Unreserved Wine Talk

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.

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.