You can access the 54 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. 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 […]
Holiday Movie Wines + Cool Chardonnay with Brian Schmidt
Introduction What exactly is a cool climate Chardonnay? Which dishes are delicious with this style of Chardonnay? What’s the most important element for you to discover when tasting wine? Why did Chardonnay become so popular, then fall out of favour? What is the Cool Climate Chardonnay Celebration? In this episode of the Unreserved Wine Talk podcast, I’m chatting with Brian Schmidt, Vice President and Winemaker at Vineland Estates Winery. You can find the wines we discussed here. Highlights What are the hallmarks you would find in cool climate wine-producing regions? Why is “cool climate” being redefined? Which traditional cool […]
Video: 5 Best Wine and Holiday Movie Pairings
‘Tis the season for holiday movies. Our next guest has some wine suggestions to make watching them more festive this year. Here with her picks is Natalie MacLean who offers Canada’s most popular online wine classes at nataliemaclean.com Welcome Natalie. Before we get to your pairings, why are classic movies such a big part of the holiday season? Holiday movies are often more cringe-worthy than binge-worthy, yet we continue to watch them for their predictably happily-ever-after as a maladaptive COVID copying strategy. Hallmark alone has produced 136 holiday movies, and now has even has its only wines, a […]
Wine Tasting and Pairing Tips from Master Sommelier Bruce Wallner
Introduction Is being a sommelier as glamourous as it seems? Why is it sometimes difficult to differentiate between certain New and Old World wines? How does terroir play a key role in a blind tasting? What’s it like being in a sommelier competition? In this episode of the Unreserved Wine Talk podcast, I’m chatting with Bruce Wallner, Master Sommelier at Sommelier Factory. You can find the wines we discussed here. Highlights What un-glamourous truth might you be surprised to learn about being a sommelier? What intangible joy can you get from being a sommelier? How should you view the […]
Calmel & Joseph Villa Blanche Chardonnay Le Villa Loca Cocktail Recipe
Take a trip… from the comfort of your kitchen! Today we’re feeling a little bit Latin and heading for Italy, with a dish and cocktail by Charlotte Chalret and Gaetan Thabourin from the restaurant Agapé in Carcassonne. They have created artichokes in the El Padrino style (Artichauts façon El Padrino) and a cocktail called, “Le Villa Loca” made with Calmel & Joseph Villa Blanche Chardonnay. Calmel & Joseph Villa Blanche Chardonnay 2019 La Villa Loca Cocktail Serves 1 Put in a mixing glass: 4 ice cubes 1 oz. Cranberry juice 1 tsp. peach or apricot jam Lemon zest Mix ingredients […]
Best LCBO Wine Reviews: Vintages Ratings December 12
You can access the 107 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 November 28. 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 […]
Pairing California Wine and Gourmet Burgers with Winemaker Joel Gott
Introduction How do you pair wine with burgers? What is it about California that gives us such a wide variety of wine? How is the Napa Valley food scene? What restaurant industry lessons help Joel make better wine? In this episode of the Unreserved Wine Talk podcast, I’m chatting with Joel Gott, owner and winemaker at Joel Gott Wines. You can find the wines we discussed here. Highlights When will you see the most “action” at a winery? What facts might you be surprised to learn about Napa Valley? Which highly-acclaimed restaurants should you visit on your next trip […]
Wine and Cheese Pairings to Celebrate the Holidays with Janet Fletcher
Introduction Should you try a cheese-only cheese course? Why are cheese and bread not necessarily great matches for cheese? Which underappreciated wine and cheese pairing should you try today? How does sparkling wine stack up with your favourite cheeses? Have you been serving cheeses the wrong way? Should you eat the rinds on cheeses? In this episode of the Unreserved Wine Talk podcast, I’m chatting with award-winning journalist and author, Janet Fletcher. You can find the wines we discussed here. Highlights What shift can you see in the restaurant industry’s approach to serving cheese? Which mindset shift did Janet […]
Best LCBO Wine Reviews: Vintages Ratings November 28
You can access the 132 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 November 14. 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 […]
Calmel & Joseph Villa Blanche Chardonnay Paired with Coconut Whipped Ganache and Mango Mousse Dessert Recipe
Coconut Whipped Ganache 225 grams coconut milk. Heat coconut milk and glucose syrop, add to white chocolate, then mix together. 25 grams glucose syrup then add the liquid cream, stand for 24 hours then beat with a mixer. 325 grams white chocolate 600 grams liquid cream Exotic Confit 2 mangoes 2 pineapples, cook the fruit and the sugar for 20 minutes then, add the sugar pectin mixture 5 passion fruit, and cook for 10 minutes 200 grams sugar 10 grams of pectin, plus 50 grams of sugar Calmel & Joseph Villa Blanche Chardonnay 2019 Mango Mousse 500 grams mango puree […]
