New Wine Memoir Takes a Behind-the-Scenes Look at the Wine World – CTV Your Morning

In her hot, new memoir, Wine Witch on Fire: Rising from the Ashes of Divorce, Defamation, and Drinking Too Much, Natalie MacLean writes about resurrecting her life and career in the glamourous but sexist wine industry. Indigo has named it one of the “Most Anticipated Books of the Season.” Natalie joins us now to chat about her memoir. Welcome Natalie. So what is the book about? Wine Witch on Fire: Rising from the Ashes of Divorce, Defamation, and Drinking Too Much starts with my shock when my husband of twenty years demands a divorce. My year gets […]

Challenging Wine Matches with Barbara Scott-Goodman, Author of Wine Time: 70+ Recipes for Simple Bites That Pair Perfectly with Wine

Introduction Can you pair pickled foods with wine, or will their vinegarized flavours ruin the wine? Which wines pair best with soft-shell crab? What goes into great food photography, whether in a magazine or cookbook? In this episode of the Unreserved Wine Talk podcast, I’m chatting with author Barbara Scott-Goodman. You can find the wines we discussed here. Giveaway Three of you will win a copy of Barbara Scott-Goodman’s terrific book Wine Time: 70+ Recipes for Simple Bites That Pair Perfectly with Wine. How to Win To qualify, all you have to do is email me at [email protected] and let me […]

Mother’s Day Brunch Wine and Champagne Pairings

Jeff and I had such fun chatting about wines for Mother’s Day gifts on Canada AM, especially champagne for brunch. There’s even a “live action” shot with uncorking a sparkler. (Okay, not so much.) Here are my Top 20 Wines for Mother’s Day, either made by women or named for them. Often the latter were originally made by women. You’ll also find more suggestions in my Mother’s Day wines for Epicurious as well as for More Magazine. Jeff: It’s Mother’s Day, of course, on Sunday, and if you are planning on taking her out for brunch, you might want to […]

Wine Sulphites, Mindful Drinking and Marketing Alcohol on The Erica Diamond Podcast

Introduction Should you avoid wine with sulphites? What are some of the important differences in the way wine is marketed to men versus women? How can you practice mindful drinking without giving up the wine you love? In this episode of the Unreserved Wine Talk podcast, I’m being interviewed by Erica Diamond on The Erica Diamond Podcast. 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 […]

Video: The Ultimate Guide to Pairing Wine and Chocolate

The hosts of CTV’s The Social and I shared lots of scandalous laughs this week pairing wine and chocolate for Valentine’s Day. Click on the arrow above to play the video. Laurent-Perrier Millésimé Champagne 2007 Champagne A.C., France What’s you favourite pairing? We love chocolate not just for its taste, but also for its sensual texture. Cocoa butter, one of its main ingredients, melts close to body temperature, so sliding a piece into your mouth and feeling it seep out to coat your tongue can almost be orgasmic. Maybe that why’s the […]

Bourbon, Mint Juleps + Kentucky Derby: A Spirited Race

April 20, 2024April 25, 2024 Natalie MacLean Leave a comment

When the Kentucky Derby runs this Saturday, the horses won’t be the only ones racing. Over at the Seelbach Hotel, the mint juleps will be flying too. By the end of the day, the hotel staff and its bartender, Edward Duffy, will have concocted more than 3,000 of these traditional cocktails made with bourbon and fresh mint hand-picked from the hotel grounds. Built in 1905, the Seelbach Hotel was F. Scott Fitzgerald’s favorite watering hole—and it was also his setting for the wedding of Daisy and Tom Buchanan in his novel The Great Gatsby. But today, amid the creaking bar […]

How the New Wine Tax Impacts You — Even If You Don’t Drink Wine

Click the arrow above to play the video Most of my topics on the TV morning shows are about enjoying wine with family and friends. However, recently I’ve started speaking out on the 6 pm newscasts, like this one from CTV, about the taxes levied on the Canadian wine industry. They’re higher than any other wine-producing country. This issue deserves your attention given its impact on the future of our wineries. I encourage you to contact your Member of Parliament (email addresses are noted with each member’s name). CTV News at 6 pm: The latest excise tax increase on […]

Pairing Bestselling Books With Best-Cellaring Wines

We’re back with Natalie MacLean. You can watch our first segment on book and bottle pairings here. This time we’re going outside the wine category of books with these pairings. What do you have for us first? We’re starting with one of my favorite authors, Candace Bushnell, who wrote this book, Is There Still Sex and the City? a fantastic follow-up to her blockbuster hit, TV series, several movies and now a theatrical production. I’d pair this book with this Rosé sparkling wine from La Marca because it’s just fabulous, as the four women in the […]

Books & Wines With Great Structure & Finish

We often chat about pairing wine and food, but what about pairing bottles with books? You can also watch part two of our book and bottle pairings from CTV yesterday. What’s the first pairing you recommend? We’re starting with one of my favorite wine books, The Wine Bible by Karen MacNeil. It’s sold more than a half a million copies worldwide and is a go-to reference book that’s also engagingly well-written. Karen lives in Napa Valley, so I’d pair this book with this full-bodied, complex Cabernet Sauvignon from Charles Krug, Napa Valley’s oldest winery […]

Video: What are Orange and Natural Wines?

What a terrific chat with Ann Sperling, Winemaker at Southbrook Vineyards! Click on the arrow above to watch the video. Listen to Ann’s stories about making Canada’s first orange wine. Is orange wine the new white wine? Why are orange and natural wines so trendy? What makes them different from other wines? Cheers, Natalie Watch previous episodes of the Sunday Sipper Club (SSC) and find out who’s coming up next. Click on the video above to hear Ann’s explanation of Orange wines. Here’s a sampling of our lively discussion from our tasting… Rachelle O’Connor · 34:47 As a Natural Nutritionist and […]