Unreserved Wine Talk

Did you know that wine auctions are on the rise, both as fundraisers and as commercial ways to buy and sell your cellar stash? On this episode of the Unreserved Wine Talk podcast, I’m chatting with you about why auctions are increasing in popularity, their fascinating back story, and how you can participate in them without having a multimillion-dollar trust fund. If you’re listening to this podcast on the day it’s published, please also join me on CTV News as we’ll be chatting about two of the world’s most popular wines, Pinot Noir and Cabernet Sauvignon, including which ones to buy now. If you can’t tune in, then join my wine-happy community at nataliemaclean.com/joinus and I’ll send you the link to the videos of these two segments. Enjoy the episode!   Highlights Are the sky-high bids we often hear about a standard occurrence at wine auctions? Why do wine auctions make such good fundraisers? How do the results of wine auctions impact the wider wine world? Is there more to wine auctions than investing and collecting? What are the risks of buying wine at auctions? What should you look for when inspecting wine before the auction? 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 Tilar Mazzeo, author and proprietor and winemaker at Parsell Vineyard. Her book The Widow Clicquot, a biography of Barbe-Nicole Clicquot Ponsardin, the founder of the champagne house Veuve Clicquot became a bestseller on the New York Times, and a film adaptation of the book is in the works. Tilar gives us the story behind the Champagne and the woman who built not only this prestigious luxury brand but was instrumental in the development of the industry as we know it. She also shares her inspiration and insights from developing the Back-Lane Wineries series. Enjoy!   Highlights Why did Veuve Clicquot become such a sought after brand? What were some of the Widow Clicquot’s most remarkable innovations? What is the connecting thread through many of Tilar’s writings? What is raw wine? Where can you find Parsell Vineyard? What is Tilar’s favourite wine gadget? What’s the best piece of wine advice Tilar has received?   About Tilar Mazzeo Tilar J. Mazzeo is the Clara C. Piper Associate Professor of English at Colby College, in Waterville, Maine. She is the author of numerous works of narrative nonfiction, and several of her books, including the “oenobiography” The Widow Clicquot, have been New York Times, San Francisco Chronicle, and Los Angeles Times bestsellers. She was a nationally prominent wine writer in the United States before emigrating to Canada, and her writing on wine has appeared in venues such as Food & Wine magazine and in her guide book series The Back-Lane Wineries of Sonoma, The Back-Lane Wineries of Napa, and The Back-Lane Wineries of New York. She holds a certificate from the winemaking program at the University of California at Davis and is currently the proprietor and winemaker at her family’s estate project, Parsell Vineyard in Saanichton, British Columbia.     To learn more about the resources mentioned in this episode, visit the show notes.

If you want great wine these days you don’t have to fly thousands of miles to get it, you can sip it en route. But getting wine to taste delicious at 30,000 feet isn’t easy. If you’re flying somewhere anytime soon, you’ll find our chat about airline wines today uplifting. In this episode of the Unreserved Wine Talk podcast, I’m going to cover which wines are best to drink when you’re in the air, how your sense of smell and taste change, and why airlines are paying more attention to their wine selections on board these days. Enjoy!   Highlights What would my wine-centric dream flight look like? How can food and wine offer airlines a competitive advantage? Have in-flight wine lists evolved in recent years? How does altitude affect your palate? What types of considerations have to be made when airlines select in-flight wines? What unique solutions have airlines developed to improve the in-flight wine experience? How do the major airlines choose their wine selections? Why would wineries want to be on airline wine lists? 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 Chris Scott, a U.K.-based sommelier who published the world’s first-ever wine podcast, the UK Wine Show. Chris and his wife, Jane also founded ThirtyFifty, a company which offers fun and no-nonsense wine tastings for private and corporate events. From his adventures as a triathlete to wine tastings in a hot tub, Chris shares his often-hilarious adventures as well as his brilliant tasting tips, including nifty ways to physically see how acidic or tannic wine is and insights into the U.K. wine industry. Enjoy!   Highlights How did ThirtyFifty get started? How can you identify and describe tannins during a tasting? How does Chris define balance in wine? Why does Chris believe it’s so important for wine tastings and teaching to be experiential? How has the UK wine scene changed over the years? Are there any connections between the growing conditions in the UK and in Champagne? What is the best wine advice Chris has ever received?   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 show notes.

This past Friday, in a scene not unfamiliar to Champagne lovers everywhere, one Wimbledon spectator lost control of his cork, which then made it's way onto the court and stopped the men’s match. But not to worry, I've got you covered.  On today's episode, I'm sharing the exact method you can use to avoid disaster when opening your bubbly. We're also going to talk about another challenge for many wine lovers - pairing wine with seafood. From cod to oysters, salmon and more, I'm giving you my best insider tips to help you find a pairing you'll love. Finally, we're going to explore the new trend of sober curious wine drinkers as reported in the New York Times recently. This last bit is controversial, and I get real honest about my own drinking. Highlights How did Champagne corks end up on the court during a Wimbledon match? What's the right way to open a bottle of bubbly? What wine pairings do I recommend for white fish, salmon, meaty fish and oysters? Are there any insider tips for pairing wine and seafood? Why am I so intrigued by the concept of sober curious? How do I think about alcoholism? Why do I think an interesting life is lived in the grey zone? What role does wine and moderation play in gender-related issues? 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 Mary Ewing-Mulligan, president of the International Wine Center and the first woman in America to become a Master of Wine. She’s also just published the seventh edition of the book “Wine For Dummies.” Mary's motto "Peace. Community. Wine." is a wonderful summary of the work she's doing in the wine industry, from wine education to advocating for women in the industry, to her tenacity and determination to achieve the highest designation and continuing to grow her knowledge and ability. I really enjoyed this fantastic chat and I know you'll get a lot from her journey. Enjoy!   Highlights Where did Mary get the idea to write Wine for Dummies? Does the “for Dummies” title ever get a negative reception? When did Mary decide to test for the Master of Wine programme? How long did it take for Mary to achieve the Master of Wine designation? What are Mary’s thoughts on the current situation for women in the wine industry? How can veteran women in the wine industry support younger women just starting out? Is the impact of climate change on the wine industry being discussed by industry leaders?   About Mary Ewing-Mulligan Mary Ewing-Mulligan, president of International Wine Center, is the first woman in America to become a Master of Wine. This title represents the highest level of knowledge and proficiency in the wine trade. Currently 369 individuals worldwide are Masters of Wine, including 45 in the U.S. In addition to heading International Wine Center, Mary is co-author (with her husband, Ed McCarthy) of “Wine For Dummies” and “Wine Style, Using your senses to explore and enjoy wine,” both published by John Wiley & Sons. With more than one million copies sold, translations into 38 languages, and an audio tape, Wine For Dummies is the fastest-selling wine book ever in the U.S. The couple have also authored White Wine For Dummies, Red Wine For Dummies, Wine Buying Companion For Dummies, Italian Wine For Dummies and French Wine For Dummies. Mary Ewing-Mulligan was wine columnist for The Daily News in New York City for more than ten years, as well as a columnist for trade magazines, “Nation’s Restaurant News” and “Beverage Dynamics.” She also contributed wine articles to several publications in the U.S. and England. She is a past president of the Institute of Masters of Wine (North America) and currently serves as one of its Directors.   To learn more about the resources mentioned in this episode, visit the show notes.

Is orange the new white? Which wines pair best with meatless burgers? How do you keep your wines cool in the summer heat? I'd love for you to share your questions or comments with me. You can do that in the comments on the show notes post or email me at natalie@nataliemaclean.com. Enjoy! Highlights Are orange wines a fad or here to stay? Which wines to pair with the new meatless burgers? How do you keep your wines cool in the summer heat, especially when dining outdoors? How is orange wine made? What are the specifications and requirements for Canadian orange wine? Who makes orange wines in Ontario? 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 Jennifer McLagan, an author and expert in charcuterie. Sometimes, I think we’ve become so paranoid about fat in our diets that we forget that not all fats are alike. Jennifer talks about those that are good for us, and together, we discover some terrific wines to pair with them. Enjoy!   Highlights How does Jennifer respond to people who are concerned about “healthy eating”? How should charcuterie be served? What does it mean for meat to be cured? What’s the difference between regional cured hams such as Serrano, prosciutto and pata negra? Can you pair pickled and brined foods with wine? Are there wines that don’t pair well with charcuterie? What goes into putting together a charcuterie plate at home? What's the difference between pâté, terrine and rillettes?   About Jennifer McLagan Jennifer McLagan is the author of the widely acclaimed books Bones (2005), Fat (2008), Odd Bits (2011), Bitter (2014) and Les Os (2014). All her books made The New York Times list of top cookbooks and she has won four James Beard Awards. Fat was named the James Beard Cookbook of the Year. Her book Bitter, was selected by The Guardian as one of the top ten food books, made the list for the Art of Eating prize, and was featured in the Wall Street Journal, New Scientist and British Vogue. Australian by birth, Jennifer left behind a degree in economics and politics to train in the food business, beginning her professional life in the kitchens of the Southern Cross Hotel in Melbourne. Work as a chef took her to England, where she practiced her trade at Prue Leith’s highly regarded restaurant in London and then in the kitchens of Winfield House, home of the U.S. ambassador. Equipped with a quirky sense of humour, and a contrarian point of view, Jennifer McLagan is known for taking on challenging subjects and questioning our relationship to what we eat.   To learn more about the resources mentioned in this episode, visit the show notes.

In honour of Canada Day on July 1st, we're doing a deep dive into Canadian wine, including some colourful history and surprising facts that you can drop casually at your barbecue gathering as you crack open a bottle. What do Canadian wine regions have to offer visitors? Why do Canadian wines make up only 1/3 of the wine we buy in Canada? We're also testing your vinous savvy with The Great Canadian Wine Quiz. I'd love to hear how you did - email me or tag me on social media. Highlights What were the Canadian wines of the 70s and 80s like? Why are Canadian wines often less expensive than imported wines? What is the Celine Dion-Shania Twain Syndrome that Canadian wines are suffering from? Why do Canadian wines only account for 1/3 of the wine purchased in Canada? What experiences can you have when visiting a Canadian winery? 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 Maureen Downey, a.k.a. the Wine Detective, about wine forgeries, fakes and scandals. You’ll learn tips on how to spot a fake wine based on the label and more. Enjoy!   Highlights Why did Maureen become interested in wine fraud? What aspects of the wine does Maureen consider to determine its authenticity? How does Maureen use technology when testing a wine’s authenticity? How pervasive is wine counterfeiting? What is blockchain and how can it help us to trace the provenance of a bottle of wine? What are some of the simple information mistakes wine counterfeiters have made? How can the average wine buyer avoid becoming a victim of wine fraud? What role does the wine industry play in perpetuating wine fraud?   About Maureen Downey Maureen Downey, DWS, CWE, FWS is known as the Sherlock Holmes of wines and is considered the world’s foremost expert in counterfeit wine identification. She is an expert on rare wines and an authority on wine fraud, counterfeit and fine wine authentication. She earned a degree in hospitality from Boston University and she took the advanced sommelier exams at the age of 23. Over the past 20 years, she has inspected hundreds of millions of dollars worth of both authentic and counterfeit wine. She advises some of the world’s top collectors in purchasing, selling, and managing their collections with her firm Chai Consulting based in San Francisco. She has assisted the government prosecution in the biggest wine counterfeiting cased, ever tried by the US government and continues to work with law enforcement to investigate wine fraud cases. You can also catch her in the Netflix film, Sour Grapes.   To learn more about the resources mentioned in this episode, visit the show notes.