Unreserved Wine Talk
284 episodes - English - Latest episode: 5 days ago - ★★★★★ - 46 ratingsThe Unreserved Wine Talk podcast features candid conversations with the most fascinating people in the wine world. Your host, award-winning journalist Natalie MacLean, dives into how it feels to compete in the nerve-wracking World's Best Sommelier Competition, the shadowy underground of wine forgery, the zany tactics of a winemaker who hosted a funeral for cork, and more. Nestled in these colourful stories are practical tips on how to choose wine from a restaurant list, pair it with food and spot great values in the liquor store.
Every second episode, Natalie goes solo with an unfiltered, personal reflection on wine. She'll share with you how it feels to be a woman in what is still a largely male-dominated field, her gut reaction to the latest health study that says no amount of alcohol consumption is safe and her journey in writing her next book. She'll reveal these vulnerable, sometimes embarrassing, stories with tipsy wit and wisdom that she's soaked up from 20 years of writing about wine.
This podcast is for wine lovers from novices to well-cellared aficionados.
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Episodes
33: The Smart Woman Behind the Wine for Dummies Books: Mary Ewing-Mulligan MW
July 17, 2019 07:01 - 41 minutes - 37.8 MBIn 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 high...
32: Orange Wines, Pairings for Meatless Burgers
July 10, 2019 07:01 - 20 minutes - 19.2 MBIs 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 [email protected]. 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 oran...
31: Pairing Wine & Charcuterie with Jennifer McLagan
July 03, 2019 07:01 - 35 minutes - 32.4 MBIn 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? Wh...
30: Canada Day Wines
June 26, 2019 07:01 - 18 minutes - 17.2 MBIn 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 W...
29: Wine Scandals, Fakes and Forgery with Maureen Downey
June 19, 2019 07:01 - 38 minutes - 35.6 MBIn 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? ...
28: Father's Day Wines
June 12, 2019 07:01 - 14 minutes - 13.1 MBThis Sunday is Father’s Day, so I’m going to get downright practical on this episode with some terrific gift wines suggestions that you can buy dear old dad. So, how do you choose the perfect gift bottle? And is there such a thing as “man’s wine” versus a woman’s wine”? Of course, it’s all awash once you’re on to your third glass of Pinot or Cabernet. Let’s dig in, shall we? Highlights Does the research show a difference in wine consumption between men and women? Why has it taken ...
27: Gripping Wine Stories with San Francisco Chronicle Wine Columnist Esther Mobley
June 05, 2019 07:01 - 47 minutes - 43.6 MBIn this episode of the Unreserved Wine Talk podcast, we’re chatting with Esther Mobley, on the gripping stories that catapulted her to become the columnist for one of the most prestigious wine columns in North America, the San Francisco Chronicle, at just 24 years of age. Enjoy! Highlights How did Esther’s college admissions essay end up in the New York Times? Should wine writers all experience winemaking? What has changed about California winemaking since Esther started writing f...
26: Wine & War: The Vinous Insurrection
May 29, 2019 07:01 - 14 minutes - 13.7 MBWelcome back for Part Two of an audio essay to celebrate National Wine Day, this past Saturday, May 25. Most of what I’m going to share with you today is based on a magazine piece about wine and civility that I wrote two months after 9/11. On this episode we're looking at the role wine has played in some of the greatest conflicts our world has ever seen from French winemakers' fight against the Nazi wine trade, to the impact of 9/11 on the US wine economy. If you missed part one, please ...
25: Pairing Wine and Yoga to Unwined with Morgan Perry
May 22, 2019 07:01 - 27 minutes - 25.1 MBIn this episode of the Unreserved Wine Talk podcast, we’re chatting with Morgan Perry who pairs wine and yoga in her Vino Vinyasa classes. More than marketing or whimsy, it’s actually rooted in a holistic lifestyle philosophy. Enjoy! Highlights What is a yoga vinyasa class experience like? What are vinyasa and shavasana? Why does Morgan believe yoga enhances the wine tasting experience? How does Morgan make her classes accessible for students at all levels? What’s the most int...
24: National Wine Day Prompts These Thoughts
May 15, 2019 07:01 - 15 minutes - 14.1 MBMay 25 is National Wine Day and in honour of that, I think it’s worth exploring how wine, as a beverage, has influenced our culture. Wine has been an integral part of human history from ancient civilizations right through to the modern day. It has become deeply associated with culture, power and prestige in a way that no other beverage has. Most of what I’m going to share with you today is based on a magazine piece about wine and civility that I wrote two months after 9/11. However, the se...
23: Randall Grahm: A Californian Blend of Wine, Wit and Wisdom
May 08, 2019 07:01 - 45 minutes - 41.4 MBIn today’s episode, we’re chatting with the rockstar Californian winemaker Randall Grahm of Bonny Doon winery who blends wit and wisdom unlike any other person in the wine world. He’s brilliant both in his insights and his metaphors. That’s why I chose to help him with the fall harvest for my second book “Unquenchable: A Tipsy Search for the World’s Best Bargain Wines.” His wines are also often favourites of the students of my online courses. Randall Grahm was born in Los Angeles in 1953...
22: Behind-the-Scenes Peek at Writing Red, White and Drunk All Over
May 01, 2019 07:01 - 28 minutes - 26.5 MBWhat role have books played in my exploration of wine regions around the world? What's it like tasting ultra high-end wine? How is wine portrayed in literature? Today we're talking about all that and more in a behind-the-scenes peek at Red, White and Drunk All Over. Today's show is a little different from the usual. I’m excited to share this episode from the Behind the Bookshelves podcast, where I was interviewed by Richard Davies. Richard has kindly given me permission to include this int...
21: Is Wine the Source of Civilization? John Mahoney Thinks So and Here's Why
April 24, 2019 07:01 - 41 minutes - 38.4 MBIn today’s episode, we’re chatting with the author John Mahoney who has written several books on wine, but we’ll be focusing on his latest: Is Wine the Source of Civilization? Spoiler alert, the answer is yes. But the more interesting question is why? He has some fascinating answers, plus some of the best practical tips on enjoying wine that I’ve ever heard. One has to do with temperature … keep listening for that one towards the end of our chat. Enjoy! John J. Mahoney is a Certified Win...
20: Why You Need to Know Malbec Truly, Madly, Deeply
April 17, 2019 07:01 - 14 minutes - 13.1 MBHave you tried Malbec? Did you like it? Which ones are your favourites? From Argentina to France, Malbecs are not all created equal. For me, it was an Argentine Malbec that first piqued my curiosity, leading me to start buying more. I followed that curiosity down to Argentina itself in my second book, Unquenchable: A Tipsy Search for the World’s Best Bargain Bottles. On this episode, in honour of World Malbec Day, I'm taking you with me on a journey to the Bodega Catana Zapata winery in Ar...
19: How to Become the World’s Best Sommelier with Arvid Rosengren
April 10, 2019 07:01 - 44 minutes - 40.6 MBArvid Rosengren is one of the most merited sommeliers in the world, holding a range of competition wins and titles, the crowning achievement being the 2016 A.S.I. Best Sommelier of the World, a competition held every three years for candidates representing sixty countries. It tests theoretical knowledge, blind tastings of various beverages and practical service skills Born and raised in the south of Sweden, Arvid initially studied Nanotechnology Engineering but figured out half-way through...
18: Wine and Keto, Paleo, Gluten-Free, Atkins, South Beach and Other Diets (Does Wine Make You Fat?)
April 03, 2019 07:01 - 20 minutes - 18.5 MBDoes wine make you fat? Can you drink wine while you’re on a diet? What about diets like paleo, keto, South Beach, Atkins and gluten-free? In recent years some winemakers have started producing or re-labelling low-carb and low-calorie wines that cater to or many and varied special diets. Are they really worth it or is it just a fad? That’s exactly what we’re going to dive into this week as we explore how our bodies process alcohol, the surprising statistics about weight gain and wine and w...
17: Organic and Biodynamic Wine with Thomas Bachelder
March 27, 2019 07:01 - 1 hour - 58.5 MBThomas Bachelder is a Canadian winemaking superstar on a mission when it comes to cool-climate Chardonnay and Pinot Noir. After studying in France and having a successful winemaking career in Canada, Thomas started his own label where not only does he make wine in Ontario, but he also has vineyards in Burgundy and Oregon. The Bachelder project started with the 2009 vintage with the three terroirs series: Three regions; Three wines. As he describes it, the hands, techniques and the palates re...
16: Are Organic Wines Better for You?
March 20, 2019 07:01 - 17 minutes - 16.1 MBWhat exactly is organic wine? Is it better for you? In recent years, organic wine has moved from the realms of health nuts and hippies to the mainstream, where it now represents one of the fastest-growing categories in the liquor store. But is it really that different from conventional wine? With Earth Hour coming up on March 30 and Earth Day on April 22, I’m dedicating today’s episode to organic wine, with a deep dive into what it is, its history and what the research shows about its bene...
15: What to Ask the Sommelier with Lesley Brown, Canadian Association of Professional Sommeliers
March 13, 2019 07:01 - 33 minutes - 30.8 MBLesley Brown has been a part of the Canadian Wine Industry for the past 17 years and works with several high profile wine agencies. She holds an International Sommelier Diploma and has taught wine courses to hundreds of students. Lesley is currently the BC Regional Sales Manager for The Bacchus Group and she also sits on the board of directors for the Import Spirit and Vintners Association and has recently taken over as the President of CAPS BC and the Vice President of the CAPS National Boa...
14: Bottle of the Sexes: Women v Men on Wine
March 06, 2019 08:01 - 13 minutes - 12.1 MBAre men from Bordeaux and women from Burgundy? In my 20 years of studying and writing about wine, I’ve encountered a lot of differences in how men and women approach the subject. There are also several studies that show the same thing. In honour of International Women’s Day this week, I’m diving deep into “women’s wines”, whether they’re actually any good and how wines marketed to women are affecting the industry. To learn more about the resources mentioned in this episode, visit the...
13: Blending Humour and Wine in South Africa with Charles Back, Fairview Wine
February 27, 2019 08:01 - 45 minutes - 42 MBCharles Louis Back is the third generation owner of South African wine and cheese producer Fairview, in Paarl in the Western Cape Province. Charles Back studied winemaking at Elsenburg Agricultural College in Stellenbosch. He officially joined his family’s company in 1978 and took over full control in 1995 after the death of his father, Cyril. Today, Charles Back is known as one of the great entrepreneurs and innovators of the wine world – an individual who likes nothing more to swim again...
12: Wine Scores: Misleading or Helpful to Consumers?
February 20, 2019 08:01 - 16 minutes - 15.4 MBIt’s unbelievable to consider that there’s a huge industry of specialists dedicating their lives to wine in the form of writers, sommeliers and critics. Why has wine inspired us in a way no other food or drink does? In this episode, I explore the questions around why we score wine in the first place, whether they really matter and if you should trust them. To learn more about the resources mentioned in this episode, visit the show notes.
11: The World's Best Wines with Forbes Columnist Katie Kelly Bell
February 13, 2019 08:01 - 37 minutes - 34.6 MBKatie Kelly Bell has been writing about food, wine and travel for over a dozen years, with her writing appearing in publications such as Forbes, USA Today, Modern Luxury, Decanter and Southern Living. Her experiences have taken her from the vineyards of Argentina to the press houses of Champagne. In between, she has co-authored a travel guide to Ireland, The Everything Guide to Ireland, written a city guide for Atlanta and worked as a Senior Editor at The Wine Report. Katie also appears on t...
10: Wines for Seduction: A Vine Romance for Valentine's Day
February 06, 2019 08:01 - 14 minutes - 13.6 MBDo you want to seduce someone this Valentine’s Day? Forget the lingerie, lipstick and silk-tie handcuffs - just share a glass or two of wine with your amour. Just in time for Valentine’s Day, I’m going to share with you my favourite wines for seduction, including some melt in your mouth pairings with chocolate. To learn more about the resources mentioned in this episode, visit the show notes.
9: Are Vegan & Vegetarian Wines Better for You? Ezra Cipes, Summerhill Winery, BC, Has Answers
January 30, 2019 08:01 - 42 minutes - 38.7 MBEzra Cipes is proud to carry on the family legacy at Summerhill Pyramid Winery. Since the Cipes family moved from New York to Summerhill Vineyard in Kelowna, British Columbia when Cipes was five, he has grown up in the wine industry and feels blessed to now lead a company dedicated to creating beauty in collaboration with nature. After reconnecting with the winery and the land, Cipes knew he needed to assume a greater role at the winery. He became Chief Operations Officer in 2008 and CEO in ...
8: Scandalous Wine Women on TV
January 23, 2019 08:01 - 18 minutes - 16.8 MBI have to confess: I am obsessed with Alicia Florrick, the successful attorney on The Good Wife, and Olivia Pope, the high-powered Washington D.C. “fixer” on Scandal. In this episode, I’m going to share with you my secret obsession with the wine drinking habits of these women on television and what I believe that says about our cultural relationship with wine. To learn more about the resources mentioned in this episode, visit the show notes.
7: Wine Confidential: An Insider Look at the Wine World with Bianca Bosker
January 16, 2019 08:01 - 39 minutes - 36.4 MBBianca Bosker is an award-winning journalist and the author of the New York Times Best Seller, Cork Dork: A Wine-Fueled Adventure Among the Obsessive Sommeliers, Big Bottle Hunters, and Rogue Scientists Who Taught Me to Live for Taste, which has been hailed as the “Kitchen Confidential of wine.” Bianca has written about food, wine, architecture, and technology for The New Yorker online, The Atlantic, The New York Times, Food & Wine, The Wall Street Journal, The Guardian, and The New Republic...
6: Secret Book Club Reading of Red, White and Drunk All Over
January 09, 2019 08:01 - 31 minutes - 28.7 MBAre you curious about what’s behind the covers of my book, Red, White and Drunk All Over: A Wine-Soaked Journey from Grape to Glass Audio Edition (which you'll hear me refer to as "RWD")? In this episode, I’m inviting you to pull up your most comfortable imaginary chair for a secret book club reading of the juiciest bits of RWD, which was named one of the best books of the year by the Globe and Mail, New York Times and Amazon. To learn more about the resources mentioned in this episode, vi...
5: Wine & Health: Benefits, Risks and Surprises with Dr. Edward Miller
January 02, 2019 08:01 - 37 minutes - 34.5 MBDr. Edward Miller is a board-certified physician, author, & researcher and he has been passionate about wine since taking a wine appreciation course 30 years ago during medical school. He is a regular attendee at The International Wine-Heart Health Summits and a member of The Renaud Society, an international society of medical professionals investigating the role of wine in health. Dr. Miller is an advanced-level certified wine sommelier from the International Wine & Spirits Guild and he and...
4: Sneak Peak Behind-the-Scenes: Publishing a Wine Audiobook
December 26, 2018 08:00 - 14 minutes - 13.2 MBHave you ever wondered how an audiobook gets made and then sold via Apple Books, Amazon and Audible around the world? In this episode, I’m sharing my journey from idea to audiobook and we’ll go behind the scenes of creating the new audio edition of my book Red, White and Drunk All Over: A Wine-Soaked Journey from Grape to Glass (RWD). I’ll also share with you some terrific sparkling wines that pair perfectly with ringing in the New Year. To learn more about the resources mentioned in this...
3: Why Do You Like the Wines You Do with Marnie Old and Jean-Charles Boisset
December 19, 2018 08:00 - 54 minutes - 49.5 MBSommelier and author Marnie Old and winemaker Jean-Charles Boisset of Domaine de la Vougeraie, have co-authored a book, Passion For Wine: The French Ideal and the American Dream, which has some truly innovative ways to help you understand why you like certain wines and not others. In this episode, Marnie and Jean-Charles share with us why it's so hard for people to identify their personal preferences in wine, how to use the "Spectrum of Style" as a wine pairing tool, the easy way to know i...
2: Wine Confession: Loving the Buzz of Alcohol
December 12, 2018 08:02 - 12 minutes - 11.7 MBAs I mentioned in the introductory episode of the Unreserved Wine Talk podcast, every other episode I’ll be doing a solo episode where I offer up some of my personal wine confessions. This is the first of these special confessional episodes. Many of these stories I’ve never shared publicly. Some will be funny, others will be funny, and a few will be embarrassing. I’ve decided to share these confessions with you not because I’m a psychological exhibitionist, but because you might you might ...
1: Wine Forgery and True Wine Crime with Pete Hellman
December 12, 2018 08:00 - 33 minutes - 31 MBPeter Hellman is a New York-based wine journalist and best-selling author. His writing has appeared in Wine Spectator, The Wall Street Journal, New York Post, New York Times, New York Sun and his bestselling books include In Vino Duplicitas: The Rise and Fall of a Wine Forger Extraordinaire and Chief!: Classic Cases from the Files of the Chief of Detectives and When Courage Was Stronger than Fear. Peter started writing about Rudy Kurniawan in 2008 and has covered the story ever since. In t...
Introducing the Unreserved Wine Talk Podcast: Unfiltered Wine Conversations and Confessions
November 20, 2018 01:30 - 9 minutes - 8.28 MBWelcome to this special introduction to the Unreserved Wine Talk Podcast! My name is Natalie MacLean and I’ve been writing about wine for twenty years. Growing up in a small Nova Scotia town, I used to think that wine was just for fancy people. However, I now know that the pure pleasure and passion of wine is for everyone. This podcast serves to help you take the journey I’ve taken with wine. One that will move you away from confusion, embarrassment, and disappointment to a place confide...