Unreserved Wine Talk

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.

Are you curious about how blockchain technology will transform how you buy and collect wine? How do non-fungible tokens, or NFTs, play a role? How can blockchain technology help to prevent counterfeit wines? 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 Highlights Why did David make the move from tech to wine? How did meeting Santiago Achával transform David's understanding of wine? What was it like building a vineyard on virgin land in the Uco Valley in Argentina? Which big lessons did David learn in the 10 years it took to start producing wine at his vineyard? How did David bring a data-oriented approach to winemaking? How did the unique private vineyard estate program at the Vines of Mendoza operate? Where does the biggest problem with counterfeit wine lie? How does blockchain technology help to disincentivize counterfeit wines? What is a blockchain and how does it help to clarify provenance? What's the relationship between cryptocurrency and a blockchain? What are non-fungible tokens (NFTs)? How do you create an NFT for a bottle of wine? What are the benefits of NFTs for wine? Key Takeaways David had such a clear and concrete way of explaining how blockchain technology will transform how you buy and collect wine? I also liked his comparisons to buying land or a house with non-fungible tokens, or NFTs. I was glad to hear that blockchain technology may help prevent counterfeit 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 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/207.

Is minerality a flavour or a texture? What does it feel or taste like? Why do wines made from hybrid grapes deserve your attention? What can winemakers learn from Jimi Hendrix? In this episode of the Unreserved Wine Talk podcast, I'm interviewing Aleks Zecevic, wine writer and host of the Vintners podcast. You can find the wines we discussed at https://www.nataliemaclean.com/winepicks Highlights How does Ewald Tscheppe of Werlitsch get a unique texture to his wines? How did carrots help Aleks improve his understanding of and appreciation for biodynamic wine? What distinguishes Werlitsch Ex Vero I, II, and III? Which common characteristics will you taste in most wines from Styria, Austria? What will you experience when tasting Werlitsch Ex Vero III? Is minerality a flavour or a texture? What do I especially love about the mouthfeel of Rockway Vineyards Small Lot Syrah? How does Slovenian influence show up in the wines of north east Italy? What is the Carso? How does the terroir come through in Zidarich Vitovska 2017? Why are some grapes called hybrids while other crossed varieties are not? Why are hybrid grapes increasing in popularity? What makes Vitis vinifera more susceptible to disease and environmental damage? Why are hybrid grapes more environmentally friendly and better suited for climate change? What can winemakers learn from Jimi Hendrix? Why does Aleks connect with vinyl records more than digital music? What's the mission behind the Vintners platform? Key Takeaways I thought Aleks' explanation of how minerality affects both flavour and texture helpful. Wines made from hybrid grapes will increasingly become part of our drinking menu both due to climate change as well as their improved taste and diversity of flavours. I loved his tip on what winemakers can learn from Jimi Hendrix. 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 Aleks Zecevic Aleks Zecevic was born in Belgrade, Serbia, and emigrated to New York City to study journalism at New York University. After graduating, he completed WSET courses and worked at the Wine Spectator, becoming one of the lead tasters at the magazine. He joined the renowned auction house Sotheby's as a fine wine specialist. Currently, he reviews Austrian wines for Wine Enthusiast and is part of the newly founded Vintners platform, where he creates content and hosts the Vintner's podcast. To learn more, visit https://www.nataliemaclean.com/206.

What's it like to work at the prestigious Wine Spectator magazine and Sotheby's fine wine auction house? How can you distinguish real wine from fakes? What's the secret to putting together the perfect wine flight? In this episode of the Unreserved Wine Talk podcast, I'm interviewing Aleks Zecevic, wine writer and host of the Vintners podcast. You can find the wines we discussed at https://www.nataliemaclean.com/winepicks Highlights What is Vouvray, France, famous for in the world of wine? What was it like to taste the "Victory Vintage" at François Pinon with the winemaker who made the wine in 1945? How did Aleks realize he wanted to be a wine writer? What's the secret to putting together the perfect wine flight? What's it like to work at the prestigious Wine Spectator magazine? What does it take to go from tasting coordinator to a reviewer at Wine Spectator? How did Aleks hone his wine-tasting skills before he became a reviewer? Which aspects of the vineyards make Premier Cru different from Grand Cru? What was the reaction from the wine industry once Aleks was the lead reviewer for several wine regions? Why did Aleks leave Wine Spectator to become a fine wine specialist at Sotheby's? What did Aleks look for when examining high-end wine collections as a fine wine inspector? How high do auction sales go for rare wines from wineries like Domaine de la Romanée-Conti? Why do regulatory bodies create region-specific wine rules through wine-of-origin laws? Why don't some newer wines qualify to get their designation of origin? How do these wine-of-origin laws put some high-quality producers at a disadvantage? Key Takeaways I enjoyed the behind-the-scenes look at Alek's wine dream jobs with the Wine Spectator magazine and Sotheby's fine wine auction. He had some helpful tips on distinguishing real wine from fakes. I agree with his tips on putting together flights of wine, from lightest to heaviest. I thought it was interesting that Grand Cru vineyards don't have a lot of topsoil and thus, the berries have more concentration and the wine has more complexity. 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 Aleks Zecevic Aleks Zecevic was born in Belgrade, Serbia, and emigrated to New York City to study journalism at New York University. After graduating, he completed WSET courses and worked at the Wine Spectator, becoming one of the lead tasters at the magazine. He joined the renowned auction house Sotheby's as a fine wine specialist. Currently, he reviews Austrian wines for Wine Enthusiast and is part of the newly founded Vintners platform, where he creates content and hosts the Vintner's podcast. To learn more, visit https://www.nataliemaclean.com/205.