Unreserved Wine Talk

Why should you pair wine to the diner, not the dinner? Do you always have to follow the "rules" when pairing food and wine? Which fun food and wine pairing should you try with your pandemic snacking? How can you develop your aroma vocabulary? In this episode of the Unreserved Wine Talk podcast, I'm chatting with Chris Scott, a U.K.-based sommelier who published the world’s first-ever wine podcast, the UK Wine Show and who, with his wife, Jane also founded ThirtyFifty, a company which offers fun and no-nonsense wine tastings for private and corporate events.   Highlights Should you care about food and wine pairing? Why should you pair wine to the diner, not the dinner? How can you experiment with how different types of food interact with wine? Do you always have to follow the "rules" when pairing food and wine? When would you use wine to enhance specific characteristics of your food? Is food and wine pairing a good place for you to start your wine enthusiast journey? What surprising wine pairing should you try with your pandemic snacking? Which aspect of wine learning might take some extra work for you as a novice? How can you develop your aroma vocabulary? What comfort food and wine pairing should you try in 2020?   About Chris Scott Chris Scott is an award-winning wine podcaster and presenter who runs wine tasting company called ThirtyFifty and produces a weekly wine podcast, The UK Wine Show, which is consistently ranked in the top 10 Apple Podcasts’ Food & Drink charts.   Born and bred in New Zealand, Chris spent time as a student working hands-on in the vineyards of Canterbury before graduating with first-class honours in engineering. In 2001, he moved to London U.K. and now holds the WSET Level 4 Diploma in Wines & Spirits, the top qualification. He now heads up a team of 20 wine experts across the UK, between them running more than 500 corporate events, wine courses and private tastings per year.     To learn more about the resources mentioned in this episode, visit the https://www.nataliemaclean.com/90.

Can being a supertaster affect your preferences in alcoholic beverages? Why don't you find a lot of wineries in Ottawa? How do online classes give you an advantage over in-person classes? How is the pandemic impacting the way you buy wine? Why should you buy wine directly from wineries? How can my Wine App help you find the best wine to pair with your food? In this episode of the Unreserved Wine Talk podcast, I'm chatting with Chris Scott, a U.K.-based sommelier who published the world’s first-ever wine podcast, the UK Wine Show and who, with his wife, Jane also founded ThirtyFifty, a company which offers fun and no-nonsense wine tastings for private and corporate events.   Highlights How did I come around to wine after growing up around whiskey and beer? Can being a supertaster affect your alcoholic beverage preferences? What caused me to go from wine enthusiast to wine writer? How did the worlds of high tech and wine overlap for me? Why don't you find a lot of wineries in Ottawa? What type of reading experience can you expect with Red, White and Drunk All Over? What was it like to win the Louis Roederer 2009 Online Wine Writer of the Year award? How do online classes give you an advantage over in-person classes? Why does the Unreserved Wine Talk podcast's focus on storytelling help you learn about wine? How is the pandemic impacting the way you buy wine? What types of conversations will you be a part of when joining us on our Facebook wine tastings? Why should you buy wine directly from wineries? How can my Wine App help you find the best wine to pair with your food? Which features of my Wine App will simplify your wine buying process? Why is my Wine App beneficial for wine enthusiasts worldwide?   About Chris Scott Chris Scott is an award-winning wine podcaster and presenter who runs wine tasting company called ThirtyFifty and produces a weekly wine podcast, The UK Wine Show, which is consistently ranked in the top 10 Apple Podcasts’ Food & Drink charts.   Born and bred in New Zealand, Chris spent time as a student working hands-on in the vineyards of Canterbury before graduating with first-class honours in engineering. In 2001, he moved to London U.K. and now holds the WSET Level 4 Diploma in Wines & Spirits, the top qualification. He now heads up a team of 20 wine experts across the UK, between them running more than 500 corporate events, wine courses and private tastings per year.     To learn more about the resources mentioned in this episode, visit the https://www.nataliemaclean.com/89.

How does the ease with which you can pronounce a winery name affect your perception of both the wine and its price? Are wine experts or novices more likely to assign a higher value to wines with complicated names? How do grape names affect your purchase decisions? In this episode of the Unreserved Wine Talk podcast, I'm chatting with Dr. Antonia Mantonakis, Fellow of the Cool Climate Oenology and Viticulture Institute and Professor of Marketing and Consumer Psychology at Brock University's Goodman School of Business in St. Catharines, Ontario.   Highlights Does a wine's name affect our perception of its taste and quality? How was Antonia's research study designed to focus on how a winery name affects you? What impact does the ease of pronunciation of a wine's name have on our pricing expectations? Why might the effect of this phenomenon on wine enthusiasts surprise you? Should you be concerned if your winery's name is easy to pronounce? Why shouldn't you directly apply the results of this study to real-world settings? What preliminary findings have been identified in how consumers perceive grape varietal names? How might you unconsciously assess wines like Pfaffenheim? What can you expect from Pfaffenheim Cuvée Bacchus Le Cave Des Vignerons De Pfaffenheim Gewurztraminer 2010?   About Dr. Antonia Mantonakis Dr. Antonia Mantonakis is a Fellow of the Cool Climate Oenology and Viticulture Institute and a Professor of Marketing and Consumer Psychology at Brock University's Goodman School of Business in St. Catharines, Ontario.   She is a psychologist by training and holds a Bachelor of Science in Psychology from the University of Toronto, and has both a Masters in Experimental-Cognitive Psychology and a Doctorate in Experimental-Cognitive Psychology from Simon Fraser University. Her research focuses on the psychological factors that affect consumer behaviour and consumer decision making.     To learn more about the resources mentioned in this episode, visit the https://www.nataliemaclean.com/88.

What should you consider when buying wine as an investment? What's the cold, hard truth about the Canadian wine industry? What makes for a successful wine brand launch? Are Kevin O'Leary's wines as great as he says they are? In this episode of the Unreserved Wine Talk podcast, I'm chatting with Kevin O'Leary, prickly merchant of the television shows Dragon's Den and Shark Tank, as well as the founder of O'Leary Fine Wines, O’Leary Funds, and O’Leary Financial Group.   Highlights What should you consider when buying wine as an investment? How can you benefit from a "divorce cellar"? What's the business case for you to invest in the Canadian wine market? Why does a $14.95 price point allow you to gain market share quickly? Why does consistency in production create a great experience for you as a wine consumer? How were the final two wines chosen for the launch of O'Leary Wines? What key points do you need to nail before pitching your new wine venture? What's the marketing strategy for the first five years of O'Leary Wines? What's the cold, hard truth about the Ontario wine industry? How does O'Leary Unoaked Chardonnay give you an unexpected taste experience? Which foods pair well with O'Leary Unoaked Chardonnay? What twist can you add to your whites to make a refreshing summer beverage? How does having a cork versus screwcap affect your perception of wine? What can you experience from O'Leary Cabernet Merlot? Which remarkable wine did Kevin's taste on his first encounter? How was Kevin introduced to wine?   About Kevin O'Leary After his extraordinary success at the software company he founded – and a difficult period of obstacles and legal disputes – Kevin eventually found himself on television, quickly becoming a sought-after host and personality on a range of shows – including Discovery’s Project Earth, CBC’s Dragons’ Den, and ABC’s Shark Tank.   Kevin has since launched O’Leary Funds, an investment fund company; O’Leary Fine Wines; and a best-selling book series on financial literacy. In 2014, Kevin founded O’Leary Financial Group – a group of brands and services that share Kevin’s guiding principles of honesty, directness, convenience, and above all, great value.     To learn more about the resources mentioned in this episode, visit the https://www.nataliemaclean.com/87.

What would surprise us about the way we buy wine? What techniques do wine retailers use to trigger impulse buys in the store? What are the biggest differences between the way men and women buy wine? Why is a direct to consumer sales model beneficial for you as a buyer? In this episode of the Unreserved Wine Talk podcast, I'm chatting with Dr. Tim Dodd, James Young Regents Professor of Hospitality Management, and Director of the Texas Wine Marketing Research Institute at Texas Tech University.   Highlights What was Tim's most iconic wine moment? What might surprise you about the way we buy wine? Which characteristics put certain wine stores and restaurants above the rest? Are there certain questions you should ask wine buyers in order to better help them? What techniques do retailers use to encourage us to buy wine? What parallels can you see between the Canadian and Texan wine markets? How does having a local wine industry affect you as a consumer? Do wineries with large marketing budgets have a big influence on what you drink? Why is direct to consumer sales so beneficial for you? What is the economic argument for direct shipping? Do men and women tend to have different wine buying habits? How do men and women respond differently to free tasting and winery tours? Why should you focus on educating consumers in your marketing? What's the best piece of wine advice Tim has received? Who would Tim like to share a glass of wine with?   About Dr. Tim Dodd Tim Dodd is the James Young Regents Professor of Hospitality Management, and Director of the Texas Wine Marketing Research Institute at Texas Tech University. He also serves as the Associate Dean of Administration in the College of Human Sciences.   Dr. Dodd worked with the New Zealand grape and wine industry before becoming involved with the Texas industry in the late 1980s. He served as the President of TWGGA in 1996-1997 and was active in a number of other roles within the Association.   Tim completed his dissertation work on winery tourism and continues to conduct research on various marketing and economic issues related to wine. He has also published numerous articles concerning wine marketing and winery tourism in a variety of journals and has presented at a number of international conferences.     To learn more about the resources mentioned in this episode, visit the https://www.nataliemaclean.com/86.

How did the novel and movie Sideways change the wine market in North America? In the book, the character Miles is portrayed as a wine snob, but what really defines a wine snob? What do you need to know if you want to become a successful writer? In this episode of the Unreserved Wine Talk podcast, I'm chatting with Rex Pickett, author of the mega-hit wine book and movie Sideways.   Highlights How has time been a great friend to Sideways? What is it about the characters in Sideways that makes them feel unique to you? How did wine and California wine country become an important part of Rex's life? Why does Rex start out with honing in on character and setting in his writing? What is Rex telling you when he talks about wine snobs? What is the key difference you can see in the depth of the wine world versus other types of alcohol? How can you enjoy the purple prose of wine writing? What change can you see in the red wine market as a result of Sideways? Why does Rex believe Merlot needed a market correction after it's 1990s popularity? What can you expect from a bottle of Hitching Post Pinot Noir? Can you expect a different experience from the Sideways play in comparison to the movie and book? Where does Vertical fit in with Rex's personal story? What are Rex's best tips for you as an aspiring writer?   About Rex Pickett Rex Pickett is the author of the novel Sideways, the multiple award-winning Alexander Payne film of the same title.  Sideways captured over 350 critics and awards organization plaudits, including 2 Golden Globes, an Academy Award for Best Adapted Screenplay, the prestigious Writers Guild Award, 6 Indie Spirit Awards … and the list goes on. Rex has written and directed two independent feature films, California Without End and From Hollywood to Deadwood (Island Pictures).  He wrote the 2000 Academy Award-winning Best Live Action Short My Mother Dreams the Satan’s Disciples in New York. His Sideways sequel Vertical won the Gold Medal for Fiction from the Independent Publisher Book Awards in 2012. His Sideways 3 Chile forms the final leg of the trilogy. In 2012, Rex adapted his novel into Sideways: the Play.  He staged four record-breaking runs, first at Ruskin Group Theatre in Santa Monica where it ran for 6 months, then the La Jolla Playhouse, where it broke all attendance records for a non-musical in their 35-year history, with 3-time Tony Award winner Des McAnuff directing. In 2017, in collaboration with composer Anthony Adams, Rex turned his attention to the musical version of Sideways.  Two years later the Book for the musical is finished, half the songs are composed and recorded, and a 3-time Tony Award-winning musical theater director (to be announced soon) has come on board.  There is every likelihood that the “workshop” (or premiere) production will happen in the latter part of 2020. Rex grew up in southern California, matriculated from the University of California at San Diego (UCSD).  He was a Special Projects major, specializing in literary and film criticism, and creative writing.  A member of the Writers Guild of America, the Dramatists Guild, and now ASCAP, Rex has enjoyed success in long-form fiction, screenwriting, independent film, and now stage.  The Rex Pickett Papers are now enshrined at his alma mater UCSD in Geisel Library’s Special Collections & Archives.     To learn more about the resources mentioned in this episode, visit the https://www.nataliemaclean.com/85.

Are wines named after a sports celebrity any good or is this just a marketing gimmick? Are more gentle sports like golf better suited to marketing a wine than the more rough and tumble world of wrestling? What does research tell us about the effect of celebrity endorsements on your wine-buying behaviour? How does your wine knowledge impact your interpretation of external cues, like celebrity endorsement, when buying wine? In this episode of the Unreserved Wine Talk podcast, I'm chatting with Dr. Antonia Mantonakis, Fellow of the Cool Climate Oenology and Viticulture Institute, Associate Professor of Marketing at the Goodman School of Business, and Associate Faculty of Psychology at Brock University in Niagara, Canada.   Highlights Why is Antonia's research around wines associated with celebrities relevant to you as a wine consumer? Is there any overlap when you think of certain sports and wine? How do you determine how well-matched a sport is to wine? Which sports had the highest and lowest matches with wine? How were the final sports categories chosen for the study? What do the study results suggest about the effect of celebrity endorsements on your wine buying behaviour? Why do moderately mismatched products and sponsors cause you to pay the most attention? How does your wine knowledge impact your interpretation of external cues when buying wine? What wine-related research can you look forward to from Antonia in the near future? How does the inclusion of a picture change your perception of a wine label?   About Dr. Antonia Mantonakis Dr. Antonia Mantonakis is a Fellow of the Cool Climate Oenology and Viticulture Institute, an Associate Professor of Marketing at the Goodman School of Business, and Associate Faculty of Psychology at Brock University in Niagara, Canada.   She is a psychologist by training and holds a Bachelor of Science in Psychology from the University of Toronto; and has both a Masters in Experimental-Cognitive Psychology and a Doctorate in Experimental-Cognitive Psychology from Simon Fraser University. Her research focuses on the psychological factors that affect consumer behaviour and consumer decision making.   To learn more about the resources mentioned in this episode, visit the https://www.nataliemaclean.com/84.

What are the hottest wine trends right now? What's the difference between natural wine and orange wine? Are new drinks like blue wine and Pinot Freezio here to stay? How does canned wine hold up to its bottled counterparts? Why has Rosé been able to move from fad to mainstream? In this episode of the Unreserved Wine Talk podcast, I'm chatting with Darren Oleksyn, journalist and author of Uncorked: The Definitive Guide to Alberta’s Best Wines Under $25. Highlights How can you differentiate between natural wine and orange wine? Why does orange wine help you to appreciate white wine? What similarities might you pick up between orange wine and craft beer How did natural wine get its start? How can you be a part of the natural wine community? What are qvevri and what do you need to know about orange wine's connection to Georgia? Why should you consider blue wine as more of a marketing fad than a wine trend? What main ingredients can you find in wine? Why does Darren think you should have more information about what's in your wine? How would serving size suggestions on labels benefit you as a wine drinker? Why do I prefer to buy wine with 13.5% alcohol or less? Which canned wine should you try? What wine trends should you keep an eye out for? Why is natural yeast sometimes trickier to work with than industrial yeast? Should you feel guilty about adding an ice cube to your wine? How has the mainstream discovery of Provence Rosé contributed to its upswing in popularity? Are you likely to encounter fall-related wine trends when the seasons change? What does the increasing number of appellations and sub-appellations signal to you about the Canadian wine industry? How do region descriptors on wine labels help you as a consumer? Are wines from Eastern and Central Europe gaining shelf space in your average liquor store? Which Canadian Viognier should you add to the top of your must-try list? What wine mantra is Darren's best advice for you as a wine drinker? Why is it time for you to ditch the "red wine at room temperature" advice? Who would Darren love to share a bottle of wine with? What wine experiment should you try this week? About Darren Oleksyn Darren Oleksyn has been working as a journalist for 28 years and writing about wine for the past 7. He works at the Calgary Herald, where he writes a monthly wine column among a variety of duties. He was introduced to wine by his father, who made fruit wines in Saskatchewan. After moving to Calgary in 2004 he became captivated by wine, attending numerous wine events, festivals and completing his WSET Level 3 certification in wine and spirits. He has travelled to wine regions in Canada, the United States, Italy, France, Spain, Portugal and Germany, and has judged at wine competitions in British Columbia and Calgary. In 2013 he wrote Uncorked: The Definitive Guide to Alberta’s Best Wines Under $25 with friend and fellow wine writer Shelley Boettcher.   To learn more about the resources mentioned in this episode, visit the https://www.nataliemaclean.com/83.

Why is Bordeaux considered the ultimate luxury brand in the world of wine? Why did the Chinese market suddenly start buying Bordeaux wines in the 1980s and 90s? Why does Bordeaux in particular suit the ancient Chinese culture of prestigious gift-giving versus other expensive wines? How does the demand for Bordeaux in China affect both the prices you pay and the styles you drink? In this episode of the Unreserved Wine Talk podcast, I'm chatting with Suzanne Mustacich, author of Thirsty Dragon: China’s Lust for Bordeaux and the Threat to the World’s Best Wines. Highlights What fascinated Suzanne about the Chinese wine market? Can you see a similar effect in other industries where China has become a key player? What can you learn about the differences in wine and business culture between China and Bordeaux? What does a bottle of Bordeaux wine go through before it gets to you? Why was Bordeaux perfectly positioned for the young Chinese market? How do top brands like Bordeaux draw you in? Why is wine the perfect product for the aspirational middle class? Which facts about the China-Bordeaux wine economy might surprise you? Why is it much more expensive for you to be a wine aficionado in Hong Kong than elsewhere? Was there a connection between the US recession and increased interest in the Chinese market from Bordeaux? How have US buying habits changed in relation to high-end Bordeaux wines? How do Government changes impact on the demand for wine in China? What changes can you see in the current Chinese wine consumption patterns compared to when Bordeaux was initially introduced? What is the taboo around women and wine in China? How did Suzanne's end up meeting with particularly interesting characters while researching Thirsty Dragon? About Suzanne Mustacich Suzanne Mustacich is an author, speaker, journalist, editor and consultant. She is a contributing editor at Wine Spectator magazine and the author of Thirsty Dragon: China’s Lust for Bordeaux and the Threat to the World’s Best Wines. She has a background as a television producer and screenwriter. She recently finished her first novel. As a print journalist, she has previously reported for Agence France Presse, Wine Life (China), and Wine Business International. She holds a BA from Yale University in Economics and Political Science, the DUAD enology diploma from the University of Bordeaux and an MA in Creative Writing (Crime Fiction) from the University of East Anglia. She lives in Bordeaux with her family.   To learn more about the resources mentioned in this episode, visit the https://www.nataliemaclean.com/82.

What does it take to win Ontario’s Best Sommelier competition? What’s it like performing in front of a set of very stern-eyed wine judges and a live audience? What is the smartest question you can ask your sommelier in a restaurant? What is the deductive tasting technique and how can it help you drink better wine? In this episode of the Unreserved Wine Talk podcast, I'm chatting with Emily Pearce-Bibona, Certified Sommelier and founder of Femmes du Vins. Highlights How did Emily go from government employee to sommelier? What’s aspects of wine are involved in the Ontario’s Best Sommelier competition? What does it take for you to be named Best Taster? How do you cope with intense pressure during competition? How do you train for sommelier competitions? When should you use a deductive tasting technique? How can you describe the tasting experience with Flat Rock Cellars Riddled Sparkling wine? What's the most important rule you should remember when pairing wine and food? Which questions should you ask your sommelier to get the best wine suggestions for you? How can you subtly indicate your wine budget to a sommelier? Why is taking a wine course an important part of expanding your palate and becoming a better taster? How can a trip to the grocery store improve your wine tasting skills? Why should you approach learning about wine tasting like you would playing an instrument? Why does Emily love Burgundy Pinot Noir? How can you approach improving your tasting vocabulary? How does Emily train for sommelier competitions? Why should you try grower's Champagne? How does Emily handle it when guests send back their wine in her restaurant? What should you do as a guest if you don't like the wine? Why does Emily love Ca’ Del Bosco Cuvée Anna Maria Clementi Franciacorta? What are the top wine tips Emily wants you to remember? About Emily Pearce-Bibona Emily is the sommelier at Barberian’s Steak House in Toronto and part of the group Femmes du Vins.  After a day-long series of competitive challenges in front of a panel of expert judges, peers and the public, Emily triumphed to win the competition at the Centre for Hospitality & Culinary Arts at George Brown College on March 5, 2017. Emily began her wine journey in Toronto and is now a Certified Sommelier with the Court of Master Sommeliers. She has worked in top hospitality positions throughout the city. Her passion for learning continues as she pursues the Master of Wine program, offered in the UK. As a contributing writer for Decanter Magazine, Emily writes about the Canadian wine scene.   To learn more about the resources mentioned in this episode, visit the https://www.nataliemaclean.com/81.