Unreserved Wine Talk

Would you like to know how to taste, pair and buy wine like a pro? Would you like to walk into a liquor store and know exactly which new wine you want to buy, confident that you’ll love it even though you’ve never tried it before? Would you like to look at a restaurant wine list, filled with wines you haven’t tasted, but have the strategies to pick a great wine for your dining companions and the dishes that you’ve all ordered? That's exactly what I'm talking about on today's special edition of Unreserved Wine Talk. We're taking a deep dive into my online course, The Wine-Smart Course: A Full-Bodied Framework to Taste, Pair and Buy Wine Like a Pro. Over the past twenty years that I’ve been writing about wine, leading wine tastings and teaching online video courses, I’ve picked up lots of great secrets to decoding wine and I'm sharing them with you. I’m also launching a new, free video class to launch my new paid course, during which I’ll also share with you the 5 wine and food pairing mistakes that can ruin your dinner, and how to fix them forever. Enjoy!   Highlights Who is the Wine-Smart Course for? What will you learn in the Wine-Smart course? What benefits can you gain from the course versus free information available on the internet? Why is it so critical for you to become an expert on your own palate? What will you learn about the most popular wine styles and regions? How will the Wine-Smart Course help you to master food and wine pairing? How will your wine purchasing experience change after taking the Wine-Smart Course? What is the format of the Wine-Smart Course? What are the added benefits of signing up for the course right now?   To learn more about the resources mentioned in this episode, visit the show notes.

When I attend a social event that’s outside the wine industry and I’m asked about my job, I often joke that I drink for a living. After I clarify that I write about wine, I usually get questions about what exactly that involves and some misconceptions about drinking Champagne all day in between planning luxe trips to Tuscany and Napa Valley. However, it’s not all beer and Skittles, rainbows and unicorns. On today's episode of Unreserved Wine Talk, I thought that since there’s always been quite a bit of curiosity about what I do, I’ll take you behind the scenes with a day-in-the-life of a wine writer. Seven days in fact. I’m going to record a short update each day, and let you know what I do that’s related to my job, plus a few personal details so that we get to know each other better. Enjoy!   Highlights Why did I decide to do an episode to share how I spend my days? How does my podcast find its way to your earbuds? What was I invited to appear on Global Television’s Morning Show and CTV’s The Social? Why were four cases of wine delivered in one day? How do I approach wine tasting for reviews? How do I prepare for bigger tastings? How can you improve your wine shopping experience? What’s the status of my third book and how is it going to be different from my first two?  To learn more about the resources mentioned in this episode, visit the show notes.

In this episode of the Unreserved Wine Talk podcast, we’re chatting with Gus Clemens, who went to business college when he was just 12 years old to learn how to type because he knew even then he wanted to be a writer. He's held editorial positions with the San Antonio Express-News and the Star Magazine in New York and has written or contributed to about twenty books about Texas and a range of other subjects. Enjoy!   Highlights When did wine become a part of Gus’s life? What led to Gus writing his first wine column? Why was a column about sacramental wine one of the most memorable for Gus? What is Gus’s best tip about writing? Why is the Texas High Plains AVA well-suited for grape-growing? What aspects of Texas weather pose a challenge to grape-growers? How much wine does Texas produce? Why is the Hill Country AVA the most visited AVA in the United States? Are most Texas wines consumed within the state? Why did Gus expand his column beyond Texas wines? Who were the pioneers of Texas winemaking and how did they get started? Where should you start a tour of Texas wine regions? Why is Fredericksburg such a popular tourist destination? How can you pair Texas wine with classic Texas foods? Which wine advertising campaign is Gus’s favourite? What is Gus’s least favourite wine advertising campaign? What advice would Gus give to his 30-year-old self? What’s the worst wine advice people give? Why is the farm more important than the lab when it comes to wine flaws? Which two people would Gus want to share a bottle of wine with? How can you learn more about wine? What are some wine hacks you can use at restaurants?   About Gus Clemens Gus Clemens is a newspaper wine columnist, wine blogger, wine humorist and award-winning author whose wine columns appear in newspapers around the country.  Gus went to business college when he was just 12 years old to learn how to type because he knew even then he wanted to be a writer. He's held editorial positions with the San Antonio Express-News and the Star Magazine in New York and has written or contributed to about twenty books about Texas and a range of other subjects. Today Gus owns an advertising agency, Clemens and Associates, in San Angelo and writes a regular wine column for several Texas newspapers, including the Lubbock Avalanche-Journal, the San Angelo Standard-Times and the Abilene Reporter-News, that often gets picked up through the Gannett news chain of more than one hundred papers throughout the U.S. He joined me now from his home in San Angelo, Texas.   To learn more about the resources mentioned in this episode, visit the https://www.nataliemaclean.com/46.

For those of us in Canada, Thanksgiving is this weekend. In my opinion, there is no other holiday that celebrates the gift of wine like Thanksgiving. Wine is a taste of the harvest, along with all the delicious dishes on the table. But actually choosing a bottle can feel like a thankless task, especially with so many flavours to match. Do you celebrate Thanksgiving, perhaps in November if you’re American? On today's episode of Unreserved Wine Talk,  I’ll be chatting with you about how to pair wine with Thanksgiving turkey and all the side dishes, as well as the new defect in wine called mouse, and which wine trends you should definitely ignore. Enjoy!   Highlights How does the wine defect "mouse" affect wine? What conditions contribute to the development of mouse? How does some natural wine advocates’ approach to “spoilage factors” differ? What do some winemakers attribute to the presence of the mouse defect? Why does acidity in wine make it pair better with food? Which wines pair the best with turkey? What are some complementary and contrasting pairings for Thanksgiving side dishes? How can you pair wine with Thanksgiving desserts? What are some natural and orange wine trends you should ignore? Why do I think sulphur is misunderstood? What do I think about CBD wines? To learn more about the resources mentioned in this episode, visit the show notes.

Do you have trouble pairing wine with spicy dishes? What flavours can survive a spicy pairing? How do you pair wine and dishes with a lot of heat like Tex-Mex or vindaloo chicken? Why are Gen Xers so different as wine drinkers than millennials, and how is marketing to them changed? How can you improve your blood pressure and lower your risk of Alzheimer's with wine? On today's episode of Unreserved Wine Talk, I'm sharing my tips for finding the right wine for every spicy occasion and exploring both an interesting insight into wine marketing and a fascinating recent study in the world of wine. Enjoy!   Highlights Why is it tough to pair wine with spicy dishes? What flavours can survive a spicy pairing? Which wines pair well with spicy foods? What wine consumption trends are we seeing with Gen Xers? What differences do we see in how Gen Xers engage with the wine community? What initiatives are being implemented to market to Gen Xers? How is a recent study looking at resveratrol and astronauts? Why does resveratrol have a potentially positive impact on blood pressure and Alzheimer’s disease? To learn more about the resources mentioned in this episode, visit the show notes.

On today’s episode, I’m chatting with Ian Osborn, on his excellent podcast called Friends of the Vine. This is a bit of a turnaround from my usual format because Ian is interviewing me.  I highly recommend that you check out Ian's podcast Friends of the Vine where he does a great job interviewing master sommeliers, masters of wine, winemakers and wine writers. I wanted to share this episode with you because we dug into lots of great wine tips, from how to talk with the sommelier to becoming the expert on your own taste. I also share some behind-the-scenes stories about how I got into wine and what is what like writing my first book. Enjoy the episode!   Highlights  When did I first become interested in wine? What role did Napa and Sonoma play in my journey to becoming a wine writer? Why is it important to taste wines side by side? Which tasting tip do I share with my students for developing their wine confidence? Why is it important to have the mindset of an enthusiastic amateur? Why are online courses more beneficial than free information? How can you become an expert in your own taste to have new and better wine experiences? Why do I believe online courses are better than in-person courses for a lot of people? Why have I switched my focus to TV and video?    To learn more about the resources mentioned in this episode, visit the show notes.

What makes veggies so hard to pair with wine? Are some types of wine better suited to veggie-pairings? How do you pair wine and veggies, especially the wine stalkers - asparagus and artichoke? How can you chill room-temperature wine in under 15 minutes? What does a new study say about the resveratrol in wine combatting depression? If you've ever been stumped about how to enjoy wine with your salad or forgot to chill your wine in time for a dinner date, you're going to find the tips on this very helpful. Enjoy!   Highlights Why is it more challenging to pair wine with vegetables than with meat? Which wines should you avoid pairing with vegetables? Can pickled and brined foods be paired with wine? Which bridging ingredients help to bring together a meal of wine and vegetables? Why are artichokes and asparagus so tricky to pair with wine? How can you chill a room temperature bottle of wine in 15 minutes? What does a new study say about resveratrol and depression?   To learn more about the resources mentioned in this episode, visit the show notes.

In this episode of the Unreserved Wine Talk podcast, we’re chatting with Kevin Brauch, a Gemini Award Winner, TV producer and host of hit series The Thirsty Traveler, Iron Chef America, SuperStar Chef Challenge, FOOD F!T. Kevin is one of the liveliest guests I’ve had the pleasure of interviewing, and he has so many stories to share, from his time with the late, great Anthony Bourdain, author of Kitchen Confidential, to sabering Champagne in France and wine faux pas in South Africa. Enjoy!   Highlights  How does Kevin sabre a sparkling wine bottle? What is Kevin’s favourite thing about Spanish Cava? How do the names of varietals impact wine choices? How did Kevin meet Anthony Bourdain? Why do the best chefs intertwine family and the kitchen? What is Kevin’s favourite wine gadget? Why does Kevin think we’re not making the right food shows? What is Kevin’s best tip for getting to know more about wine?   About Kevin Brauch Kevin Brauch is a 6-time Canadian Gemini Award Nominee and Gemini Award Winner. Kevin's broadcasting career began in earnest, after graduation from Ryerson (B.A.A. Radio & Television), as on-air personality, ’Revvin’ Kevin' at CFNY - FM102.1. Television was the next obvious step and took him to TVOntario as producer, writer and host of the kids, tweens and teens 4 hour, live, after school block of programming: TVOKids. The live block of programming allowed Brauch to create two award-winning shows for tweens: Off The Hook (OTH) and, the 'Get off the couch and do something!” Series, STUFF. From there, a three-year stint on HGTV’s Canadian Gardening Television, a failed one-year 'convergence' project at CBC Toronto and then onwards to the solidification of Brauch’s career spent at Food Network, Food Network Canada, Discovery, SKY Travel (The Thirsty Traveler, Iron Chef America, SuperStar Chef Challenge, FOOD F!T). Discovery/HDTV also played a home in Brauch’s career; hosting & v/o the light-science docu-series Mega World.   To learn more about the resources mentioned in this episode, visit the show notes.

What's the best way to pair wine with tomatoes and tomato dishes? Will the current heatwave impact wine and the greater wine economy? How is Gary Vaynerchuk disrupting the way we buy wine? What effect does being in a romantic relationship have on your use or abuse of wine? On this episode of the Unreserved Wine Talk podcast, I'm diving into all these topics plus I'm sharing some tips you can use to get the most out of my wine app for your next shopping trip. Enjoy the episode!   Highlights What should you consider when pairing wine with tomatoes? What types of wine are well-suited to pairing with tomatoes? How are the current heatwaves and record high temperatures affecting wine production around the world? Which types of grapes are more susceptible to the heat? How is Gary Vaynerchuk disrupting the way we buy wine? What does a new study say about the effect of romantic relationships on alcohol consumption? How can you use my wine app to make your next wine shopping trip easy?   To learn more about the resources mentioned in this episode, visit the show notes.

In this episode of the Unreserved Wine Talk podcast, we’re chatting with author Elin McCoy, who is the wine columnist for both Bloomberg News and Decanter magazine. Elin shares her controversial perspective on one of the juiciest topics in the wine world: the power of wine scores. Do wine scores still have sway over the way we buy wine? How is this changing with millennials and social media? Are scores actually a valid way of appraising a wine? How is the use of scores in liquor stores sometimes misleading? Elin explores all this and more, including why Robert Parker made such an interesting subject for her book, The Emperor of Wine: The Rise of Robert M. Parker, Jr., and the Reign of American Taste. Enjoy!   Highlights How did a trip to a Mendocino vineyard turn the fancy wine writer stereotype on its head? What is Elin’s approach to wine scoring? What is Elin’s take on wines produced by brands like Walmart and Trader Joe’s? Is the traditional wine critic still relevant, or is social media drowning them out? How does Elin decide which wines to recommend? What was it about Robert Parker that made him rise to prominence? Why write a book about Robert Parker?   About Elin McCoy   Elin McCoy is an award-winning journalist and author, focusing on the world of wine. She is a wine and spirits columnist for Bloomberg News and a columnist for Decanter magazine. McCoy’s most recent book, The Emperor of Wine: The Rise of Robert M. Parker, Jr. and the Reign of American Taste, garnered international praise and has appeared in five foreign editions. She is also the co-author of Thinking About Wine. Elin serves regularly as a wine judge in American and international competitions and is a frequent speaker at wine festivals, symposia and industry events.   To learn more about the resources mentioned in this episode, visit the show notes.