With Mother’s Day just around the corner, it’s the perfect moment to raise a glass to the woman who shaped us. For some, that’s mom. For others, it’s an aunt, a grandmother, a mentor, or a cherished friend. Whoever she is, today we honour her. Today, we’re bottling up her best advice and pairing each pearl of wisdom with a wine that was made to deliver it. Who better to help us than Natalie MacLean, editor Canada’s largest wine review site at nataliemaclean.com. Welcome, Natalie. Great to be back with you! As a mom myself, […]
Coast to Coast Cheers: 6 Canadian Drinks for Mother’s Day
Mother’s Day is just around the corner. This year, we’re celebrating her with Canadian wines and craft beer from coast to coast. Who better to help us than Natalie MacLean, editor of Canada’s largest drinks review site at nataliemaclean.com. Welcome, Natalie. Great to be back with you! Today we’re toasting mom with drinks from coast to coast in honour of all that she’s poured into us for years. Some of it is emotional support, some of it is orange juice we didn’t ask for but drank anyway. Where are we starting today? […]
What Are the Insider Tips to Discovering and Buying the Best Cheese of Your Life? with Michael Finnerty
Introduction Why does buying from a good cheese shop often beat picking up a wedge from the supermarket? How do people underestimate the physical labor and other demands of being a cheesemonger? How does using a cheese iron reveal where a wheel of cheese is in its life? In this episode of the Unreserved Wine Talk podcast, I’m chatting with Michael Finnerty, author of the terrific new book The Cheese Cure: How Comté and Camembert Fed My Soul. You can find the wines we discussed here. Giveaway Three of you are going to win a copy of Michael Finnerty’s new […]
5 Sips for Supermoms: Heroic Drinks That Match Her Powers
Mother’s Day is this weekend, and whether you were raised by a mom or by another special woman who shared her wisdom along the way, we all know she isn’t just a parent, she’s a one-woman superhero squad. So today, we’re toasting her invisible talents with five drinks that match her superpowers, sip for sip. Who better to help us than our favourite drinks expert Natalie MacLean, editor Canada’s largest wine review site at nataliemaclean.com. Welcome, Natalie. Great to be back with you! I brought all my super friends here to celebrate mom because she’s faster […]
The Cheese Cure: How Comté and Camembert Fed My Soul With Michael Finnerty
Introduction Why do some wine and cheese pairings taste better together than either one alone? Why do some wines collapse when paired with certain cheeses? What will surprise you about cheese that’s similar to wine? In this episode of the Unreserved Wine Talk podcast, I’m chatting with Michael Finnerty, author of the terrific new book The Cheese Cure: How Comté and Camembert Fed My Soul. You can find the wines we discussed here. Giveaway Three of you are going to win a copy of Michael Finnerty’s new book, The Cheese Cure: How Comté and Camembert Fed My Soul. How […]
How Did a World Memory Champion, a Theatre Director, a Voice Coach, a TV Actor, and a Professional Magician Help Gerard Basset Win the World’s Best Sommelier Competition?
Introduction How did a world memory champion, a theatre director, a voice coach, a TV actor, and a professional magician all help one person win the World’s Best Sommelier Competition? How do top performers use nerves and adrenaline to their advantage? What do high achievers do when they accomplish the dreams they’ve been chasing for years? In this episode of the Unreserved Wine Talk podcast, I’m chatting with Nina and Romané Basset who have just published the commemorative edition of Tasting Victory: The Life and Wins of the World’s Favourite Sommelier, Gerard Basset. You can find the wines we discussed here. […]
How Did Discovering Wine Lead Gérard Basset to Become the World’s Best Sommelier?
Introduction How did Gérard Basset discover wine and then go on to become the World’s Best Sommelier? What does truly exceptional hospitality look like in practice? How did a man with no fine dining background develop such a deep understanding of what excellence looked and felt like? In this episode of the Unreserved Wine Talk podcast, I’m chatting with Nina and Romané Basset, who have just published a commemorative edition of the book Tasting Victory: The Life and Wine of the World’s Favourite Sommelier by Gerard Basset. You can find the wines we discussed here. Giveaway Two of you […]
6 Best Spring Wines for Sipping and Drinking (Video)
Mel As the weather warms up, it’s not just our wardrobes that need a seasonal update, our taste buds crave change too. So cast off those woolly-sweater wines and sip on something light, fresh and new. Here with the wine trends to look out for this spring is Natalie MacLean, who offers Canada’s most popular online wine classes. • Natalie Hello Lainey We’re starting with a trend that I’m really excited about, Pink Prosecco. Why are they so popular right now? Natalie • Take two already trendy wines—rosé and prosecco—and combine them for a mashup of this season’s […]
Is It the Wine or Is It You? Alan Ramey on What Really Makes Wine Taste Good
Introduction Is a fully organic future in agriculture possible or even affordable, or are there limits to how far we can go? Why has biodynamics thrived in wine when many of its founder’s ideas were rejected in medicine and education? How much of what you enjoy in wine comes from what’s in the glass versus your mental perception of what you’re drinking? In this episode of the Unreserved Wine Talk podcast, I’m chatting with Alan Ramey, author of Pressing Matters: The Debates, Controversies and Mysteries that have Shaped the World of Wine. You can find the wines we discussed here. Giveaway […]
3 Bottles to Elevate Your Easter Table
The kids’ Easter candy haul this weekend is actually a great flavour guide for some fun cocktails and terrific wines. Here to lead us on this adult Easter hunt is our favourite drinks expert Natalie MacLean, editor of Canada’s largest drinks site at nataliemaclean.com. Welcome, Natalie. Great to be back with you! Just let me say that no child’s candy stash was raided during the research for this segment, though in the name of science, I do believe in duplicating experiments this weekend. Today we’re going to find a bridge between your inner five-year-old who […]
