Unreserved Wine Talk

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.

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.