Unreserved Wine Talk

How are podcasts a great way to learn about wine? Which wine books can jumpstart your education about wine and further it as you get more knowledgeable? What's behind the backlash against wine influencers on social media? In this episode of the Unreserved Wine Talk podcast, I'm chatting with Robert Vernick and Peter Yeung, co-hosts of the XChateau podcast. You can find the wines we discussed at ht...

Why are fruit wines becoming more popular and how do they differ from grape-based wines? What is Pét-Nat-style wine and which ones should you try? What are wines from Slovenia like, and which foods pair best with them? In this episode of the Unreserved Wine Talk podcast, I'm chatting with wine writer and educator, Nikki Goddard. You can find the wines we discussed at https://www.nataliemaclean.com...

When can wine faults actually improve the taste of wine? Does learning about wine decrease your enjoyment of it? Can wine experts really distinguish between different types of wine? In this episode of the Unreserved Wine Talk podcast, I'm chatting with wine writer and educator, Nikki Goddard. You can find the wines we discussed at https://www.nataliemaclean.com/winepicks .   Highlights How did Nik...

Why did I resist scoring wines for the first three years I wrote about them? How do you go from submitting an article to a local publication to publishing your first book? Why aren't press trips to wine regions all they're cracked up to be? In this episode of the Unreserved Wine Talk podcast, I'm being interviewed by Vanessa Conlin on the Wine Access Author Series. You can find the wines we discus...

What's it like to explore Paris by visiting different wine bars? How do you know which company to choose for guided tours? What do you need to know before buying wine from a wine list, whether you're at a restaurant or a wine bar? In this episode of the Unreserved Wine Talk podcast, I'm chatting with Tanisha Townsend, Chief Wine Officer of lifestyle agency Girl Meets Glass. You can find the wines...

What's it like to uproot your life in North America and move to Paris? What's the connection between forensic science and wine? What influence has hip-hop music had on wine culture? In this episode of the Unreserved Wine Talk podcast, I'm chatting with Tanisha Townsend, Chief Wine Officer of lifestyle agency Girl Meets Glass. You can find the wines we discussed at https://www.nataliemaclean.com/wi...

What would it be like to visit the most gorgeous wine regions around the world, and get paid to do it? How does the fast-paced schedule of a wine and travel writer impact physical and mental health? How can you pair sweet desserts with wine? What specific impact does sweetness in food have on wines? In this episode of the Unreserved Wine Talk podcast, I'm chatting with New York wine and spirits jo...

Are you curious what it would be like to have lavish dinners and wine tastings with rockstars like Jon Bon Jovi and Fergie? How does music impact your perception of wine? In this episode of the Unreserved Wine Talk podcast, I'm chatting with New York wine and spirits journalist, Céline Bossart. You can find the wines we discussed at https://www.nataliemaclean.com/winepicks .   Highlights Why was C...

What's my advice for those considering a wine career? How did my biggest career regret happen before I became a wine writer? How has my father's alcoholism influenced my relationship with wine? How has the pandemic impacted online wine classes? Can you pair ketchup chips with wine? In this episode of the Unreserved Wine Talk podcast, I'm sharing my interview on the Wine Blast podcast with Susie Ba...

Which weird food and wine pairings should you add to your must-try list? What makes wines from Oregon and California's Sierra Foothills special? How can you make sure to do well at a wine auction? In this episode of the Unreserved Wine Talk podcast, I'm chatting with Scott Greenberg, host of both "The Vine Guy" podcast and the "Wine of the Week" show on WTOP radio in Washington, DC. You can find t...

What's it like tasting wines with the legendary wine critic Robert Parker? How does food take wine to the next level? What's it like to have dinner with celebrities of the wine world? In this episode of the Unreserved Wine Talk podcast, I'm chatting with wine journalist and host of the Vine Guy Podcast, Scott Greenberg. You can find the wines we discussed at https://www.nataliemaclean.com/winepick...

Is food and wine pairing the ultimate goal of every dining experience? Is it okay to tell sommeliers if you don't like the wine they recommended? What's it like serving famous captains of industry like Jeff Bezos and Bill Gates? In this episode of the Unreserved Wine Talk podcast, I'm chatting with Seattle-based wine writer, educator and sommelier, Zach Geballe. You can find the wines we discussed...

What was it like being a sommelier at one of Seattle's most prestigious restaurants as the pandemic started to unfold? How have restaurants and wine lists changed to re-emerge in a post-pandemic world? How are sommeliers pivoting in the wake of the pandemic? In this episode of the Unreserved Wine Talk podcast, I'm chatting with Zach Geballe, co-host and producer of the VinePair podcast as well as...

Are wines that cost hundreds of dollars per bottle ever worth the price? Does deepening your understanding of wine increase your enjoyment of wine? Who were the young widows who built the famous Champagne houses into top luxury brands? How can you use the butter/lemon test to help with food and wine pairing? In this episode of the Unreserved Wine Talk podcast, I'm sharing part two of my interview...

What is it about wine that makes it part of many TV shows and movies? How does approaching wine through food make it so much more accessible? What adventures did I go on as a part of writing my books? Why are origin stories so important when it comes to wine? What's one rule of thumb you can use to find great value wines that taste expensive? In this episode of the Unreserved Wine Talk podcast, I'...

What makes someone a wine influencer? Why is there so much uproar in the wine industry about celebrity wines and influencers? How did heavy drinking become such an entrenched part of the wine industry? Do you sometimes feel you drink too much wine? In this episode of the Unreserved Wine Talk podcast, I'm chatting with Devin Parr, Founder and Managing Partner of Devin Parr & Associates. You can fin...

How did Cameron Diaz's new clean wine brand cause an uproar in the wine world? Where does wine fit into the wellness world? Which low alcohol and alcohol-free wines are worth trying? Should wine labels have ingredient lists? In this episode of the Unreserved Wine Talk podcast, I'm chatting with Devin Parr, Founder and Managing Partner of Devin Parr & Associates. You can find the wines we discussed...

Have wine scores gotten out of control, with higher numbers across the board? Are we oversimplifying wine when we talk and write about it? Is it possible to determine your wine taste by taking an online quiz that asks you about coffee, tea and other things you consume? And should you trust the algorithm that recommends wine to you based on your quiz results? In this episode of the Unreserved Wine...

Which wine regions, grapes and styles are under-valued and worth trying? Should you be skeptical about celebrity-endorsed wines? How do you choose a good wine club? What simple strategy can you use to improve your tasting vocabulary? In this episode of the Unreserved Wine Talk podcast, I'm chatting with Paul K, host of the podcast Wine Talks with Paul K. You can find the wines we discussed at www....

Only one president made his own wine and it wasn't Thomas Jefferson. So who was it? How did Jackie Kennedy Onassis' love of France shape White House menus? Which famous California winemaker attended a White House celebration and as a result had a falling out with his brother and started his own winery? What would surprise you about what's in the White House wine cellar? In this episode of the Unre...

Are you curious about how wine has played an essential role in politics? How did a bottle with Thomas Jefferson's initials become the center of a wine scandal in 1985? What does pulling a Nixon mean? Which wine connected John F. Kennedy and James Bond? In this episode of the Unreserved Wine Talk podcast, I'm chatting with Fred Ryan, publisher and CEO of the Washington Post and author of Wine and T...

Where do the worlds of wine and high tech collide? Why has the wine industry been so slow to embrace digital offerings? Should you join an online wine class? Are online wine events here to stay in a post-pandemic world? In this episode of the Unreserved Wine Talk podcast, I'm sharing my interview on VinePair Podcast with Zach Geballe. You can find the wines we discussed at www.nataliemaclean.com/w...

Are trends like orange wine and natural wine here to stay? What are the benefits of joining a wine club? How do you get out of a wine rut? Have consumer wine choices changed during the pandemic? In this episode of the Unreserved Wine Talk podcast, I'm chatting with Amanda McCrossin & Vanessa Conlin of the Wine Access Unfiltered Podcast for part 2 of our two-part conversation. You can find the wine...

Have you ever dreamed of ditching your day job and starting a career in wine? What do wine and music have in common? What's it like to share a bottle of wine with the famous wine critic Robert Parker? In this episode of the Unreserved Wine Talk podcast, I'm chatting with Amanda McCrossin & Vanessa Conlin of the Wine Access Unfiltered Podcast for part 1 of our two-part conversation. You can find th...

Why are podcasts one of the best ways to learn about wine? How do English sparkling wines compare to Champagne, and should you seek them out? Why is the Master of Wine qualification valuable beyond the studies? What's behind the low pass rate for the Master of Wine qualification? In this episode of the Unreserved Wine Talk podcast, I'm chatting with Susie Barrie and Peter Richards, Masters of Wine...