Unreserved Wine Talk

How is the wine industry embracing the digital world? What role do influencers play in wine marketing? What can you do to increase engagement and build deeper connections with customers? Why has the wine industry been so resistant to adapt to the digital age? In this episode of the Unreserved Wine Talk podcast, we're chatting with Paul Mabray, a wine unicorn and digital futurist who has created and led companies that have transformed the wine industry through the strategic and visionary use of technology. Highlights Why haven't you seen any major disruptors in the wine industry? Can you quantify the value of social media? What's the difference between an influencer and a superfan? Where is the balance you should find between content generation and engagement? How can you bridge the disconnect between consumers and brands while building brand awareness? How has Paul brought together the wine and tech industries throughout his career? About Paul Mabray Paul Mabray is a wine unicorn and digital futurist. He has created and led companies that have transformed the wine industry through the strategic and visionary use of technology. He believes that the future of the wine industry hinges on its ability to adapt and change to meet consumer expectations, wherever they are, whether that's online, at the winery, in the liquor store or at home. A Digital Think Tank for the Wine Industry: That's how Paul Mabray describes his Napa-based consulting company that uses strategy and technology to solve problems in a complex category. Paul has been working in the wine and technology industries for 17 years and has been a guest lecturer at University of California's Berkley School of Business, UC Davis that has trained winemakers around the world, as well as at many international conferences. To learn more about the resources mentioned in this episode, visit the https://www.nataliemaclean.com/65.

Does price affect your perception of a wine's quality? What would it be like to travel around the world in pursuit of eighty wines? Why does the wide variety of wine negatively affect your buying choices? How can you identify value wines? In this episode of the Unreserved Wine Talk podcast, we're chatting with Mike Veseth, The Wine Economist, award-winning author and professor emeritus of the University of Tacoma at Puget Sound in Washington, where he taught international political economy. Highlights What is the role of economics in the business of winemaking? How did Mike get the title of The Wine Economist? How do you have an advantage in the wine industry as a family business? What is one of the major risks you take when drinking the product of amateur winemaking? What should you expect from reading Mike's books? What parallels can you find between Around the World in Eighty Wines and it's Jules Verne inspiration? How can you use the "is it worth it" index to identify value wines? Which regions should you look to for great value wines? About Mike Veseth Economist Mike Veseth (pronounced VEE-seth) is an authority on global wine markets who travels the world studying wine economics and speaking to wine industry groups. He reports his discoveries on this blog, The Wine Economist, and in more than a dozen books including Wine Wars (2011), Extreme Wine (2013) and Money, Taste & Wine: It's Complicated! (2015). The newest book, Around the World in Eighty Wines, will appear in November, 2017. The Wine Economist was named 2015 "Best in the World" wine blog by Gourmand International. Money Taste, and Wine received the 2016 Gourmand International award for "Best in the World" wine writing. Mike Veseth is also professor emeritus of International Political Economy at the University of Puget Sound in Tacoma, Washington. He is an authority on globalization and the global wine market. Mike was named Washington Professor of the Year by the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching. His 2005 book Globaloney was selected as a Best Business Book of 2005 by Library Journal. JancisRobinson.com's annual book review named Wine Wars a Wine Book for the Year in 2011. To learn more about the resources mentioned in this episode, visit the https://www.nataliemaclean.com/64.

Do you need to follow a food and wine pairing rulebook? What wine-worthy aphrodisiacs should you add to your menu this Valentine's Day? Does the classic romantic food, chocolate, have a perfect wine match you should try? Where does salinity in wine come from? In today's episode, I'm chatting with you about aphrodisiac wine pairings and salt in wine. Enjoy! Highlights What is the most important rule you should remember when choosing wine? Why do you enjoy sparkling wines especially with oysters? Which high-zinc nuts were often prescribed to the love-sick and pair well with Sauvignon Blanc? Can you successfully pair wine with asparagus? How should you pair soft cheeses with wine? What factors should you consider when pairing wine with strawberries and cream? Why should you consider bacon as an aphrodisiac? If you taste some salinity in wine, where does it come from? Should you pay attention to the salinity of vineyard soil? Why shouldn't you expect additives to be responsible for all of wines tasting notes? What do your taste perceptions with wine mean? To learn more about the resources mentioned in this episode, visit https://www.nataliemaclean.com/63.

What does a wine enthusiast have in common with a cannabis user? How can you pair wine with cannabis? What do you need to know about terpenes and wine pairing? How do infused beverages bring together the cannabis and wine industries? In this episode of the Unreserved Wine Talk podcast, we're chatting with Jamie Evans, founder of The Herb Somm, a cannabis blog and lifestyle brand that is focused on the gourmet side of the cannabis industry. Enjoy! Highlights What health and lifestyle benefits can you experience from using cannabis? Where can you explore the culinary side of cannabis? Can you try cannabis without experiencing a high? Why is cannabis a good "exit drug"? Why should we break the stigma associated with cannabis? How did Jamie develop her interest in the cannabis industry? What was Jamie's involvement in the cannabis restaurant movement in San Francisco? Where does Jamie think the future of the cannabis industry is going? About Jamie Evans Jamie Evans is the founder of The Herb Somm, a cannabis blog and lifestyle brand that is focused on the gourmet side of the cannabis industry. She is an educator, host, and writer specializing in cannabis, food, recipes, wine, and the cannaculinary world. In addition to her work in the cannabis industry, Jamie has over ten years of wine industry experience. Having represented a wide array of organizations and wineries, she is best known for producing high-end events and developing topnotch public relations, marketing, and hospitality programs. Jamie is also a contributor to POPSUGAR and MARY Magazine specializing in cannabis recipes and cannabis lifestyle pieces. She was also recently named as one of Wine Enthusiast Magazine's Top 40 Under 40 Tastemakers in 2018. Born and raised in Truckee, CA, Jamie's roots extend back to South Dakota farm families. She developed a love for wine and agriculture while earning her degree in Wine and Viticulture, with a concentration in Wine Business at Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo. As an avid traveler, she expanded her knowledge and explored different regions where she studied enology and viticulture at The University of Adelaide, Australia and The Engineering School of Enology at Changins, Switzerland. To learn more about the resources mentioned in this episode, visit the https://www.nataliemaclean.com/62.

How does blending grapes impact the flavour profile of wine? What can blends give you that a single varietal can't? What can you learn about wine from reading the Drops of God manga series? Why should you engage your creative side when it comes to wine? Why do you need to dive deeper into wine scores before buying? In today's episode, I'm chatting with you about the power and problems with wine scores, whether single vineyard or blends are better and the viral sensation of the Manga wine series called Drops of God. Enjoy! Highlights How is the Drops of God anime series impacting wine sales? Why should you engage your creative side when it comes to wine? What can blends give you that a single varietal can't? How does blending grapes impact the flavour profile of wine? What are some well-known wines that are blends? Why might Submission wine be on your radar? How did the Toronto Star's score for Submission impact its sales? How did I review Submission? To learn more about the resources mentioned in this episode, visit https://www.nataliemaclean.com/61.

What insider tip can you use the next time you're faced with a restaurant wine list? What do billionaires look for in wines for daily drinking? Why should you cultivate a wine spouse? How can you signal to restaurant staff that you're a wine insider (even if you're not)? In this episode of the Unreserved Wine Talk podcast, we're chatting with Mark Oldman, New York-based wine best-selling author, speaker and entrepreneur and one of the liveliest and wittiest guests I've had on the show. Enjoy! Highlights What should you do if you think your restaurant glassware or wine has a fault? How can a label help you to identify a great value wine? Why shouldn't you say no to paper cups? Why is a restaurant wine list like the Bermuda Triangle? Why should you pay extra attention to the back label? When is oak "deliciously slutty"? Should you request specific glassware to match your wine? Why is blind tasting overrated? How did Mark end up in criminal court over a bottle of Bordeaux? About Mark Oldman Mark Oldman is a wine expert, author, entrepreneur, speaker, and media personality, and, elementally, someone who delights in helping people simplify complex subjects. In the world of wine, he is known for his singular ability to unravel wine's complexities with a potent blend of entertainment, style, and humor. Mark's enduring, award-winning books are considered by many to be the best of their kind. His standing invitations to the country's top food festivals and consistently sold-out events attest to his position as one of gastronomy's most captivating speakers. Named "everybody's favorite wine expert" by festival guru Lee Brian Schrager and a "hot ticket" by the New York Post, Mark brings the ruckus to audiences at major fairs, corporations, and institutions around the world. To learn more about the resources mentioned in this episode, visit the https://www.nataliemaclean.com/60.

What makes a bargain wine? How can you prepare artichokes to be more wine-friendly? Should you plan a trip to Canada's wine regions? In today's episode, I'm chatting again with Mark Pascal and Francis Schott, on their excellent radio show The Restaurant Guys. If you missed part one of our conversation, go back to episode 56 after you listen to this one. Mark and Francis have been in the fine dining and wine retail business for more than 25 years, and co-own Stage Left Restaurant in New Brunswick, New Jersey, which the New York Times has ranked in their excellent category and Citysearch named among the Top 10 Restaurants in America and Worth The Drive from any Major City. They also own a second restaurant called Catherine Lombardi as well as the Stage Left Wine Shop. I wanted to share this one with you because we chat about tips on spotting bargain wines, pairing wine and veggies, including the especially tough match of artichokes, and why Canadian wine regions are excellent places to vacation. This is actually two episodes rolled into one as I've been a guest on their show a number of times. Enjoy the episode! Highlights How can my mobile wine app make your wine-shopping life much easier? Why do you have to put more effort into finding bargain wines? Which region-based rule can help you find great bargain wines? Where can you find the most vibrant wine destination on the east coast of the US? Do Canadian wine regions make good tourist destinations? Are some wines better suited to certain seasons? Which characteristics can you look for in a good wine to pair with vegetables? Why should you give a toast at your next celebration? To learn more about the resources mentioned in this episode, visit https://www.nataliemaclean.com/59.

In this episode of the Unreserved Wine Talk podcast, we're chatting with Madeline Puckette, the content director and co-founder of Wine Folly whose passion for helping beginners learn about wine is the inspiration behind the award-winning website winefolly.com, and the NYT best-selling book, Wine Folly: The Essential Guide to Wine. Enjoy! Highlights How can Wine Folly empower you on your wine tasting journey? Do the flavours you taste in wine come from additives like other fruits? How does your sense of smell affect the way things taste? What can you deduce from the colour of wine? What out of the box wine pairing do you need to try? Why should Spain be at the top of your wine trip bucket list? Which next-door wine region should you visit next? How can you use Wine Folly when tasting wine? About Madeline Puckette Madeline Puckette is the content director and co-founder of Wine Folly. Her passion for helping beginners learn about wine is the inspiration behind the award-winning website winefolly.com, and the NYT best-selling book, Wine Folly: The Essential Guide to Wine. Madeline's background in visual design, music and restaurant hospitality have helped shape her communication of wine through infographics, entertainment and social media. Since the inception of the site on December 25, 2011, Madeline's enigmatic wine designs have been featured in places like NPR, Fast Company Design and The Washington Post. The Wine Folly book has been published in 20 countries including Korea, Germany, Russia, China, France and Italy. To learn more about the resources mentioned in this episode, visit the https://www.nataliemaclean.com/58.

What does BYOB, Bring Your Own Bottle, to a restaurant mean? What special laws and etiquette do you need to know about it? Which provinces and states allow it? How does BYOB benefit you as a wine lover, aside from reducing your restaurant bill? How should you calculate the tip when you bring your own wine? On today's episode of Unreserved Wine Talk, I'm sharing everything you need to know, plus my best tips for enjoying BYOB wines at restaurants. Enjoy! Highlights Why is BYOB perfect for you if you don't cook much at home? How does BYOB benefit you as a wine lover? Should you BYOB when venturing into more casual fare? How much does wine contribute to restaurant profits? How should you calculate an appropriate tip when you BYOB? How can BYOB help emerging wine regions and small producers? What aspects of BYOB especially benefit dining and wine culture? What BYOB etiquette tips should you keep in mind? How is wine helping some chain restaurants to differentiate themselves? To learn more about the resources mentioned in this episode, visit https://www.nataliemaclean.com/57.

In today's episode, I'm chatting with Mark Pascal and Francis Schott, on their excellent radio show The Restaurant Guys. They've been in the fine dining and wine retail business for more than 25 years, and co-own Stage Left Restaurant in New Brunswick, New Jersey, which the New York Times has ranked in their excellent category and Citysearch named among the Top 10 Restaurants in America and Worth The Drive from any Major City. Since I've chatted with them, they've launched a second restaurant called Catherine Lombardi and their Stage Left Wine Shop is booming. Although their radio show was wildly popular, they decided to retire it and focus their time on the restaurants and wine boutique, and actually get a full night's sleep now and then. I wanted to share this one with you because we dig into some of my most personal and earliest wine stories as well as tips on how to choose a great festive wine, pairings for turkey dinner and navigating a big restaurant wine list. This is actually two episodes rolled into one as I've been a guest on their show a number of times. Enjoy the episode! Highlights How do you become a wine expert? How can you tackle a daunting restaurant wine list? Should you always follow the advice of a restaurant's resident wine "expert"? Are you able to fit wine into your weight loss diet? Why is wine the perfect companion for your holiday meals? Can you serve Champagne before the start of the meal? Where can you look for Sparkling Wine that tastes as good as Champagne? What's the correct temperature for you to serve Champagne? How do you figure out how much wine you should buy? What can you do to make sure the wine you bring to dinner is well-received? To learn more about the resources mentioned in this episode, visit https://www.nataliemaclean.com/56.