Unreserved Wine Talk

What exactly makes the sense of smell so evocative? How can you play with food and wine pairing to discover new flavours? What can you do to de-risk your exploration of new wines? In this episode of the Unreserved Wine Talk podcast, I'm being interviewed by Guy Bower, host of The Good Life podcast. You can find the wines we discussed at https://www.nataliemaclean.com/winepicks Highlights When did I discover my appreciation for wine? What makes the senses of smell and taste so evocative? Why do I love feeling like an enthusiastic amateur when it comes to wine? How has the wine world changed and why am I an unwavering advocate of making it feel more accessible? If I could only have one wine, what would it be? Which shabby-chic food and wine pairing should you try next? Which weird wine pairing surprised me with how good it is? How can you play with food and wine pairing? What can you do to de-risk your exploration of new 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 Guy Bower & The Good Life The Good Life podcast is hosted by Guy Bower. Guy is a retired Air Force fighter pilot and recently retired Airbus A300 Captain for FedEx. Throughout his career in the military, which involved many years living and travelling in Europe, he has been a dedicated food and wine enthusiast and home chef. Associated with the radio program, Guy regularly attends major national wine events, seminars and tastings as an enthusiast, participant and judge. He has authored many articles on the enjoyment of Food, Wine and the "Good Life" – and is called on often to share his knowledge and enthusiasm with wine appreciation classes, wait-staff training, and educational tastings and seminars. Guy is a Level-1 Sommelier and teaches several wine appreciation classes at Wichita State University each semester. The Good Life radio program began in Miami in 1988, on WKAT 1360AM. In 1990, a military move to Kansas brought The Good Life to the Midwest. The program has been on KNSS 1330/98.7 – Saturdays, since the fall of 1991. The Good Life allows Guy to share his enjoyment of food, wine and travel from the "everyman" perspective. The emphasis is on wine and food enjoyment without snobbery. The program consists of live interviews with chefs, cookbook authors, winemakers and anyone involved with food, wine and the Good Life. In 1992, Guy was instrumental in starting the Wichita Chapter of the American Institute of Wine and Food. He was the Chairman of the Chapter for the first 3 years and has served three other non-consecutive terms as chair. He was actively involved in starting the Midwest Winefest and the Midwest Beerfest here in Wichita. To learn more about the resources mentioned in this episode, visit https://www.nataliemaclean.com/185.

How did Prosecco lead the way for many people discovering Italian wines, and then why did it get so much hate? How can "Mamma Jumbo Shrimp" help you as a wine lover? Is food or wine the main protagonist of most meals? In this episode of the Unreserved Wine Talk podcast, I'm chatting with the founder of Vinitaly and host of the Italian Wine Podcast, Stevie Kim. You can find the wines we discussed at https://www.nataliemaclean.com/winepicks Highlights What's the best way for you to find Italian wines you might love? Why does Prosecco get so much hate from wine snobs? What are the different types of Prosecco available now? Why are Etna DOC wines so popular right now? Where did the "Jumbo Shrimp" name come from? How does Stevie's brand "Mamma Jumbo Shrimp" help wine lovers? What is Stevie's controversial perspective on food and wine pairing? How would Stevie pair her favourite childhood food with wine? What's Stevie's top tip for wine lovers? Key Takeaways The story of Prosecco's success in helping many people discover Italian wines, and then its plunge into ridicule by snobs has so many parallels in the wine world (think Chardonnay and Merlot) and beyond (think of certain movie stars and singers). Fortunately, there's incredible value in this sparkling wine and it will persist, or you could say my love for it will go on and on. I love the concept of "Mamma Jumbo Shrimp" to help wine lovers understand Italian wines. Despite Stevie making a strong case for food being the main protagonist of the meal, I remain a wine-first kinda gal just like I buy the earrings, then the outfit. About Stevie Kim Stevie Kim was born in Korea and raised in the United States. Today, she lives in Verona, Italy. She attended the New York University – Leonard N. Stern School of Business. After settling in Italy, she obtained an MBA at Bocconi University, School of Economics and Management. Later, she achieved a postgraduate specialization in Wealth Management at the University of Pennsylvania – The Wharton School. Stevie is currently studying for her WSET Diploma, from the Weinakademie Österreich in Rust, Austria. As Managing Director of Vinitaly International, Stevie Kim has launched and now coordinates a series of new initiatives connected to the Vinitaly brand. As a Professional Wine Groupie, Stevie is always seeking innovative ways to communicate Italian wine – with a strong creative emphasis on social media and educational platforms. In 2017, Stevie produced the Italian Wine Podcast, the first podcast in English dedicated exclusively to Italian wine and its personalities. She also carries out various editorial projects, one of the latest being The Jumbo Shrimp Guide to Italian Wine and The Jumbo Shrimp Guide to International Grape Varieties in Italy. The books are reference guides, designed to simplify the complex world of Italian wine. Last year, Stevie started her On The Road Edition travels to wineries and regions across Italy, airing every week on the Mamma Jumbo Shrimp YouTube channel. To learn more about the resources mentioned in this episode, visit https://www.nataliemaclean.com/184.

How can you learn more about the diverse regions and styles of Italian wine? What's the difference in impact between wine competitions and critic scores? And how do they influence the wines you buy and drink? In this episode of the Unreserved Wine Talk podcast, I'm chatting with the founder of Vinitaly and host of the Italian Wine Podcast, Stevie Kim. You can find the wines we discussed at https://www.nataliemaclean.com/winepicks Highlights How did Stevie end up living in Verona, Italy? Which rosé wine piqued Stevie's interest in diving into Italian wines? What was the inspiration for creating Vinitaly? How did Stevie adapt her business during the pandemic? What is Vinitaly? Who is Vinitaly geared towards and what kind of experience should you expect? What is OperaWine? How do wine competitions compare to wine scoring by critics? What makes the OperaWine rating process so selective? How does the individualistic nature of Italians show up in Italian wine? Why are Italian wines sometimes confusing for consumers to navigate? Key Takeaways I was fascinated with her points on the differences in impact between wine competitions and critic scores. The range and diversity of Italian regions and wine styles can seem overwhelming. I love Stevie's approach to making them accessible and memorable. I've added several more obscure Italian wines to my list to try next. Join me on Instagram, Facebook and YouTube Live Video Join the live-stream video of this conversation on Wednesday at 7 pm eastern on Instagram Live Video, Facebook Live Video or YouTube Live Video. I'll be jumping into the comments as we watch it together so that I can answer your questions in real-time. 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 Stevie Kim As Managing Director of Vinitaly International, Stevie Kim has launched and now coordinates a series of new initiatives connected to the Vinitaly brand. As a Professional Wine Groupie, Stevie is always seeking innovative ways to communicate Italian wine – with a strong creative emphasis on social media and educational platforms. In 2017, Stevie produced the Italian Wine Podcast, the first podcast in English dedicated exclusively to Italian wine and its personalities. Now in its fourth year of regular broadcasts, the show published its 770th episode on January 31, 2022. She also carries out various editorial projects, one of the latest being The Jumbo Shrimp Guide to Italian Wine and The Jumbo Shrimp Guide to International Grape Varieties in Italy. The books are reference guides, designed to simplify the complex world of Italian wine. Last year, Stevie started her On The Road Edition travels to wineries and regions across Italy, airing every week on the Mamma Jumbo Shrimp YouTube channel. To learn more about the resources mentioned in this episode, visit https://www.nataliemaclean.com/183.

Are you curious about why Cabernet Franc should have just as much respect from you as a wine lover, if not more than Cabernet Sauvignon? What makes wines from California's Paso Robles region unique? Why is it easy to fall in love with wines that have high acidity? In this episode of the Unreserved Wine Talk podcast, I'm chatting with winemaker, writer and podcast host, Lori Budd. You can find the wines we discussed at https://www.nataliemaclean.com/winepicks Highlights What does it mean to be an alternating proprietorship winery versus a crush pad? What was the inspiration behind the name Dracaena? Why did Lori and her husband choose Paso Robles for their winery? What is the geography of Paso Robles like? Which pleasant surprises did Lori find after starting the winery? Which unexpected difficulties came up when Lori and Michael started Dracaena? Why are Lori and Michael so passionate about Cabernet Franc and why did Lori start Cab Franc Day? How is Cab Franc Day celebrated around the world? What taste differences will you notice between a cool climate and a warm climate Cabernet Franc? Why did Lori and Michael choose Chenin Blanc as one of Dracaena's flagship wines? Why is it easy to fall in love with high-acid wines? Which wines would Lori pair with her favourite childhood dish, ravioli? What are the most difficult food and wine pairings Lori has encountered? What's Lori's favourite wine gadget? Key Takeaways I'm so glad Lori highlighted Cabernet Franc as it's such an under-valued, but terrific wine. We all need to show it a little more respect. I'm looking forward to visiting California's Paso Robles region after listening to Lori describe the wines, the land and the people. I've always considered myself an acid head when it comes to wine: acidity gives wine its vibrancy and life. It also makes it so much more food friendly. Join me on Instagram, Facebook and YouTube Live Video Join the live-stream video of this conversation on Wednesday at 7 pm eastern on Instagram Live Video, Facebook Live Video or YouTube Live Video. I'll be jumping into the comments as we watch it together so that I can answer your questions in real-time. 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 Lori Budd Lori Budd began her career as a microbiologist, but her need for excitement led her into Adventure Education, teaching students how to rock climb, zip line and tie those all important survival knots. Along the way, she fell in love with wine and graduated from the prestigious UC Davis enology program, along with certifications from a number of other wine programs. She and her husband, Michael, own Dracaena Wines in Paso Robles. She's consumed by the stories that unfold as each glass is poured, and shares those in her award-winning blog and podcast called Exploring the Glass. To learn more about the resources mentioned in this episode, visit https://www.nataliemaclean.com/182.

What is it like to participate in the coveted en premiere tasting of the new vintage of Bordeaux wines in France while they're still in the barrels aging? Which Spanish foods should you pair with the fabulous red wine Monastrell? How does politics influence wine? In this episode of the Unreserved Wine Talk podcast, I'm chatting with winemaker, writer and podcast host, Lori Budd who graduated from the prestigious UC Davis enology program. She and her husband own Dracaena Wines in Paso Robles. She's also the host of the podcast called Exploring the Glass. You can find the wines we discussed at https://www.nataliemaclean.com/winepicks Highlights Who are the Rothschilds and what is their association with banking and wine? What was it like to attend the Rothschild family's ballet competition as their guest? What was Lori's experience as a participant in an en premiere tasting in Bordeaux? How does the tasting experience differ for wines that are ready to drink versus still in the barrel? How is Portugal's turbulent history reflected in its wine? What type of wine did Lori taste from the ungrafted vines of the Jumilla region in Spain? How are Jumilla winemakers adapting their styles to meet the changing taste of Monastrell consumers? Which Spanish foods should you try alongside Monastrell? What does Lori love about Spain and Spanish wines? What was Lori's early career like, first as a microbiologist and then as an adventure educator? How did Lori first fall in love with wine? What was the journey like from wine lover to winemaker? Key Takeaways I loved Lori's story about attending the en premiere tasting of the new vintage in Bordeaux while it's still in the barrels aging. It sounds exciting, terrifying and eye-opening. Lori had some terrific Spanish dishes to pair with the luscious Spanish red wine, Monastrell. I found Lori's insights on how politics has influenced wine fascinating. Join me on Instagram, Facebook and YouTube Live Video Join the live-stream video of this conversation on Wednesday at 7 pm eastern on Instagram Live Video, Facebook Live Video or YouTube Live Video. I'll be jumping into the comments as we watch it together so that I can answer your questions in real-time. 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 Lori Budd Lori Budd began her career as a microbiologist, but her need for excitement led her into Adventure Education, teaching students how to rock climb, zip line and tie those all important survival knots. Along the way, she fell in love with wine and graduated from the prestigious UC Davis enology program, along with certifications from a number of other wine programs. She and her husband, Michael, own Dracaena Wines in Paso Robles. She's consumed by the stories that unfold as each glass is poured, and shares those in her award-winning blog and podcast called Exploring the Glass. To learn more about the resources mentioned in this episode, visit https://www.nataliemaclean.com/181.

Why is icewine considered extreme winemaking, and what are some weird, but wonderful food pairings for this elixir? Which Canadian wine regions should you visit next? What unusual things can you do at Ontario wineries? In this episode of the Unreserved Wine Talk podcast, I'm being interviewed by Janina Doyle, sommelier and host of the Eat Sleep Wine Repeat podcast. You can find the wines we discussed at https://www.nataliemaclean.com/winepicks Highlights What are the major wine regions in Canada? How does Ontario's weather impact the types of wine that are produced? What are the most important characteristics of Canadian Icewine? Which types of food pair best with Icewine? How does the late harvest time for Icewine present additional difficulties for winemakers? What are some of the main attractions of the Ontario wine regions and sub-regions? How do the Niagara River and Lake Ontario affect the climate in the sub-region around them? Which innovative and environmentally-friendly methods are the winemakers at Featherstone Estate Winery using to protect their vines? What are the top grape varieties grown in Ontario? Where do I think Canadian wine and wineries will go in the future? Join me on Instagram, Facebook and YouTube Live Video Join the live-stream video of this conversation on Wednesday at 7 pm eastern on Instagram Live Video, Facebook Live Video or YouTube Live Video. I'll be jumping into the comments as we watch it together so that I can answer your questions in real-time. 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 Janina Doyle Janina Doyle started her wine career in several top-notch restaurants in London, UK, rising from waitress to head sommelier as she completed her WSET diploma. She has spent the last six years creating Eat Sleep Wine Repeat where she offers wine tastings, events and services. She also created the Bromley Wine Society, a local monthly wine group, and her podcast, Eat Sleep Wine Repeat. She is also Brand Ambassador for Ventisquero Wine Estates in Chile. To learn more about the resources mentioned in this episode, visit https://www.nataliemaclean.com/180.

Why does Italy make such a fantastic wine destination to visit? Which underpriced wines for their quality should you try next? How can you successfully navigate the walls of bottles in a wine shop? Which simple technique can you use to improve your tasting skills and learn more about wine? In this episode of the Unreserved Wine Talk podcast, I'm being interviewed by Janina Doyle, host of the Eat Sleep Wine Repeat podcast. You can find the wines we discussed at https://www.nataliemaclean.com/winepicks Highlights How did a trip to Italy introduce me to the wonderful world of wine? What does a typical day look like for me? What's it like to be live on TV on Canada's biggest morning show, The Social and CTV News? Where will you be taken and what will you learn in my first book, Red, White, And Drunk All Over? Why do I believe that you are the reason I've been able to get great access when writing my books and in my other wine endeavours? Which discovery did I make about finding incredible wine value in my second book, Unquenchable? Which bargain wines should you try next? Why does Italy make such a fantastic wine destination to visit? What has been the most beautiful moment of my wine career so far? What strategies can you use as a consumer to navigate the overwhelming walls of bottles in a wine shop? Which simple technique can you use to improve your tasting skills and learn more about wine? What's our favourite type of wine glass? How can you go beyond the basic red wine and cheese pairings? Which perfect wine pairings can you try with these famous books? Join me on Instagram, Facebook and YouTube Live Video Join the live-stream video of this conversation on Wednesday at 7 pm eastern on Instagram Live Video, Facebook Live Video or YouTube Live Video. I'll be jumping into the comments as we watch it together so that I can answer your questions in real-time. 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 Janina Doyle Janina Doyle started her wine career in several top-notch restaurants in London, UK, rising from waitress to head sommelier as she completed her WSET diploma. She has spent the last six years creating Eat Sleep Wine Repeat where she offers wine tastings, events and services. She also created the Bromley Wine Society, a local monthly wine group, and her podcast, Eat Sleep Wine Repeat. She is also Brand Ambassador for Ventisquero Wine Estates in Chile. To learn more about the resources mentioned in this episode, visit https://www.nataliemaclean.com/179.

How has the pandemic positively impacted the wine industry? Why is the percentage of women buying online rising faster than men? How do consumers benefit when wine producers have access to more and better data? In this episode of the Unreserved Wine Talk podcast, I'm chatting with Cathy Huyghe and Andrea Smalling, authors of the WineDirect x Enolytics 2021 Direct-To-Consumer Impact Report: What Wineries Need to Do Now. You can find the wines we discussed at https://www.nataliemaclean.com/winepicks Highlights Which interesting trends have been identified when it comes to Gen Z drinking habits? What can wine brands do to engage younger generations? Which positive trends stood out in the DTC report? How did the pandemic impact online DTC sales? Has the lifting of lockdown restrictions negatively impacted online DTC sales? Why should consumers be excited about the growth of the online side of the wine industry? What are the implications of the DTC report for the Canadian wine scene? How did Canadian wineries quickly adapt to the new environment of the pandemic? What would be the benefits of opening the borders to shipping wine across provinces in Canada? How does having more data and more granularity benefit everyone from wine consumers to producers? Why are more women purchasing wine online than men? What are Andrea & Cathy's ideal settings for having a glass of wine? Which controversial wine opinions do Cathy & Andrea have? Which childhood foods would be fun to pair with wine today? What was Andrea's worst food and wine pairing? Which great historical figures would Cathy & Andrea love to share a bottle of wine with? What message would Andrea & Cathay share if they could put up their own billboard downtown in a big city? Which wine would Cathy & Andrea want to be served at their funerals? Key Takeaways At least there were some upsides to the pandemic on the wine industry in terms of moving it forward with selling online and tightening direct connections between those who make wine and those who drink it. I found it fascinating that the percentage of women buying online is rising faster than men. It makes sense though given women still buy most household items. Getting granular on the data means getting more personal with consumers in terms of their experience in buying the wine whether that's in person at the winery or online. Join me on Instagram, Facebook and YouTube Live Video Join the live-stream video of this conversation on Wednesday at 7 pm eastern on Instagram Live Video, Facebook Live Video or YouTube Live Video. I'll be jumping into the comments as we watch it together so that I can answer your questions in real-time. 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 Andrea Smalling & Cathy Huyghe Andrea Smalling & Cathy Huyghe have recently co-authored a ground-breaking report on the wine industry that will be of interest to those who make, sell and buy wine, from wineries to consumers. Andrea Smalling is Chief Marketing Officer and Head of E-Commerce Sales of WineDirect, a U.S.-based company that helps wineries sell directly to consumers. Cathy Huyghe is an award-winning journalist with a regular column in Forbes and co-founder and CEO of Enolytics, a data-driven business intelligence company for the $970 billion wine and spirits industry. To learn more about the resources mentioned in this episode, visit https://www.nataliemaclean.com/178.

How have major events like the pandemic and the wildfires affected the way we buy wine online? Do younger generations, such as Gen Y, Gen Z and Millenials, have different criteria for buying wine? What impact does storytelling have on wine sales? In this episode of the Unreserved Wine Talk podcast, I'm chatting with Cathy Huyghe and Andrea Smalling, authors of the WineDirect x Enolytics 2021 Direct-To-Consumer Impact Report: What Wineries Need to Do Now. You can find the wines we discussed at https://www.nataliemaclean.com/winepicks Highlights What did Andrea's previous career with Proctor & Gamble involve? Why did Andrea decide to move into a career in the wine industry? What was the realization Andrea had about wine being an agricultural business? How did Cathy fall in love with wine and wine writing? Why does Cathy consider herself primarily an issues writer? What's the mission behind A Balanced Glass? Which key advice does Cathy wish she could tell her younger self, early on in her wine career? What do we mean by DTC (Direct-To-Consumer) wine sales? How does WineDirect serve wineries? Why was the WineDirect x Enolytics 2021 Direct-To-Consumer Impact Report created? What was the founding mission of Enolytics? What type of data was analyzed for the DTC Impact Report? How did the report track the impact of the California wildfires on the wine industry? What did the DTC Impact Report show about the impact of those wildfires? Why is the story behind the wine important to younger drinkers? Did the report reveal any insights about wine and gender? Key Takeaways I found it fascinating to learn how the pandemic, the wildfires and other major events have changed the way we buy wine online. It's interesting that younger generations, such as Gen Y, Gen Z and Millenials, really want that in-person experience when buying wine. I would have assumed they'd be all about online only. We're back to storytelling, whether it's wine or books, it has a profound impact on sales and connection. Join me on Instagram, Facebook and YouTube Live Video Join the live-stream video of this conversation on Wednesday at 7 pm eastern on Instagram Live Video, Facebook Live Video or YouTube Live Video. I'll be jumping into the comments as we watch it together so that I can answer your questions in real-time. 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 Andrea Smalling & Cathy Huyghe Andrea Smalling & Cathy Huyghe have recently co-authored a ground-breaking report on the wine industry that will be of interest to those who make, sell and buy wine, from wineries to consumers. Andrea Smalling is Chief Marketing Officer and Head of E-Commerce Sales of WineDirect, a U.S.-based company that helps wineries sell directly to consumers. Cathy Huyghe is an award-winning journalist with a regular column in Forbes and co-founder and CEO of Enolytics, a data-driven business intelligence company for the $970 billion wine and spirits industry. To learn more about the resources mentioned in this episode, visit https://www.nataliemaclean.com/177.

Are you curious about the Australian wine scene and the latest trends and changes? How about tips on buying terrific Australian wines? What are some iconic Australian food and wine pairings you should try? In this episode of the Unreserved Wine Talk podcast, I'm chatting with James Atkinson, drinks journalist and host of the Drinks Adventures podcast. You can find the wines we discussed at https://www.nataliemaclean.com/winepicks Highlights Are there any parallel trends in the beer and wine industries? Is natural wine gaining popularity in Australia? What is James' controversial take on natural wine? What changes and trends have emerged recently in the Australian wine scene? How has Australian Chardonnay evolved and improved over the years? Which wine regions should you try for Australian cool-climate Chardonnay? What are some iconic Australian food and wine pairings? What are the biggest challenges facing the Australian wine industry? Which must-see site should you visit on a trip to Champagne? What did James love about his trip to Alsace? Which foods should you try on a visit to Alsace? Which wines does James like to pair with pizza? What barbecue and wine pairing surprised James? What's James' favourite wine book? Why is winesave James' favourite wine gadget? Which vintage wine would James want to be served at his funeral? Which common red wine mistake can we easily avoid? Key Takeaways His descriptions of Australian wines made me not only want to revisit the wine styles but also go back to Australia itself. It's such a magical place. James makes some important points about cool-climate Australian wines and how elegant and balanced they are, to the point where they can easily be confused with Burgundian wines, especially when it comes to Chardonnay. I loved his iconic Australian food and wine pairing suggestions and can't wait to try them. Join me on Instagram, Facebook and YouTube Live Video Join the live-stream video of this conversation on Wednesday at 7 pm eastern on Instagram Live Video, Facebook Live Video or YouTube Live Video. I'll be jumping into the comments as we watch it together so that I can answer your questions in real-time. 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 James Atkinson James Atkinson is the creator of the Drinks Adventures podcast and winner of Best Podcast at the Australian Wine Communicator Awards 2021. A lover of all fine drinks, James was previously editor of Australian Brews News and drinks industry publication TheShout. A Certified Cicerone® (beer sommelier) and two-time winner of the Australian International Beer Awards prize for Best Media, James has judged at several prestigious beer competitions. As a journalist, he has contributed to publications including The Age, Sydney Morning Herald, Halliday, Gourmet Traveller Wine, Good Food, Selector and more. To learn more about the resources mentioned in this episode, visit https://www.nataliemaclean.com/176.