Unreserved Wine Talk

How do you deal with the mob mentality of social media when it's a part of your work? How can you find the humour in the dark moments of life? What has changed in the past ten years in the wine industry when it comes to inequality and discrimination? In this episode of the Unreserved Wine Talk podcast, I'm being interviewed by Luke Whittall, host of The Sipster's Wine Podcast. You can find the win...

How do wild yeasts help to bring out unique qualities in wine? What's involved in farming and making wine sustainably? How does changing the temperature of your wine impact the tasting experience? In this episode of the Unreserved Wine Talk podcast, I'm chatting with winemaker Carolyn Hurst. You can find the wines we discussed at https://www.nataliemaclean.com/winepicks   Giveaway Three of you in...

Why is it a good idea for winemakers to invest in old vines? What does it mean to be a good steward of the land? What unique challenges does the Ontario wine industry face in the next five years? In this episode of the Unreserved Wine Talk podcast, I'm chatting with winemaker Carolyn Hurst. You can find the wines we discussed at https://www.nataliemaclean.com/winepicks   Giveaway Three of you in C...

What does regenerative viticulture mean? How do healthy vineyards today look dramatically different from those five years ago? How did the Wine Olympics make the results of the Judgement of Paris undeniable? In this episode of the Unreserved Wine Talk podcast, I'm chatting with author Mark Gudgel. You can find the wines we discussed at https://www.nataliemaclean.com/winepicks     Giveaway Three of...

Are you curious about the most important historic tasting that put California wines on the map? What unique challenges did pioneer winemakers face in California? What would surprise you about how the California wine industry developed? In this episode of the Unreserved Wine Talk podcast, I'm chatting with author Mark Gudgel. You can find the wines we discussed at https://www.nataliemaclean.com/win...

How can wineries use technology to better connect with customers online? What can you expect from the tasting rooms of the future? What matters most when you taste wine? In this episode of the Unreserved Wine Talk podcast, I'm chatting with Jessica Kogan, a digital brand marketing executive who has successfully launched brands such as Gucci, Prada, Charles Schwab, Cameron Hughes, and now Vintage W...

How will new technology affect the way you buy and learn about wine in the future? What does it take to launch a winery into the digital space? Which aspects of the fashion industry could the wine industry benefit from emulating? In this episode of the Unreserved Wine Talk podcast, I'm chatting with Jessica Kogan, a digital brand marketing executive who has successfully launched brands such as Guc...

Which California wine should be at the top of your must-try list? Which simple tips can you use to identify successful food and wine pairings? What should you know before starting a podcast? In this episode of the Unreserved Wine Talk podcast, I'm chatting with Chuck Cramer, host of On The Road With Mr CA Wine. You can find the wines we discussed at https://www.nataliemaclean.com/winepicks   Highl...

How does slick wine marketing encourage us to drink too much? Has anything really changed in the wine industry in the last ten years since the incidents in the book took place? How is sexism still embedded in wine tasting notes today? What would I advise young women and men entering the wine business today? I'll be sharing those stories and more in this special episode of my podcast. My new memoir...

How did I first fall in love with wine? Do I feel more exposed now for having written this third book? What are my best tips for moderate drinking? I'll be sharing those stories and more in this special episode of my podcast as we get closer to the May 9th launch of my new memoir Wine Witch on Fire: Rising from the Ashes of Divorce, Defamation, and Drinking Too Much . You can find the wines we dis...

What's it like to work as a sommelier in a five-diamond French restaurant? How do you make the jump from writing magazine columns to becoming a regular guest on radio and television shows? How does it feel to write a book about the most difficult moments in your life? In this episode of the Unreserved Wine Talk podcast, I'm chatting with Chuck Cramer, host of On The Road With Mr CA Wine. You can f...

Did you know that there's a polite way and a rude way to clink wine glasses when toasting in some cultures? Are you curious about great pairings for truffles or caviar? Why have Instagram and TikTok exploded in popularity as a way to learn about wine? In this episode of the Unreserved Wine Talk podcast, I'm chatting with Dr. Clinton Lee, Executive Director of the Asia Pacific Wine and Spirit Insti...

How can wine help you to broaden your understanding of different cultures? Which stark differences in culture and decorum will you see in various wine regions? What's the right way, etiquette-wise, to receive your tasting sample at a wine festival or show? In this episode of the Unreserved Wine Talk podcast, I'm chatting with Dr. Clinton Lee, Executive Director of the Asia Pacific Wine and Spirit...

Why is Vermentino such a great wine to pair with food, and which dishes pair best with it? What are the markers and nuances in wine that are tied to a specific place? How is the wine industry changing when it comes to diversity, and what still needs to be done? In this episode of the Unreserved Wine Talk podcast, I'm chatting with Sommelier of the Year, Tonya Pitts. You can find the wines we discu...

Are you curious about what it takes to manage a list of 500 different wine labels at one of America's best restaurants? Why is wine so powerful in creating memories? What is the most important role of the sommelier? In this episode of the Unreserved Wine Talk podcast, I'm chatting with Sommelier of the Year, Tonya Pitts. You can find the wines we discussed at https://www.nataliemaclean.com/winepic...

Which aspects of the Beamsville Bench make it particularly suited for growing grapes for wine? Why is Pinot Noir called the heartbreak grape? What are some ways for wine professionals and wine lovers to moderate their consumption? In this episode of the Unreserved Wine Talk podcast, I'm being interviewed by Sandy Dawkins and Michelle Lester, hosts of the Wines To Find podcast. You can find the win...

Can you imagine a world where there's only synthetic wine? And what is synthetic wine anyway? How does removing alcohol impact the tasting experience? In this episode of the Unreserved Wine Talk podcast, I'm chatting with Steven Laine, award-winning restaurateur, hotelier, and author. You can find the wines we discussed at https://www.nataliemaclean.com/winepicks   Highlights Can you imagine a wor...

Can you imagine a world without wine? How did an author create a new genre of wine thriller based on a winemaker's worst nightmare? What if the root louse phylloxera that destroyed most of the European vineyards in the 1850s returned but was even more destructive? In this episode of the Unreserved Wine Talk podcast, I'm chatting with Steven Laine, award-winning restaurateur, hotelier, and author....

What did John the Baptist, Dom Perignon and Saint Vincent have in common when it comes to wine? What makes the vineyard of Clos de Vougeot in Burgundy so fascinating? Why should you consider visiting the wine region Santa Ynez in Santa Barbara County? In this episode of the Unreserved Wine Talk podcast, I'm chatting with Adam McHugh, author of Blood from Stone: A Memoir of How Wine Brought Me Back...

How did one man make a complete career pivot from working with dying in hospice care to living among the vines and writing about them? Why is French oak so treasured and so expensive? Which historical events led to the development of what we now know as the Châteauneuf-du-Pape region? In this episode of the Unreserved Wine Talk podcast, I'm chatting with Adam McHugh, author of Blood from Stone: A...

How can you learn more about food and wine without the intimidation factor? Why does exploring outside of your arena often drive inspiration and innovation? Why is writing a memoir like living your life twice? In this episode of the Unreserved Wine Talk podcast, I'm being interviewed by Lawrence Francis, host of the Interpreting Wine podcast. You can find the wines we discussed at https://www.nata...

What's behind the power of podcasts and how they evoke the theater of the mind? How can you use a hook to improve your communication skills? Why do stories help us remember what we learn about wine? In this episode of the Unreserved Wine Talk podcast, I'm being interviewed by Lawrence Francis, host of the Interpreting Wine podcast. You can find the wines we discussed at https://www.nataliemaclean....

How does the shape of a restaurant table impact how much you eat? How can you use your music playlist to complement your menu? Which types of songs can make your wine taste more acidic? In this episode of the Unreserved Wine Talk podcast, I'm chatting with journalist Nell McShane Wulfhart. You can find the wines we discussed at https://www.nataliemaclean.com/winepicks   Giveaway Three of you will...

How does telling your dinner party guests a few details about the wine you're serving dramatically change their perception of its taste? Should you add wines from Uruguay to your must-taste list? What's the difference between flavour and taste? In this episode of the Unreserved Wine Talk podcast, I'm chatting with author and journalist Nell McShane Wulfhart. You can find the wines we discussed at...

What's the tradeoff between flavour and alcohol? How does Chardonnay lend itself to unusual food pairings? Where do you find great value in California wine? In this episode of the Unreserved Wine Talk podcast, I'm chatting with Chuck Cramer, host of On The Road With Mr CA Wine. You can find the wines we discussed at https://www.nataliemaclean.com/winepicks   Highlights Who were Chuck's most memora...