Unreserved Wine Talk

What makes high tech a great complement to wine? How does humour help when you're learning about wine? Why is the personal aspect of wine becoming so important?   In this episode of the Unreserved Wine Talk podcast, I'm chatting with Bridget Albert and Julie Milroy on their excellent podcast called Served Up.   You can find the wines we discussed at https://www.nataliemaclean.com/winepicks .   Hig...

What does drinking Italian mean today? How has globalization impacted the Italian wine you drink? Do volcanic soils really make a wine taste different?   In this episode of the Unreserved Wine Talk podcast, I'm chatting with author and journalist, Robert Camuto.   You can find the wines we discussed at https://www.nataliemaclean.com/winepicks .   Highlights   How does Emidio Pepe bring the past of...

Are you curious about the hidden wine gems in southern Italy? Who are the colourful characters and winemakers who create them? What are the sumptuous flavours of the region and how well do they pair with wine?   In this episode of the Unreserved Wine Talk podcast, I'm chatting with author and journalist, Robert Camuto.   You can find the wines we discussed at https://www.nataliemaclean.com/winepic...

What's the smartest strategy you've never heard when it comes to visiting any wine region? More specifically, what's the best way to explore the wineries of Washington state or Burgenland in Austria? Why is there such a variety in the complexity of Grüner Veltliners? What are the essential six stories about wine?   In this episode of the Unreserved Wine Talk podcast, I'm chatting with Lawrence Fra...

Why is Sherry one of the most complex wines on the planet and also one of the most misunderstood? What's it like to visit the underground caves in Spain where the sparkling wine Cava is aged? How can you choose between Cava, Prosecco and Champagne for different occasions?   In this episode of the Unreserved Wine Talk podcast, I'm chatting with Lawrence Francis, host of the Interpreting Wine podcas...

What makes wine and technology such a perfect pairing? Why should you try online wine classes? How is technology empowering wine consumers?   In this episode of the Unreserved Wine Talk podcast, I'm being interviewed by Tanisha Townsend on her podcast, Wine School Dropout.   You can find the wines we discussed at https://www.nataliemaclean.com/winepicks .   Highlights How did I go from high tech t...

Are you curious about how a wine brand breaks through in a new market? Why is the wine category one of the most difficult to offer a great price/quality ratio? What unique challenges do women winemakers face in the industry?   In this episode of the Unreserved Wine Talk podcast, I'm chatting with Beth Liston, a rebel winemaker from California who's just launched a new wine called Longshot.   You c...

How did the Cosmopolitan become an iconic cocktail on the TV show Sex and the City? Did you know an illegal shipment of Champagne revolutionized the entire industry? Which women are responsible for America's increase in scotch and bourbon consumption after Prohibition?   In this episode of the Unreserved Wine Talk podcast, I'm chatting with Mallory O'Meara, the author of the just-published Girly D...

Did you know that the Egyptian Queen Cleopatra has her own, private wine club and that it was used against her to bring down her empire? Are you curious about the first people to make beer? They were women called alewives, but the church didn't like that. Did you know that the first bars were created for women?   In this episode of the Unreserved Wine Talk podcast, I'm chatting with Mallory O'Mear...

What's it like to experience a piece of Dom Pérignon history? Has the legendary California Chardonnay Chateau Montelena 1973 Chardonnay held up in the years since the Judgement of Paris? How can you pair wine with your Zodiac sign? In this episode of the Unreserved Wine Talk podcast, I'm chatting with wine writer, Gina Birch and broadcaster Julie Glenn, hosts of the Grape Minds podcast. You can fi...

Are you curious about slow food and wine? What's special about the Alto Adige region of Italy? Why should you consider Portugal and Dubai for your next wine-fueled trip? In this episode of the Unreserved Wine Talk podcast, I'm chatting with wine writer, Gina Birch and broadcaster Julie Glen, hosts of the Grape Minds podcast. You can find the wines we discussed at https://www.nataliemaclean.com/win...

What's all the fuss about Beaujolais Nouveau on the third Thursday of every November? Should you stay up until midnight to taste the new release? How is Beaujolais Nouveau different from the Beaujolais Cru wines? In this episode of the Unreserved Wine Talk podcast, I'm going solo to answer those questions and share more wine tips on Beaujolais Nouveau. You can find the wines we discussed at https:...

What do great books and great wine have in common? Why does it feel like the wine changes when you taste the same vintage years later, apart from it maturing (and possibly you as well)? How can you pair books and bottles? How can you organize an informal wine tasting with friends or your book club? In this episode of the Unreserved Wine Talk podcast, I'm chatting with Sam Hiyate on his podcast, Ag...

What are my top tips for choosing a bottle from a long restaurant wine list? What are the best wines to pair with extremely rich dishes like poutine? What would surprise you about the Niagara-on-the-Lake wine region and why should you visit? In this episode of the Unreserved Wine Talk podcast, I'm being interviewed by Scott Greenberg, on his podcast, The Vine Guy. He also hosts the "Wine of the We...

What is it like to make wine totally by hand, without electricity? What is a field blend and why should you try one? What's the most difficult part of writing a memoir? In this episode of the Unreserved Wine Talk podcast, I'm chatting with Rachel Signer, who has just published a gripping, addictive memoir, You Had Me at Pet-Nat . You can find the wines we discussed at https://www.nataliemaclean.co...

How are natural wines different from raw or clean wines? Why do natural wines provoke furious debates in the wine world? Why will you want to read our guest's new memoir that's hot off the press (pun intended)? In this episode of the Unreserved Wine Talk podcast, I'm chatting with Rachel Signer, who has just published a gripping, addictive memoir, You Had Me at Pet-Nat . You can find the wines we...

What do fortune-telling and wine writing have in common? How does wine culture change when women are part of its founding? Should you believe the health claims about clean wines? Are they really better for you? What are the fairy tales we tell about wine? In this episode of the Unreserved Wine Talk podcast, I'm chatting with wine writer, Felicity Carter who is the Executive Editor at Pix.wine, a g...

Why are orange wines appealing to beer drinkers? Why does it pay to be promiscuous when shopping for wine? Why is there so much confusion around natural and raw wine? In this episode of the Unreserved Wine Talk podcast, I'm being interviewed by Elizabeth Schneider on the Wine For Normal People podcast. You can find the wines we discussed at https://www.nataliemaclean.com/winepicks .   Highlights W...

What are the latest trends in wine, from blue wines to raw wines? And should you be drinking them? Why are high-tech and wine a perfect pairing? What's it like behind the scenes of the wine writing industry? How do you recover from devastating professional and personal attacks? In this episode of the Unreserved Wine Talk podcast, I'm being interviewed by Elizabeth Schneider on the Wine For Normal...

Are you curious about trendy new wines like pet-nats and piquettes? Which lesser-known Croatian wine should you try? What are comfort wines and what do you pair with them? In this episode of the Unreserved Wine Talk podcast, I'm chatting with Kate Dingwall who writes about food and drink for Forbes, Toronto Life, The Toronto Star, Wine Enthusiast, among others. You can find the wines we discussed...

What's it like biking through the Penedes wine region of Spain? How can you find great Georgian wines without leaving North America? What makes a wine kosher, and why should you try kosher wines even if you're not of the Jewish faith? In this episode of the Unreserved Wine Talk podcast, I'm chatting with Kate Dingwall, who writes about food and wine for Forbes, Toronto Life, The Toronto Star, Wine...

Why are sugar and oak often the ketchup of the wine world, used to hide bad grapes or poor winemaking? How did researching my first book lead to my most embarrassing wine moment? What's the problem with biodynamic and natural wines? In this episode of the Unreserved Wine Talk podcast, I'm being interviewed by Paul K on the Wine Talks with Paul K podcast. You can find the wines we discussed at http...

Why are restaurant wine lists often tricky to navigate, even for wine professionals? Is it worth pursuing wine certifications and courses? Wine is the most value-added agricultural product we produce so why are there so many barriers for these small farmers who try to sell their wines across the country? In this episode of the Unreserved Wine Talk podcast, I'm being interviewed by Paul K on the Wi...

What are the six key elements that define a luxury wine? What'll surprise you about Dom Pérignon that makes it different from other luxury wines? Which two wine gadgets must you own as a wine lover? 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 https://www.nataliemaclea...

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...