Unreserved Wine Talk

How does telling your dinner party guests a few details about the wine you're serving dramatically change their perception of its taste? Should you add wines from Uruguay to your must-taste list? What’s the difference between flavour and taste? In this episode of the Unreserved Wine Talk podcast, I'm chatting with author and journalist Nell McShane Wulfhart. You can find the wines we discussed at https://www.nataliemaclean.com/winepicks   Giveaway Three of you will win a copy of Nell McShane Wulfhart's terrific book, Off Menu. To qualify, all you have to do is email me at natalie@nataliemaclean.com and tell me that you’d like to win the book. I’ll select the winners randomly from those who participate. Good luck!   Highlights Which shocking discoveries did Nell make while researching The Great Stewardess Rebellion? What do you need to know about wines from Uruguay? How can our other senses impact our perception of the taste of food and beverages? What’s the difference between taste and flavour? How does sound affect our perception of what we’re tasting? What do we know about how supertasters experience taste and flavour differently from others? Why should you use the retronasal smell? What simple trick can you use to amplify your experience of dark chocolate? What impact does our knowledge of a specific wine have on the tasting experience? What simple strategy can we use to improve our dinner party guests’ experience? How do extrasensory cues impact flavour and enjoyment? Why should you add a squeeze of limes or lemons to your food? Why do ice cream companies add certain scents to their packaging? What effect does loud music or noise have on your sense of taste? Should you serve your best wine first or last at a dinner party?   Key Takeaways I love Nell’s advice to share a few details about a wine with your dinner party guests as it will dramatically change their perception of its taste. I’m more keen now to taste more wines from Uruguay, especially Tannat. I found Nell’s explanation of the difference between flavour and taste fascinating.   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 Nell McShane Wulfhart Nell McShane Wulfhart is a decision coach and author. She has written for The New York Times, The Wall St. Journal, The Guardian, and many other outlets. Her most recent book, The Great Stewardess Rebellion - about how flight attendants in the 1960s and 70s staged a revolution for working women everywhere. The Wall Street Journal described it as exhilarating and wrote that “Wulfhart is a vivid storyteller who writes with energy and style.” Nell’s audiobook, Off Menu, is about the secret science of food, drinks, and the dining experience.     To learn more, visit https://www.nataliemaclean.com/217.

What’s the tradeoff between flavour and alcohol? How does Chardonnay lend itself to unusual food pairings? Where do you find great value in California wine? In this episode of the Unreserved Wine Talk podcast, I'm chatting with Chuck Cramer, host of On The Road With Mr CA Wine. You can find the wines we discussed at https://www.nataliemaclean.com/winepicks   Highlights Who were Chuck’s most memorable podcast guests and why? Who would be Chuck’s dream guests for his podcast? Why does Chuck consider Lodi to be the most underrated California wine region? How does the style of The Federalist Chardonnay differ from Sanford Chardonnay? Which non-traditional food pairings could you try with The Federalist Chardonnay? What’s the weirdest wine and food pairing Chuck ever had? Which classic childhood food would Chuck pair with The Federalist Chardonnay? What’s Chuck’s controversial take on the natural wine movement? Why are low-alcohol wines less flavourful? Why is The American Vintage Chuck’s favourite wine book? How can you keep your wine fresh when you don’t want to finish the bottle? Which unlikely celebrity trio would Chuck like to share a bottle of wine with? If Chuck could have a billboard in California, what would it say? What wine would Chuck want to be served at his funeral?   Key Takeaways Chuck gives a great explanation for the tradeoff between flavour and alcohol. I love Chuck’s unusual pairings for Chardonnay. Chuck gives some great tips about finding excellent value in California wine.   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 Chuck Cramer Chuck Cramer is a 4th generation Los Angeleno, living in London for the past 22 years. In addition to hosting a wine podcast dedicated to CA wine, On The Road With Mr CA Wine, Chuck is the director of European sales & marketing for Terlato Wines, managing a gorgeous portfolio of CA wines across the UK, Europe and the Middle East. He’s also the proud dad of two beautiful women, plays tennis four times a week and bleeds Dodger Blue!     To learn more, visit https://www.nataliemaclean.com/216.

Are you curious about California wine, especially the differences between the various regions? What big trends have changed the California wines you drink for the past 5 years? What would surprise you most about the Napa wine region? In this episode of the Unreserved Wine Talk podcast, I'm chatting with Chuck Cramer, host of On The Road With Mr CA Wine.   You can find the wines we discussed at https://www.nataliemaclean.com/winepicks   Highlights What was it like for Chuck to do stand-up comedy for the first time in London? How does California’s Terlato Wines gain access to small European markets that can’t ship directly from California? Why does Chuck love changing people’s minds when it comes to Chardonnay? Why Chuck did start his podcast, On The Road With Mr CA Wine? How did Chuck integrate a signature California vibe into his podcast? What’s behind the huge value and opportunity created by having a podcast? What do you need to know about the California wine industry? Which California wine regions should you be aware of? Which California wine trends have emerged over the last 5-10 years?   Key Takeaways California has an incredible number of wine regions that exhibit a diverse range of climates and soils. Several big trends, such as more regional specificity and lower alcohol wines, among others, have changed the California wines we drink over the past 5 years. Although the Napa wine region is renowned, it represents only 4% of all California wine produced. Now that’s great brand marketing and quality.   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 Chuck Cramer Chuck Cramer is a 4th generation Los Angeleno, living in London for the past 22 years. In addition to hosting a wine podcast dedicated to CA wine, On The Road With Mr CA Wine, Chuck is the director of European sales & marketing for Terlato Wines, managing a gorgeous portfolio of CA wines across the UK, Europe and the Middle East. He’s also the proud dad of two beautiful women, plays tennis four times a week and bleeds Dodger Blue!     To learn more, visit https://www.nataliemaclean.com/215.

How does deepening your understanding of wine help you maintain a healthy relationship with it? Why do memoirs help us to connect with characters even more deeply than fiction? Which moderation tools and techniques can you use when drinking wine?   In this episode of the Unreserved Wine Talk podcast, I'm being interviewed by journalist Jaime Lewis for her podcast, CONSUMED.   You can find the wines we discussed at https://www.nataliemaclean.com/winepicks   Highlights What does “day in the life” writing look like? How does deepening your understanding of wine help you maintain a healthy relationship with it? How will my third book, Wine Witch on Fire, differ from my first two? Why is a well-written book able to change your life? What do I love about memoirs and the reader’s ability to transition the characters into the real world? Which moderation tools and techniques do I use when drinking wine? How did a combination of therapy and medication help me to manage my depression? What steps did I take to build my own platform with intention? Who can benefit from my Wine Smart online food and wine pairing course? What do I do to take care of myself daily? How do I define being an introvert? What would I eat and drink, and who would I invite if it was my last day on Earth?   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 Jaime Lewis Jaime writes, speaks and podcasts about the good life. After an arts management career that included employment with Architecture New York Magazine, the San Francisco Symphony and the San Luis Obispo Symphony, Jaime chose to follow her nose (and palate) into the wine industry. Jaime has participated in nearly every moment of a wine’s life, from planting and bottling to selling. In addition to blogging about her personal year-long journey through the world, Jaime has written product, promotional and web copy for acclaimed wineries including Robert Mondavi, Firestone, Tantara, Herman Story, Laetitia, and Sans Liege.     To learn more, visit https://www.nataliemaclean.com/214.

How can tasting rooms help you enjoyably expand your knowledge of wine? Which experiences led me to perfect the art of the outsider at a young age? Why does capturing our experiences in words have such a profound impact on us? What can you learn from side-by-side tastings?   In this episode of the Unreserved Wine Talk podcast, I'm being interviewed by journalist Jaime Lewis for her podcast, CONSUMED.   You can find the wines we discussed at https://www.nataliemaclean.com/winepicks   Highlights Which experiences led me to perfect the art of the outsider at a young age? How did my mother influence my love for writing? What was Jaime’s inspiration for becoming a wine writer? Where do writing and computer programming have a lot of parallels? What role did California play in my love for wine? How can tasting rooms help you enjoyably expand your knowledge of wine? What can you learn from side-by-side tastings? How did a bottle of Brunello transform my perception of wine? Why is it so powerful to capture our experiences in words? What it means to “call up” and how did that help me to kick-start my writing career? How has the freelance writing landscape changed in the years since I started?   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 Jaime Lewis Jaime writes, speaks and podcasts about the good life. After an arts management career that included employment with Architecture New York Magazine, the San Francisco Symphony and the San Luis Obispo Symphony, Jaime chose to follow her nose (and palate) into the wine industry. Jaime has participated in nearly every moment of a wine’s life, from planting and bottling to selling. In addition to blogging about her personal year-long journey through the world, Jaime has written product, promotional and web copy for acclaimed wineries including Robert Mondavi, Firestone, Tantara, Herman Story, Laetitia, and Sans Liege.     To learn more, visit https://www.nataliemaclean.com/213.

How do food and wine play a role in Dabi Shapiro's latest bestselling novel, Signal Fires? As a writer, what’s it like to encounter others experiencing your work? Why do certain wines seem to transport us back to a specific moment in time?   In this episode of the Unreserved Wine Talk podcast, I'm chatting with Dani Shapiro, bestselling author and host of the Family Secrets podcast.   You can find the wines we discussed at https://www.nataliemaclean.com/winepicks   Giveaway Three of you in the U.S. will win a copy of Dani Shapiro's fabulous new book, Signal Fires.   How to Win To qualify, all you have to do is email me at natalie@nataliemaclean.com and tell me that you’d like to win the book. I’ll select the winners randomly from those who participate. Good luck!   Highlights What can you expect from Dani's latest book, Signal Fires? What makes Dani’s style particularly interesting? How did the story develop, and what inspired Dani to pick back up where she left off in 2020? Why was patience such an integral part of Signal Fires becoming successful? What’s the story behind the real-life CT restaurant that inspired Theo’s restaurant in Signal Fires? As a writer, what’s it like to experience others reading and being moved by your work? How do the unconscious connections threaded throughout a work of fiction create opportunities for readers to co-create with the author? How does Virginia Woolf’s influence show up in Signal Fires? Why do certain wines seem to transport us back to a specific moment? What does Dani love most about having her podcast, Family Secrets?   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 Dani Shapiro Dani Shapiro is the author of eleven books, and the host and creator of the hit podcast Family Secrets. Her most recent novel, Signal Fires, was named a best book of 2022 by Time Magazine, Washington Post, Amazon, and others, and is a national bestseller. Her most recent memoir, Inheritance, was an instant New York Times Bestseller, and named a best book of 2019 by Elle, Vanity Fair, Wired, and Real Simple. Dani’s work has been published in fourteen languages and she’s currently developing Signal Fires for its television adaptation. Dani’s book on the process and craft of writing, Still Writing, is being reissued on the occasion of its tenth anniversary in 2023. She occasionally teaches workshops and retreats, and is the co-founder of the Sirenland Writers Conference in Positano, Italy.     To learn more, visit https://www.nataliemaclean.com/212.

How can wine and food back memories of more than just the food and drink themselves? Why are so many family secrets associated with food and drink? How has the publishing world changed, and what does it mean for up-and-coming writers?   In this episode of the Unreserved Wine Talk podcast, I'm chatting with Dani Shapiro, bestselling author and host of the Family Secrets podcast.   You can find the wines we discussed at https://www.nataliemaclean.com/winepicks   Giveaway Three of you in the U.S. will win a copy of Dani Shapiro's fabulous new book, Signal Fires.   How to Win To qualify, all you have to do is email me at natalie@nataliemaclean.com and tell me that you’d like to win the book. I’ll select the winners randomly from those who participate. Good luck!   Highlights What are Dani’s strongest childhood memories of gathering for family meals? Why did Dani especially love her mother’s brisket? Which important life lesson did Dani learn via a bottle of olive oil from Provence? How does biodynamic winemaking bring an extra layer of care to the process? What’s Dani’s ideal setting for having a glass of wine? Why did Dani fall in love with California’s Thumbprint Cellars’ Cabernet? What makes the sense of smell unique compared to our other senses? Which types of food would Dani pair with Thumbprint Cellars’ Cabernet? How did Dani end up on the path of a writing career? Why does Dani urge young writers to slow down? How has the publishing world changed, and what does it mean for up-and-coming writers? What was the most embarrassing moment of Dani’s writing career? How can you build a successful career in a creative field? What has been the best moment of Dani’s writing career so far? Why did Dani move away from fiction and into the genre of memoir?   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 Dani Shapiro Dani Shapiro is the author of eleven books, and the host and creator of the hit podcast Family Secrets. Her most recent novel, Signal Fires, was named a best book of 2022 by Time Magazine, Washington Post, Amazon, and others, and is a national bestseller. Her most recent memoir, Inheritance, was an instant New York Times Bestseller, and named a best book of 2019 by Elle, Vanity Fair, Wired, and Real Simple. Dani’s work has been published in fourteen languages and she’s currently developing Signal Fires for its television adaptation. Dani’s book on the process and craft of writing, Still Writing, is being reissued on the occasion of its tenth anniversary in 2023. She occasionally teaches workshops and retreats, and is the co-founder of the Sirenland Writers Conference in Positano, Italy.     To learn more, visit https://www.nataliemaclean.com/211.

Which new and emerging wine regions should be on your radar to try soon? Why should you pay more for wine? How does glassware change the taste of your wine?   In this episode of the Unreserved Wine Talk podcast, I'm chatting with Karen MacNeil, author of The Wine Bible.   You can find the wines we discussed at https://www.nataliemaclean.com/winepicks   Giveaway Three of you who are based in the U.S. are going to win a personally signed copy of Karen MacNeil's terrific new book, The Wine Bible.   How to Win To qualify, all you have to do is email me at natalie@nataliemaclean.com and tell me that you’d like to win the book. I’ll select the winners randomly from those who participate. Good luck!   Highlights Which new regions and eras did Karen include in this new edition of The Wine Bible, and why? After the first edition, what important lesson did Karen take away about planning her writing? Why was Greece the most difficult region for Karen to research? How did shipping restrictions make it almost impossible for Karen to sample Canadian wines? What tragic outcome awaits Vitis vinifera if climate change continues on its current trajectory? What can we do as wine buyers to help mitigate the impact of climate change? Why should you pay more for wine? Which historic food and wine pairings did Karen discover? What's Karen’s favourite weird wine and food pairing? Why did Karen create her Flavor First™ Wine Glasses? Which controversial take does Karen have on wine glasses and food pairing? Why does Karen have a glass of Champagne every night? How does Karen ensure she’s drinking and tasting mindfully? Which political figures would Karen love to share a bottle of wine with?   Key Takeaways I love the new and emerging wine regions Karen puts on your radar to try, like sparkling wine from England. She makes a great case for paying more for wine, especially when you do an apples-to-apples comparison between the cost of that overpriced latte and a glass of wine. She’s right that we can’t want to drink super inexpensively and want our wine to be organic, biodynamic, and as natural as it can be at the same time. It doesn't compute financially. I’m intrigued to try her line of glassware based on flavour rather than grape.   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 Karen MacNeil One of the foremost wine experts in the United States, Karen MacNeil is the only American to have won every major wine award given in the English Language. In a full-page profile on her, Time magazine called Karen, “America’s Missionary of the Vine.” Karen is the author of the award-winning book THE WINE BIBLE, the single bestselling wine book in the United States, with more than 800,000 copies sold.     To learn more, visit https://www.nataliemaclean.com/210.

What did it take to create The Wine Bible, a 700-page masterwork on wine? What makes The Wine Bible so different from other popular wine tomes? How did the pandemic make it much harder to research and write this latest edition of this book and what creative methods did the author use to overcome those obstacles?   In this episode of the Unreserved Wine Talk podcast, I'm chatting with Karen MacNeil, author of The Wine Bible.   You can find the wines we discussed at https://www.nataliemaclean.com/winepicks   Giveaway Three of you who are based in the U.S. are going to win a personally signed copy of Karen MacNeil's terrific new book, The Wine Bible.   How to Win To qualify, all you have to do is email me at natalie@nataliemaclean.com and tell me that you’d like to win the book. I’ll select the winners randomly from those who participate. Good luck!   Highlights Why did school become an oasis for Karen in her childhood? When did Karen have her first introduction to wine? What drew Karen to make the move to New York City at 19? How did Karen’s passion for writing keep her motivated through hundreds of rejections? How did Karen make her way into the closed-off, male-dominated world of wine in the 1970s? How did the quest to be a better wine writer lead Karen to move across the country to Napa? Where did the idea for The Wine Bible originate? Why was Karen initially against the name “The Wine Bible”? Why does it take Karen years to publish each new edition of The Wine Bible? What makes The Wine Bible different and more relatable than other popular wine books? What was the hardest thing for Karen to leave out of The Wine Bible? How did COVID make it much harder for Karen to reach the people and wines she needed while working on the third edition of The Wine Bible?   Key Takeaways I loved hearing the behind-the-scenes stories of what it took to create The Wine Bible, especially with so many entries, maps, and illustrations. I know from personal experience that it’s a much different read from other popular wine tomes, more conversational and engaging. Karen is no stranger to overcoming obstacles, and she used that scrappy tenacity to press through the pandemic and complete this major work.   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 Karen MacNeil One of the foremost wine experts in the United States, Karen MacNeil is the only American to have won every major wine award given in the English Language. In a full-page profile on her, Time magazine called Karen, “America’s Missionary of the Vine.” Karen is the author of the award-winning book THE WINE BIBLE, the single bestselling wine book in the United States, with more than 800,000 copies sold.     To learn more, visit https://www.nataliemaclean.com/209.

How do digital corks allow winemakers to participate in the resale of their wines among collectors? What are tasting tokens, and what exciting new experiences do they offer both winemakers and consumers? What new trends and technologies will impact the wines you drink in the future?   In this episode of the Unreserved Wine Talk podcast, I'm interviewing David Garrett, the co-founder of a global non-fungible token (NFT) wine club, Club dVIN.   You can find the wines we discussed at https://www.nataliemaclean.com/winepicks   Giveaway Three of you are going to win a personally signed copy of David Garrett's gorgeous book, The Winemakers of Paso Robles. This Californian wine region produces amazing wines.   How to Win To qualify, all you have to do is email me at natalie@nataliemaclean.com and tell me that you’d like to win the book. I’ll select the winners randomly from those who participate. Good luck!   Highlights How does NFC technology increase the detailed provenance data available for wine? How do digital corks allow winemakers to participate in value creation in the aftermarket? What are tasting tokens, and what exciting new opportunities do they provide for connecting winemakers and consumers? How does NFT technology make it significantly easier to track down wine counterfeiters? What makes Club dVIN’s process more environmentally friendly? How have NFTs been used to raise millions for charity in collaboration with renowned wine critic Robert Parker? Why is 2019 Château Cos D'estournel David’s go-to wine?   Key Takeaways I love the idea that winemakers can participate in the profit from reselling their wines via digital corks. It’s very similar to painters and other artists who should be able to accrue some of the value in secondary markets like auctions. Tasting tokens provide some exciting new experiences for winemakers and consumers to connect more deeply. I enjoyed David’s discussion of other new trends and technologies that will impact the wines we drink in the future.   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 David Garrett Since graduating from Michigan State University with a bachelor’s degree in political science, David Garrett has spent more than 25 years in the fields of tech, wine and finance. In 1994, he co-founded IntraACTIVE, a software company that built the original Intranet for the US Navy. After he sold his company in 2004, he co-founded The Vines of Mendoza, developing more than 1,500 acres of vineyard land in Argentina as well as a five -star resort and restaurant. In 2013, he led a group of investors to buy the largest vineyard in Priorat, Spain. Today, he’s the co-founder of Club dVIN, a global non-fungible token (NFT) wine club.     To learn more, visit https://www.nataliemaclean.com/208.