On CTV News, we chat about Georgian wines. So let’s get our bearing first by looking at a map. Georgia, the country, not the state, hugs the Black Sea, with its neighbours being Turkey, Azerbaijan, Armenia and Russia. It was formerly part of the Soviet republic. Almost three-quarters of the country’s wine is produced in Kakheti like this full-bodied, savoury dry red wine from Mukuzani. United Stars Mukuzani Dry 2015 Alazani Valley, Kakheti, Georgia How important is the winemaking tradition to the country? Winemaking is so important to the […]
A Day in the Life of Toro Malbec from Argentina
Our team recently tasted Toro Centenario Malbec from Mendoza, Argentina. We’re sharing our reviews of this terrific, value-priced wine here, plus photos we took with the wine below. Taking our inspiration from photo essays and books that focus on one topic for a day, we’ve assembled our pictorial interpretation of California’s Toro Malbec. We’re also sharing these photos on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, Tumblr and LinkedIn. The hashtag is Bodega Toro Winery Centenario Malbec 2019Mendoza, Argentina Like tango, soccer or a grilled steak, Argentines love the wines of their beautiful country, but their undisputed favourite is Toro. One out of […]
Taco Bell’s New Jalapeño Noir Wine: Should You Try It?
Introduction Taco Bell just launched its first wine called Jalapeño Noir, a Pinot Noir, get it? Is the wine any good? Should you try it? Does it pair well with tacos? What will surprise you about making the wine, especially the winery that made it? What was the stealth marketing plan behind the launch? What’s next, Big Macs and Bordeaux? In this episode of the Unreserved Wine Talk podcast, I’m going solo to do a live taste test for you. You can find the Jalapeno Noir wine here. Highlights How well did Taco Bell’s new Jalapeño Noir wine perform […]
Which Wine Pairs Best with Blue Cheese? Janice Beaton Makes the Match
Introduction Why are wine and cheese your best bets when entertaining? If you’re not a fan of blue cheese, where do you start to acquire a taste for it? How is blue cheese made? Can blue cheese actually have no blue colour? Where should you take a wine-and-cheese themed vacation? In this episode of the Unreserved Wine Talk podcast, I’m chatting with Janice Beaton, owner of Janice Beaton Fine Cheese which was known as Calgary’s best place to buy artisanal, fresh-cut cheeses from around the world. You can find the wines we discussed here. Highlights Why are wine and […]
Taco Bell Jalapeno Noir Wine: Taste Test Verdict (Video)
Taco Bell just launched a new wine called Jalapeno Noir, a Pinot Noir produced by the boutique Queenston Mile Vineyard in Niagara-on-the-Lake. Is this a perfect pairing or marketing mistake? Watch the video above to find out and let me know what you think of this combo in the comments below please. Cheers, Natalie 🍷 Queenston Mile Vineyard We love saying “cheesy chalupa”…rolls off your tongue like the wine! . 🍷 Andrea Shapiro It’s really awesome that it is sold through Taco Bell too, a new revolution for wine sales. Many restaurants have adapted to selling wines with take […]
Which Cheeses Go Well With Wine? Janice Beaton Shares Pairings
Introduction Why does cheese, like wine, spark obsession? Why do certain wines and cheeses have a similar flavour profile? What makes Canadian cheeses unique? Do different types of cows’ milk produce different flavours in cheese? How do you pair goat cheeses with wine? In this episode of the Unreserved Wine Talk podcast, I’m chatting with Janice Beaton, owner of Janice Beaton Fine Cheese which was known as Calgary’s best place to buy artisanal, fresh-cut cheeses from around the world. You can find the wines we discussed here. Highlights How did Janice develop her passion for cheese? What is it […]
7 Must-Buy Wines for Fall: New This Season (Video)
Today is the first day of fall, burr. I feel a chill in the air already. Just as we start to wear warmer clothes, we should also change the wines we drink. That’s what we chat about on CTV News. Click the arrow above to watch the segment. First off, what makes for a great fall wine? – full-bodied enough to pair well with more robust dishes. – extra texture, mouthfeel and weight for richer sauces. – and just for fun, the wine is trendy like fall fashions. You have a couple of examples there for […]
Best LCBO Wine Reviews: Vintages Ratings September 19
You can access the 117 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 August 22. 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 […]
Wine and Principled Persuasion with Dragon’s Den Arlene Dickinson
Introduction What would it look like for you to pitch a winery on Dragon’s Den versus The Big Decision? What are the creative similarities between writing a book and making a wine? What’s the difference between being financially versus creatively invested in a company? What are the three pillars of principled persuasion in business and life? In this episode of the Unreserved Wine Talk podcast, I’m chatting with Arlene Dickinson, one of Canada’s top entrepreneurs who has had phenomenal success in many fields, from television to books and consultancy to consumer products. You can find the wines we discussed here. Highlights How […]
Master of Wine vs Master Sommelier? Jane Masters Reveals the Difference
Introduction What’s the difference between a Master of Wine (MW) and a Master Sommelier (MS)? How can you take advantage of your surroundings to become a better wine taster? Is there a benefit to focusing on tasting notes instead of scores? What is involved in each of the stages of the MW exam? In this episode of the Unreserved Wine Talk podcast, I’m chatting with Jane Masters MW, Chairman of the Institute of Masters of Wine and independent consultant for the Opimian Society, Canada’s largest wine buying club. You can find the wines we discussed here. Highlights How did […]
