Unreserved Wine Talk

What should you consider when pairing wine and cheese? Why is sparkling wine the perfect pairing for many cheeses? Are there red-flag flavours that signal a bad wine and cheese match? How can you develop your wine and cheese pairing palate? What can you do to make the most of your cheese and wine course when entertaining? In this episode of the Unreserved Wine Talk podcast, I'm chatting with James...

How did The Wine Bible get its name? How was it unlike any wine book of its time? What was it like as a young woman trying to break into the male-dominated New York wine scene in the 1970s? Why are there significantly fewer women than men with the Master Sommelier designation? How does wine help you to immerse yourself in other cultures? In this episode of the Unreserved Wine Talk podcast, I'm cha...

Why should you pair wine to the diner, not the dinner? Do you always have to follow the "rules" when pairing food and wine? Which fun food and wine pairing should you try with your pandemic snacking? How can you develop your aroma vocabulary? In this episode of the Unreserved Wine Talk podcast, I'm chatting with Chris Scott, a U.K.-based sommelier who published the world's first-ever wine podcast,...

Can being a supertaster affect your preferences in alcoholic beverages? Why don't you find a lot of wineries in Ottawa? How do online classes give you an advantage over in-person classes? How is the pandemic impacting the way you buy wine? Why should you buy wine directly from wineries? How can my Wine App help you find the best wine to pair with your food? In this episode of the Unreserved Wine T...

How does the ease with which you can pronounce a winery name affect your perception of both the wine and its price? Are wine experts or novices more likely to assign a higher value to wines with complicated names? How do grape names affect your purchase decisions? In this episode of the Unreserved Wine Talk podcast, I'm chatting with Dr. Antonia Mantonakis, Fellow of the Cool Climate Oenology and...

What should you consider when buying wine as an investment? What's the cold, hard truth about the Canadian wine industry? What makes for a successful wine brand launch? Are Kevin O'Leary's wines as great as he says they are? In this episode of the Unreserved Wine Talk podcast, I'm chatting with Kevin O'Leary, prickly merchant of the television shows Dragon's Den and Shark Tank, as well as the foun...

What would surprise us about the way we buy wine? What techniques do wine retailers use to trigger impulse buys in the store? What are the biggest differences between the way men and women buy wine? Why is a direct to consumer sales model beneficial for you as a buyer? In this episode of the Unreserved Wine Talk podcast, I'm chatting with Dr. Tim Dodd, James Young Regents Professor of Hospitality...

How did the novel and movie Sideways change the wine market in North America? In the book, the character Miles is portrayed as a wine snob, but what really defines a wine snob? What do you need to know if you want to become a successful writer? In this episode of the Unreserved Wine Talk podcast, I'm chatting with Rex Pickett, author of the mega-hit wine book and movie Sideways.   Highlights How h...

Are wines named after a sports celebrity any good or is this just a marketing gimmick? Are more gentle sports like golf better suited to marketing a wine than the more rough and tumble world of wrestling? What does research tell us about the effect of celebrity endorsements on your wine-buying behaviour? How does your wine knowledge impact your interpretation of external cues, like celebrity endor...

What are the hottest wine trends right now? What's the difference between natural wine and orange wine? Are new drinks like blue wine and Pinot Freezio here to stay? How does canned wine hold up to its bottled counterparts? Why has Rosé been able to move from fad to mainstream? In this episode of the Unreserved Wine Talk podcast, I'm chatting with Darren Oleksyn, journalist and author of Uncorked:...

Why is Bordeaux considered the ultimate luxury brand in the world of wine?  Why did the Chinese market suddenly start buying Bordeaux wines in the 1980s and 90s?  Why does Bordeaux in particular suit the ancient Chinese culture of prestigious gift-giving versus other expensive wines? How does the demand for Bordeaux in China affect both the prices you pay and the styles you drink? In this episode...

What does it take to win Ontario's Best Sommelier competition? What's it like performing in front of a set of very stern-eyed wine judges and a live audience? What is the smartest question you can ask your sommelier in a restaurant? What is the deductive tasting technique and how can it help you drink better wine? In this episode of the Unreserved Wine Talk podcast, I'm chatting with Emily Pearce-...

How did Provence become known as the heartland of Rosé? What does it mean to be part of the Rosé lifestyle? Why should you take a trip to the Provence wine region? Does the colour of Rosé give you a clue into its taste? Which unexpected but mouthwatering food pairing should you try with your next glass of Rosé? In this episode of the Unreserved Wine Talk podcast, I'm chatting with wine writer Jill...

Would you like to learn more about Austrian wines, especially its iconic grape, Gruner Veltliner? Do you know why this wine is one of the most versatile wines on the planet?  Why should an Austrian Heuriger be on your must-visit list? Which Austrian red wine should you try next? In this episode of the Unreserved Wine Talk podcast, I'm chatting with Heidi Fisher Pfaffl who is in charge of business...

What do you need to know about Nova Scotia's signature grape, L'Acadie blanc? What is Tidal Bay and why is it Canada's first stylistic appellation? Why is one Nova Scotia winery burying barrels of wine underground? Which travel tips should you keep in mind when you visit Nova Scotia wineries? In this episode of the Unreserved Wine Talk podcast, I'm chatting with Amy Savoury, a certified sommelier...

How does the 100 point scale make wine scores easier for you to interpret? How can you drink better wines by finding a wine critic whose style you like? How does grade inflation affect you as a wine lover? Why is taking an online wine course often better than an in-person course? In this episode of the Unreserved Wine Talk podcast, I'm sharing a conversation I originally had with Pete & Vino Mike...

What's it like serving wine to celebrities like Mariah Carey, Jay-Z, Beyonce and Miley Cyrus? How is being a sommelier different when you work at a Michelin-starred restaurant, especially when you're just 21 years old? Why is the wine world still largely an old boys club and how does that impact the wines you drink? Which shocking ingredients might you find in some non-organic wines? In this episo...

What profound impact does buying your local wine have on your economy? Why will supporting the "Free My Grapes" campaign improve your choice and access to wine? How have Ontario wines changed since the 80s? What are the biggest challenges facing the Canadian wine industry? In this episode of the Unreserved Wine Talk podcast, we're chatting with Klaus Reif of Niagara-on-the-Lake's Reif Winery. High...

Have you tasted an Argentine Malbec? Which foods pair best with Malbec? Why is Malbec more like Pinot Noir than Cabernet? What are the health benefits of wine? In this episode of the Unreserved Wine Talk podcast, we're chatting with Dr. Laura Catena, a fourth-generation Argentine vintner, physician and author. Highlights How does Laura's scientific approach to winemaking improve the taste of the M...

What makes you a supertaster? Does supertaster status play a role outside of wine tasting? How does age affect our senses of smell and taste? Why is mouthfeel an important aspect of a wine's appeal? Why should you describe wine by sensation, rather than compound? In this episode of the Unreserved Wine Talk podcast, we're chatting with Dr. Gary Pickering, the inventor of the white wine mouthfeel wh...

What is orange wine? How does fermenting with the stems and leave give you a more complex flavour profile? Can you find orange wine on restaurant wine lists? Which types of food should you pair with orange wine? In this episode of the Unreserved Wine Talk podcast, we're chatting with Ann Sperling, winegrower and Director of Winemaking and Viticulture at Southbrook Vineyards.   Highlights How does...

What defines an icon wine? What are the hottest trends in BC wines right now? Which British Columbia wines are worth adding to your cellar? What will surprise you about BC wines? In this episode of the Unreserved Wine Talk podcast, we're chatting with John Schreiner, author o f Icon: Flagship Wines from British Columbia's Best Wineries , whom I consider to be the godfather of Canadian wine writing...

Do all wines taste better with time? What similarities are there between winemaking and cheese-making? Why is Zinfandel your perfect summer drink? How does dry farming impact the flavour of wine? In this episode of the Unreserved Wine Talk podcast, we're chatting with one of the wittiest, smartest winemakers, John Williams, winemaker and owner at Frog's Leap Winery, about the unique benefits of or...

Should you hold firm to plans for travelling to wine regions in the near future? How are winery visits being impacted by quarantine restrictions? Can you still attend major wine events? How can you take advantage of online classes to continue to enjoy wine tasting experiences? In this episode of the Unreserved Wine Talk podcast, we're talking about how wineries and restaurants have been impacted b...

How sparkling wine spice up your menu? What complementary taste rule can you use to pair your food with wine? Which wines should you never pair with Indian food? Which red wine should be at the top of your list for pairing with spicy food? Does ambiance affect your wine tasting experience? In this episode of the Unreserved Wine Talk podcast, Celebrity chef and author Vikram Vij and Head Sommelier...