Unreserved Wine Talk

What is a Cape Wine Master? Should you buy wines based on medals won from competitions? What does the future of wine recommendations look like? In this episode of the Unreserved Wine Talk podcast, I'm chatting with international wine and spirit judge, Dr. Winnie Bowman. You can find the wines we discussed at https://www.nataliemaclean.com/winepicks Highlights Why did Winnie transition out of her previous careers and into the wine industry? What is a Cape Wine Master, and how is it different from a Master of Wine? How costly is it to become a Cape Wine Master? What are some of Winnie's earliest memories of wine? Which types of sweet wines is South Africa known for? What are some challenges faced by women working to make a name for themselves in the wine industry? How did a vertical tasting in Rome feature in Winnie's best moment of her wine career so far? How did Super Tuscan winemakers defy traditional wine regulations and come out on top? What interesting notes did Winnie notice in tasting 50 years of Sassicaia wines? How does tasting technique help you avoid palate fatigue? What have been some of the most interesting wine competitions to judge? Which hard-to-find grapes has Winnie encountered while judging wine competitions? How do wine competitions and the medals they award impact consumer decisions? Key Takeaways I was interested to learn what a Cape Wine Master is and how that differs from Master of Wine. Winnie also had some great insights into whether we should buy wines based on medals won from competitions and how those competitions themselves are run. I loved her story about tasting through 50 years of the cult Tuscan wine Sassicaia and that 1950s vintage still had power and grace - it wasn't tired. Join me on Instagram, Facebook and YouTube Live Join the live-stream video of this conversation on Wed at 7 pm ET on Instagram Live Video, Facebook Live Video or YouTube Live Video. I want to hear from you! What's your opinion of what we're discussing? What takeaways or tips do you love most from this chat? What questions do you have that we didn't answer? Want to know when we go live? Add this to your calendar: https://www.addevent.com/calendar/CB262621 About Dr. Winnie Bowman Dr. Winnie Bowman is a physiotherapist, biomedical scientist and holds a PhD in Education, specializing in Didactics. She is an international wine and spirit judge as well as a Cape Master. Winnie writes about wine, teaches, presents corporate tastings and appears regularly on radio and television wine shows. To learn more, visit https://www.nataliemaclean.com/244.

How can you use AI to get wine and food pairing advice? Will using AI make wine styles and flavours less diverse? Will AI replace wine writers? In this episode of the Unreserved Wine Talk podcast, I'm chatting with Dina Blikshteyn, a lawyer who specializes in how artificial intelligence and machine learning is changing the wine world. Note: Our discussion is not intended to be a substitute for professional legal advice and is for informational purposes only. You can find the wines we discussed at https://www.nataliemaclean.com/winepicks Highlights Is there a risk that using AI tools will make wine taste more uniform? How can AI-enabled machines help to vineyards to go organic? What's involved in making AI models more accurate in wine analysis? How can AI be utilized to identify anomalies and potential fraud in the wine industry? Can AI make appropriate wine and food pairing recommendations? What are the copyright implications of AI-generated content? Is there a role for AI in the world of wine critics? How can trade secrets be used to protect AI models, specifically around wine recommendations? How will AI be used in tasting rooms of the future? Key Takeaways I was interested to learn about the ways AI can give wine and food pairing tips, but I am immensely relieved that AI won't be replacing me any time soon. Used the right way, AI won't make wine styles and flavours less diverse. Rather it should expand them if the tool is used to make wine better. I was fascinated with her description of how AI is being used to grow grapes and all aspects of the process. It'll be interesting to see if drones become a common sight over the vineyards… maybe they'll invent one to chase away annoying tourists - just the pesky ones, of course. Join me on Instagram, Facebook and YouTube Live Join the live-stream video of this conversation on Wed at 7 pm ET on Instagram Live Video, Facebook Live Video or YouTube Live Video. I want to hear from you! What's your opinion of what we're discussing? What takeaways or tips do you love most from this chat? What questions do you have that we didn't answer? Want to know when we go live? Add this to your calendar: https://www.addevent.com/calendar/CB262621 About Dina Blikshteyn Dina Blikshteyn is a partner in the Intellectual Property Practice Group in the New York law office of Haynes Boone. Dina focuses on artificial intelligence and machine learning, cloud computing, cyber security, web applications, algorithms, multimedia and video streaming, among other technologies. She is also a co-chair of the artificial intelligence practice at the firm. Prior to becoming a lawyer, Dina developed high-frequency trading systems that traded financial instruments on domestic and international exchanges. To learn more, visit https://www.nataliemaclean.com/243.

Are you curious how artificial intelligence will change the wines you drink? What's the difference between AI-based technology and existing automated machines? Will AI eventually replace most people working in the vineyard? In this episode of the Unreserved Wine Talk podcast, I'm chatting with Dina Blikshteyn, a lawyer who specializes in how artificial intelligence and machine learning is changing the wine world. Note: Our discussion is not intended to be a substitute for professional legal advice and is for informational purposes only. You can find the wines we discussed at https://www.nataliemaclean.com/winepicks Highlights What was Dina's first memory of drinking wine as a poor college student? What's the difference between automation and artificial intelligence? How is AI improving grape growing and winemaking systems? What's the difference between newer AI-enabled machines and existing automated farming machines? Which types of technology are used with AI in the wine industry? Is there a risk of AI replacing human intervention in vineyards? Who owns the data associated with machine learning, and what are the risks with data privacy? What are the legal implications around the fair use of data obtained from the internet for AI training? Key Takeaways I was fascinated to learn how artificial intelligence will change the wines you drink. AI can determine whether the grapes are getting enough water in the growing stage and other factors to optimize ripeness and avoid disease. That, in turn, will make for better quality wine related to those factors. Dina's clarification of the difference between AI-based technology and existing automated machines was helpful. AI is a subset of automation that involves training models on data. It eventually makes new decisions and outputs, whereas traditional automation sticks to the rules you set for it. I'm glad to hear that AI will not eventually replace most people working in the vineyard. Dina makes a great analogy that when the calculator was invented, we still needed to know how to do math. It's the same thing with AI; it's just a tool. Join me on Instagram, Facebook and YouTube Live Join the live-stream video of this conversation on Wed at 7 pm ET on Instagram Live Video, Facebook Live Video or YouTube Live Video. I want to hear from you! What's your opinion of what we're discussing? What takeaways or tips do you love most from this chat? What questions do you have that we didn't answer? Want to know when we go live? Add this to your calendar: https://www.addevent.com/calendar/CB262621 About Dina Blikshteyn Dina Blikshteyn is a partner in the Intellectual Property Practice Group in the New York law office of Haynes Boone. Dina focuses on artificial intelligence and machine learning, cloud computing, cyber security, web applications, algorithms, multimedia and video streaming, among other technologies. She is also a co-chair of the artificial intelligence practice at the firm. Prior to becoming a lawyer, Dina developed high-frequency trading systems that traded financial instruments on domestic and international exchanges. To learn more, visit https://www.nataliemaclean.com/242.

Why do I not review bad wines? What's the difference between sexist, sexy and sensual writing, whether it's in wine tasting notes or beyond? What are the big differences between wine reviews and articles, and what value does each form give to readers? In this episode of the Unreserved Wine Talk podcast, I'm being interviewed by Luke Whittall, host of The Sipster's Wine Podcast. You can find the wines we discussed at https://www.nataliemaclean.com/winepicks Highlights What's the difference between sexist, sexy and sensual writing? Why does getting divorced often force us to reevaluate all facets of our lives? How is the general style of wine writing changing, and what's behind the shift? Why is it essential to be intentional about making space for new voices in the wine world? How has hosting the Unreserved Wine Talk podcast helped me to grow as a writer? What do I love most about podcasting? What does it look like to get to know someone before rushing to judgment on social media? Why don't I review bad wines? Join me on Instagram, Facebook and YouTube Live Join the live-stream video of this conversation on Wed at 7 pm ET on Instagram Live Video, Facebook Live Video or YouTube Live Video. I want to hear from you! What's your opinion of what we're discussing? What takeaways or tips do you love most from this chat? What questions do you have that we didn't answer? Want to know when we go live? Add this to your calendar: https://www.addevent.com/calendar/CB262621 About Luke Whittall Luke Whittall has worked in cellars, vineyards, and wine shops since 2005. He has authored or co-authored 4 books on wine and is currently a wine instructor at Okanagan College. HIs most recent book, The Sipster's Pocket Guide to 50 Must-Try BC Wines, Volume 2 (Touchwood Editions 2023) follows up on the success of volume 1 of The Sipster's Pocket Guide to 50 Must-Try BC Wines, and continues to mark a new direction in wine writing. It features more of the most amazing wines ever produced in British Columbia. His first book, Valleys of Wine: A Taste of British Columbia's Wine History was published in 2019 and he co-authored the 6th edition of The Okanagan Wine Tour Guide with John Schreiner in 2020. To learn more, visit https://www.nataliemaclean.com/241.

How do you deal with the mob mentality of social media when it's a part of your work? How can you find the humour in the dark moments of life? What has changed in the past ten years in the wine industry when it comes to inequality and discrimination? In this episode of the Unreserved Wine Talk podcast, I'm being interviewed by Luke Whittall, host of The Sipster's Wine Podcast. You can find the wines we discussed at https://www.nataliemaclean.com/winepicks Highlights What makes Wine Witch on Fire closer to fiction than nonfiction, despite being a memoir? Which series of events in 2012 ended up as the worst vintage of my life? What was it about that initial incident in 2012 that caused the issue to escalate so much? What are some of the challenges of working on social media and balancing your personal values? Does social media encourage a mob mentality? What has changed in awareness and the responses to harassment on social media in the past 10 years? Has my writing changed as a result of my experiences? How am I able to inject humour into the darkest moments of my life? Join me on Instagram, Facebook and YouTube Live Join the live-stream video of this conversation on Wed at 7 pm ET on Instagram Live Video, Facebook Live Video or YouTube Live Video. I want to hear from you! What's your opinion of what we're discussing? What takeaways or tips do you love most from this chat? What questions do you have that we didn't answer? Want to know when we go live? Add this to your calendar: https://www.addevent.com/calendar/CB262621 About Luke Whittall Luke Whittall has worked in cellars, vineyards, and wine shops since 2005. He has authored or co-authored 4 books on wine and is currently a wine instructor at Okanagan College. HIs most recent book, The Sipster's Pocket Guide to 50 Must-Try BC Wines, Volume 2 (Touchwood Editions 2023) follows up on the success of volume 1 of The Sipster's Pocket Guide to 50 Must-Try BC Wines, and continues to mark a new direction in wine writing. It features more of the most amazing wines ever produced in British Columbia. His first book, Valleys of Wine: A Taste of British Columbia's Wine History was published in 2019 and he co-authored the 6th edition of The Okanagan Wine Tour Guide with John Schreiner in 2020. To learn more, visit https://www.nataliemaclean.com/240.

How do wild yeasts help to bring out unique qualities in wine? What's involved in farming and making wine sustainably? How does changing the temperature of your wine impact the tasting experience? In this episode of the Unreserved Wine Talk podcast, I'm chatting with winemaker Carolyn Hurst. You can find the wines we discussed at https://www.nataliemaclean.com/winepicks Giveaway Three of you in Canada will win a bottle of one of Carolyn's fabulous wines. To qualify, all you have to do is email me at natalie@nataliemaclean.com and tell me that you'd like to win a copy. I'll choose three people randomly from those who contact me. Good luck! Highlights How do Canadian shipping regulations impact winemakers? What can wine lovers do to help with changing overly-restrictive policies? Which types of wine can you get from Westcott Vineyards? Why does Carolyn prefer using wild yeast to ferment Westcott wines? What is it about Lilias Ahearn Massey that inspired Carolyn to name a wine after her? Who is the inspiration behind Westcott's Violette wine? What's involved in farming and making wine sustainably? How did Westcott make their wines vegan and vegetarian-friendly? Which unpopular wine opinion does Carolyn hold? Why would Carolyn want to share a bottle of wine with a stoic? Which fun wine tip can you try this week? Key Takeaways I was fascinated to hear how wild yeasts help to bring out unique qualities in wine and what's involved in farming and making wine sustainably. I agree with Carolyn about how profoundly changing the temperature of wine impacts the tasting experience. I also agree that liquor monopolies and licensing based on prohibition-era legislation are preventing Canadian winemakers from being able to legally ship their wines across the country. That needs to change, especially for an industry where each producer is so small that they often don't produce enough to fulfill large liquor store chain orders and so they depend on direct orders from customers. Join me on Instagram, Facebook and YouTube Live Join the live-stream video of this conversation on Wed at 7 pm ET on Instagram Live Video, Facebook Live Video or YouTube Live Video. I want to hear from you! What's your opinion of what we're discussing? What takeaways or tips do you love most from this chat? What questions do you have that we didn't answer? Want to know when we go live? Add this to your calendar: https://www.addevent.com/calendar/CB262621 About Carolyn Hurst Carolyn Hurst is president of Westcott Vineyards in Niagara, Ontario, which she founded with her husband Grant Westcott in 2006. Since 2017, she has been the Chair of the Board at Ontario Craft Wineries, representing more than 100 wineries in the province. Previously, she has been the president of three successful technology companies. She also has significant experience in the restaurant/hospitality industry earlier on in her career. She is a graduate of the University of Western Ontario. To learn more, visit https://www.nataliemaclean.com/239.

Why is it a good idea for winemakers to invest in old vines? What does it mean to be a good steward of the land? What unique challenges does the Ontario wine industry face in the next five years? In this episode of the Unreserved Wine Talk podcast, I'm chatting with winemaker Carolyn Hurst. You can find the wines we discussed at https://www.nataliemaclean.com/winepicks Giveaway Three of you in Canada will win a bottle of one of Carolyn's fabulous wines. To qualify, all you have to do is email me at natalie@nataliemaclean.com and tell me that you'd like to win a copy. I'll choose three people randomly from those who contact me. Good luck! Highlights Which entrepreneurial game did Carolyn love to play as a child? How did summer school in France change Carolyn's life? What made Carolyn want to get involved in the wine business? Which special moment was the most memorable for Carolyn in her wine career so far? Why is it a good idea to invest in old vines? How does Carolyn's motivation to be a good steward of the land inform her business decisions? What is the Niagara Escarpment, and how does its unique features influence its wine? Why does limestone soil impart a specific taste to wines? What's holding Ontario wines back from increasing local market share? Which basic facts should you be aware of when it comes to the Ontario wine industry? Which challenges are being faced by Ontario wineries, and what is needed to achieve economic sustainability? Key Takeaways Carolyn's explanation of why old vines are precious and important to the quality of the wine makes a solid case for winemakers to invest in them. I like how Carolyn describes being a good steward of the land for the next generation and making that a big part of her consciousness in terms of how she operates. I was intrigued by Carolyn's description of the unique challenges the Ontario wine industry faces in the next five years and was surprised at both its economic impact and that the wines still aren't well represented on many wine lists. Join me on Instagram, Facebook and YouTube Live Join the live-stream video of this conversation on Wed at 7 pm ET on Instagram Live Video, Facebook Live Video or YouTube Live Video. I want to hear from you! What's your opinion of what we're discussing? What takeaways or tips do you love most from this chat? What questions do you have that we didn't answer? Want to know when we go live? Add this to your calendar: https://www.addevent.com/calendar/CB262621 About Carolyn Hurst Carolyn Hurst is president of Westcott Vineyards in Niagara, Ontario, which she founded with her husband Grant Westcott in 2006. Since 2017, she has been the Chair of the Board at Ontario Craft Wineries, representing more than 100 wineries in the province. Previously, she has been the president of three successful technology companies. She also has significant experience in the restaurant/hospitality industry earlier on in her career. She is a graduate of the University of Western Ontario. To learn more, visit https://www.nataliemaclean.com/238.

What does regenerative viticulture mean? How do healthy vineyards today look dramatically different from those five years ago? How did the Wine Olympics make the results of the Judgement of Paris undeniable? In this episode of the Unreserved Wine Talk podcast, I'm chatting with author Mark Gudgel. You can find the wines we discussed at https://www.nataliemaclean.com/winepicks Giveaway Three of you will win a copy of Mark's new book, Rise of Napa Valley Wineries: How the Judgment of Paris Put California Wine on the Map. To qualify, all you have to do is email me at natalie@nataliemaclean.com and tell me that you'd like to win a copy. I'll choose three people randomly from those who contact me. Good luck! Highlights How did the Wine Olympics make the results of the Judgement of Paris undeniable? What did the people of Napa do to preserve the beauty of the valley? What does regenerative viticulture mean? How is climate change impacting the California wine industry? What surprised Mark the most when researching the book? What needs to change to improve the terribly low levels of diversity in the wine industry? Which aspects of The Rise of Napa Valley Wineries would Mark change in a new edition? What's Mark's greatest satisfaction having written this book? Where's the ideal place to have a glass of wine with friends and why? Why does Mark describe the 2017 Smith-Madrone Riesling as the perfect Riesling? What did Mark love about Christopher McDougall's Born to Run? Which controversial wine opinion does Mark feel strongly about? What does Mark want you to know about Oakville, Napa Valley? Key Takeaways Mark's definition of regenerative viticulture was helpful. I especially like his observation that the new vision for a beautiful vineyard is rows of well-maintained grapevines with a tremendous diversity of life living within it. I agree with him that if we resign ourselves to merely sustaining where we are, we have resigned ourselves to a long, slow death. I enjoyed his story about how the Wine Olympics made the results of the Judgement of Paris undeniable. It's also undeniable that the wine industry has a long way to go, with only four African-American Master Sommeliers, and only 10% of Master Sommeliers being women. Join me on Instagram, Facebook and YouTube Live Join the live-stream video of this conversation on Wed at 7 pm ET on Instagram Live Video, Facebook Live Video or YouTube Live Video. I want to hear from you! What's your opinion of what we're discussing? What takeaways or tips do you love most from this chat? What questions do you have that we didn't answer? Want to know when we go live? Add this to your calendar: https://www.addevent.com/calendar/CB262621 About Mark Gudgel Dr. Mark Gudgel is an eighteen-year veteran of teaching high school English and presently serves as assistant professor of education at the College of Saint Mary in Omaha. His book, The Rise of Napa Valley Wineries: How the Judgment of Paris put California wine on the map, focuses on the wine industry and issues that surround it, and was released from History Press in May of 2023. To learn more, visit https://www.nataliemaclean.com/237.

Are you curious about the most important historic tasting that put California wines on the map? What unique challenges did pioneer winemakers face in California? What would surprise you about how the California wine industry developed? In this episode of the Unreserved Wine Talk podcast, I'm chatting with author Mark Gudgel. You can find the wines we discussed at https://www.nataliemaclean.com/winepicks Giveaway Three of you will win a copy of Mark's new book, Rise of Napa Valley Wineries: How the Judgment of Paris Put California Wine on the Map. To qualify, all you have to do is email me at natalie@nataliemaclean.com and tell me that you'd like to win a copy. I'll choose three people randomly from those who contact me. Good luck! Highlights When did Mark realize he wanted to write about wine? How did Mark develop his professional interest and expertise in genocide education? What has been the worst moment of Mark's writing career so far and what did he learn from it? Which moments have created the best memories in Mark's writing career? What's the significance of the "Judgement of Paris" and why was Mark drawn to the story? What will you learn in Mark's new book, Rise of Napa Valley Wineries? Who were some of the early pioneers of Napa Valley wineries? How were the Judgement of Paris reenactments done? What are aged California wines like? What are some of the inaccuracies in the movie Bottle Shock? Why was Robert Mondavi instrumental in transforming the California wine industry? Key Takeaways I didn't realize how pivotal the 1976 Paris tasting was not only for California wines but also for other New World wines around the globe. With Mark's explanation, I can see how its ramifications spread. What was so amazing was that these wines were tasted blind. No one knew the identity of the wines, and they were judged by French experts. It was the French experts saying California at the top. It was fascinating to hear about the unique challenges pioneer winemakers faced in California. It's a wonder that they persevered in the face of such huge obstacles. I also enjoyed hearing about the surprising way the California wine industry developed. About Mark Gudgel Dr. Mark Gudgel is an eighteen-year veteran of teaching high school English and presently serves as assistant professor of education at the College of Saint Mary in Omaha. After honeymooning in Wine Country, Mark and his wife, Sonja, began a wine blog and soon after he was recruited as a regular correspondent for American Winery Guide. From there, Gudgel went on to write for Food & Spirits, Dine, Edible Omaha, and numerous other publications. His book, The Rise of Napa Valley Wineries: How the Judgment of Paris put California wine on the map, focuses on the wine industry and issues that surround it, and was released from History Press in May of 2023. To learn more, visit https://www.nataliemaclean.com/236.

How can wineries use technology to better connect with customers online? What can you expect from the tasting rooms of the future? What matters most when you taste wine? In this episode of the Unreserved Wine Talk podcast, I'm chatting with Jessica Kogan, a digital brand marketing executive who has successfully launched brands such as Gucci, Prada, Charles Schwab, Cameron Hughes, and now Vintage Wine Estates. You can find the wines we discussed at https://www.nataliemaclean.com/winepicks Giveaway Three of you will win a special bottle of wine from one of the wineries in Jessica Kogan's portfolio. To qualify, all you have to do is email me at natalie@nataliemaclean.com and tell me that you'd like to win a copy. I'll choose three people randomly from those who contact me. Good luck! Highlights What's unique about the way Cameron Hughes wines are made? What was the most satisfying part of launching Cameron Hughes Wine online? Why does Jessica particularly love connecting directly with her customers? How is wine significant to social settings and special moments? How did Jessica's experience with the president of Vintage Wine Estates empower her as a woman leader? Which technology can help to connect tasting room employees with customers online? How have virtual tastings become a big part of the winery experience since COVID-19? What can you expect from a virtual tasting experience? What's Jessica's vision of the tasting room of the future? What makes Cherry Pie Pinot Noir an excellent wine-tasting experience? Which dishes would pair well with Baillie-Grohman Gewürztraminer? What is it about Winemaker's Cut Muscat Canelli that brings renewal and hope to mind? What does Jessica love about Cameron Hughes Lot 894 | 2020 Columbia Valley Merlot? Which bottle of wine would Jessica love to be able to share with Ruth Bader Ginsberg? Key Takeaways Jessica is so visionary in how she sees wineries using technology to better connect with customers online rather than making the experience less personal. I also enjoyed her insights into how tasting rooms of the future will change to better tailor the in-person experience for visitors. And she's absolutely right that what matters most when you taste wine is whether or not it suits your taste. Join me on Instagram, Facebook and YouTube Live Join the live-stream video of this conversation on Wed at 7 pm ET on Instagram Live Video, Facebook Live Video or YouTube Live Video. Want to know when we go live? Add this to your calendar: https://www.addevent.com/calendar/CB262621 About Jessica Kogan Jessica Kogan is a brand marketing and digital transformation executive with a seriously successful track record of launching CPG brands and DTC businesses that scale. As the Chief Growth & Experience Officer at Vintage Wine Estates (NASDAQ: VWE) her role is to drive the VWE digital transformation roadmap, unifying DTC, eGrocery and Supply Chain enabling customer satisfaction and employee empowerment. Most recently as the Chief Marketing & Digital Officer, Jessica led DTC division growth from $30 million to $100 million in less than 3 years. To learn more, visit https://www.nataliemaclean.com/235.