? In this episode of the Unreserved Wine Talk podcast, I’m chatting with Amanda Barnes, author of The South America Wine Guide. You can find the wines we discussed here.   Join me on Instagram, Facebook and YouTube Live Video Join the live-stream video of this conversation on Wednesday at 7 pm eastern on Instagram Live Video, Facebook Live Video or YouTube Live Video. I’ll be jumping into […]

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How to Calculate The Right Amount of Wine for You

Watch the CTV News Montreal video here   When it comes to drinking alcohol this holiday season, the right amount matters. Wine Growers Canada has a calculator to help you be more mindful of your consumption. Our resident wine expert and bon vivant Natalie MacLean, author of the national bestseller Wine Witch on Fire: Rising from the Ashes of Divorce, Defamation, and Drinking Too Much, is here to tell us more. When it comes to drinking alcohol this holiday season, the right amount matters. Wine Growers Canada has a calculator to help you be more mindful of your consumption. Our resident wine […]

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Beer versus Wine Tasting, Cicerones versus Sommeliers with Mandy Naglich, Author of How to Taste: A Guide to Discovering Flavor and Savoring Life

Introduction What’s the difference between tasting wine and beer when you want to identify specific aromas and flavours? What are some of the similarities and differences between a Cicerone or beer sommelier and a wine sommelier? How do retronasal aromas give you a different, deeper sense of the aromas of both beer and wine? In this Unreserved Wine Talk podcast episode, I’m chatting with author Mandy Naglich. You can find the wines we discussed here.   Join me on Instagram, Facebook and YouTube Live Video Join the live-stream video of this conversation on Wednesday at 7 pm eastern on Instagram Live Video, […]

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Holiday Wine and Food Pairing: CTV Morning Live

  In the video above, Leanne and I chat about holiday wine and food pairings for the Joy to the World Holiday Wine Match. Nominations are still open until Friday, so name your favourite wine and vote daily! The Twitter hashtag is #WHWM. Cheers, Natalie   Posted with permission of CTV Morning Live.       Holiday Wine and Food Pairing: CTV Morning Live Leanne: We are looking at some wonderful wines here and actually all under the price tag of $25, Natalie MacLean is joining us. You’ve had a ton of fun reaching out to your readers. Natalie: Exactly. […]

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Best LCBO Wine Reviews: Vintages Ratings December 16, 2023

  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 December 2nd. These are just some of the benefits of supporting out 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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