How are innovators making art and wine more engaging and accessible? What is it about the art and wine worlds that makes business and pleasure often one and the same? Is authenticity in art important? In this episode of the Unreserved Wine Talk podcast, I'm chatting with author Bianca Bosker. You can find the wines we discussed at https://www.nataliemaclean.com/winepicks Giveaway Three of you will win a copy of Bianca Bosker's terrific new book Get the Picture: A Mind-Bending Journey among the I...
May 22, 2024•40 min•Ep. 286
Why are people with obsessive natures often drawn to both wine and art? How does strategic snobbery create deliberate barriers to entry into the art and wine worlds? What does it mean to stay in the work or to stay with the wine? In this episode of the Unreserved Wine Talk podcast, I'm chatting with author Bianca Bosker. You can find the wines we discussed at https://www.nataliemaclean.com/winepicks Giveaway Three of you will win a copy of Bianca Bosker's terrific new book Get the Picture: A Min...
May 15, 2024•42 min•Ep. 285
Why do Spanish wines pair well with earthy, savoury dishes? How does food photography affect the cost of a cookbook? How can you set yourself up for success as an aspiring food or drink writer? In this episode of the Unreserved Wine Talk podcast, I'm chatting with author Barbara Scott-Goodman. You can find the wines we discussed at https://www.nataliemaclean.com/winepicks Giveaway Three of you will win a copy of Barbara Scott-Goodman's terrific book Wine Time: 70+ Recipes for Simple Bites That P...
May 08, 2024•33 min•Ep. 284
Can you pair pickled foods with wine, or will their vinegarized flavours ruin the wine? Which wines pair best with soft-shell crab? What goes into great food photography, whether in a magazine or cookbook? In this episode of the Unreserved Wine Talk podcast, I'm chatting with author Barbara Scott-Goodman. You can find the wines we discussed at https://www.nataliemaclean.com/winepicks Giveaway Three of you will win a copy of Barbara Scott-Goodman's terrific book Wine Time: 70+ Recipes for Simple ...
May 01, 2024•29 min•Ep. 283
Should you avoid wine with sulphites? What are some of the important differences in the way wine is marketed to men versus women? How can you practice mindful drinking without giving up the wine you love? In this episode of the Unreserved Wine Talk podcast, I'm being interviewed by Erica Diamond on The Erica Diamond Podcast. You can find the wines we discussed at https://www.nataliemaclean.com/winepicks Highlights Why did I choose to write a completely different genre for my third book, Wine Wit...
Apr 24, 2024•38 min•Ep. 282
What makes Vin Jaune from France's Jura region so special? What can you discover about the diversity of wine coming out of Jura and the French Alps? What are some insider tips for planning a journey to the French Alps? In this episode of the Unreserved Wine Talk podcast, I'm chatting with author Wink Lorch. You can find the wines we discussed at https://www.nataliemaclean.com/winepicks Giveaway One of you will win a copy of Wink Lorch's terrific book about the wines of Jura and the French Alps. ...
Apr 17, 2024•43 min•Ep. 281
What is it about wines from the French Alps and Jura that makes them so different from any other wine region in the world? How has climate change impacted wines in the region? How did their perception as “ski resort wines” negatively impact Jura and Savoie wineries? In this episode of the Unreserved Wine Talk podcast, I'm chatting with author Wink Lorch. You can find the wines we discussed at https://www.nataliemaclean.com/winepicks Giveaway One of you will win a copy of Wink Lorch's terrific bo...
Apr 10, 2024•50 min•Ep. 280
Why are Beaujolais wines so versatile when it comes to food pairing? How are younger producers bringing renewed optimism to Beaujolais? What is indigenous fermentation, and how does it contribute to the complexity of Beaujolais wines? In this episode of the Unreserved Wine Talk podcast, I'm chatting with Master of Wine and author, Natasha Hughes. You can find the wines we discussed at https://www.nataliemaclean.com/winepicks Giveaway One of you will win a copy of a terrific, new book to which Na...
Apr 03, 2024•38 min•Ep. 279
What’s behind the surprising complexity and variety of Beaujolais wines? How has Beaujolais Nouveau distorted the public perception of Beaujolais? What makes Beaujolais such a good value wine? In this Unreserved Wine Talk podcast episode, I'm chatting with Master of Wine and author, Natasha Hughes. You can find the wines we discussed at https://www.nataliemaclean.com/winepicks Giveaway One of you will win a copy of a terrific, new book to which Natasha Hughes is a contributor- On Burgundy: From ...
Mar 27, 2024•46 min•Ep. 278
Why don’t I think that artificial intelligence (AI) will replace human writers any time soon? What are some tips you can use for maintaining a healthy relationship with wine? What are some of the challenges women in the wine industry still face? In this episode of the Unreserved Wine Talk podcast, I'm being interviewed by Ellen Clifford on The Wine Situation podcast. You can find the wines we discussed at https://www.nataliemaclean.com/winepicks Highlights Was wine part of my family’s culture gr...
Mar 20, 2024•45 min•Ep. 277
Which wineries are leading the way with vegan wines? How are some restaurants expanding into innovative vegan or vegetarian menus? What makes Riesling so versatile, especially with vegan dishes? In this episode of the Unreserved Wine Talk podcast, I'm chatting with Jennifer Huether and Priya Rao, authors of The Social Herbivore: Perfect Pairings For Plant-Based Cuisine . You can find the wines we discussed at https://www.nataliemaclean.com/winepicks Giveaway One of you is going to win a copy of ...
Mar 13, 2024•39 min•Ep. 276
Are vegan wines better for our health? What three aspects of a wine determine whether it’s vegan or not? How can you identify whether or not a wine is vegan by looking at the label? In this episode of the Unreserved Wine Talk podcast, I'm chatting with Jennifer Huether and Priya Rao, authors of The Social Herbivore: Perfect Pairings For Plant-Based Cuisine . You can find the wines we discussed at https://www.nataliemaclean.com/winepicks Giveaway One of you is going to win a copy of Priya Rao &am...
Mar 06, 2024•43 min•Ep. 275
How did the French region of Burgundy come to the world’s attention as a wine region in the first place? What’s the golden rule for buying Burgundy, especially Pinot Noir? What’s behind the sometimes eye-watering stratospheric prices of Burgundian wines? In this episode of the Unreserved Wine Talk podcast, I'm chatting with one of Ireland’s leading wine writers, Raymond Blake. You can find the wines we discussed at https://www.nataliemaclean.com/winepicks Giveaway One of you is going to win a co...
Feb 28, 2024•44 min•Ep. 274
Why is Pinot Noir considered the holy grail of wine? What makes the French region Burgundy so complicated, and how can we untangle it? What would surprise and delight you about how both the wine and the region have changed in the past five years? In this episode of the Unreserved Wine Talk podcast, I'm chatting with one of Ireland’s leading wine writers, Raymond Blake. You can find the wines we discussed at https://www.nataliemaclean.com/winepicks Giveaway One of you is going to win a copy of On...
Feb 21, 2024•44 min•Ep. 273
How do you choose the best wine pairings for dessert? When should you summon the sommelier? How can you improve your smell vocabulary and learn to distinguish between different aromas? In this episode of the Unreserved Wine Talk podcast, I'm being interviewed by Scott Sexsmith of Up Close & Personal and Matt Cundill on You May Also Like. You can find the wines we discussed at https://www.nataliemaclean.com/winepicks Highlights Is it normal to find it difficult to detect the tastes and aromas...
Feb 14, 2024•44 min•Ep. 272
Why do the wines change when you’re pairing them with kale versus other greens? Why should you avoid storing wine in the fridge? What’s the best question you can ask a sommelier in a restaurant? In this episode of the Unreserved Wine Talk podcast, I'm chatting with Vanessa Price, the author of Big Macs and Burgundy: Wine Pairings for the Real World and the wine expert for The TODAY Show. You can find the wines we discussed at https://www.nataliemaclean.com/winepicks Highlights What inspired Vane...
Feb 07, 2024•34 min•Ep. 271
Have you ever wondered which wine pairs best with your favourite guilty pleasure snack? Why are Cheetos and Twinkies great for learning about food and wine pairing? How can everyday foods encourage you to try wines you may have otherwise avoided? In this episode of the Unreserved Wine Talk podcast, I'm chatting with Vanessa Price, the author of Big Macs and Burgundy: Wine Pairings for the Real World and the wine expert for The TODAY Show. You can find the wines we discussed at https://www.natali...
Jan 31, 2024•32 min•Ep. 270
When it comes to wine, what do descriptors like the musty attic, rotten eggs and Band-Aids mean? How does a wine's packaging make it more susceptible to faults? Are there ways you can fix a faulted wine at home rather than throwing out the bottle or returning it? In this episode of the Unreserved Wine Talk podcast, I'm chatting with Keith Grainger, author of Wine Faults & Flaws: A Practical Guide . You can find the wines we discussed at https://www.nataliemaclean.com/winepicks Giveaway One o...
Jan 24, 2024•45 min•Ep. 269
How can you tell when a wine is mildly corked versus you just don’t like it? Which main types of wine faults and how can you identify them? Why are inexpensive wines actually less prone to faults? In this episode of the Unreserved Wine Talk podcast, I'm chatting with Keith Grainger, author of Wine Faults and Flaws: A Practical Guide , which won the coveted 2022 Prix de l’OIV. You can find the wines we discussed at https://www.nataliemaclean.com/winepicks Giveaway One of you is going to win a per...
Jan 17, 2024•47 min•Ep. 268
What does a healthy relationship with wine look like? Which tricks can you use to lower the alcohol content of your wine? How have my thoughts on overdrinking changed over the years and over three books? In this episode of the Unreserved Wine Talk podcast, I'm being interviewed by author Molly Watts of the Alcohol Minimalist Podcast. You can find the wines we discussed at https://www.nataliemaclean.com/winepicks Highlights How has my position on overdrinking changed over the years between writin...
Jan 10, 2024•50 min•Ep. 267
Which types of global dishes can you pair with South American wines? What’s one of the best but little-known Chilean wine regions you need to try? Which types of wine do they make in other South American countries, such as Uruguay, Peru, Bolivia and Brazil? In this episode of the Unreserved Wine Talk podcast, I'm chatting with Amanda Barnes, author of The South America Wine Guide . You can find the wines we discussed at https://www.nataliemaclean.com/winepicks Giveaway One of you is going to win...
Jan 03, 2024•47 min•Ep. 266
How did the South American wine industry develop? What might surprise you about the variety of wines produced in South America? How has Argentina's flagship red wine, Malbec, changed over the past five years? In this episode of the Unreserved Wine Talk podcast, I'm chatting with Amanda Barnes, author of The South America Wine Guide . You can find the wines we discussed at https://www.nataliemaclean.com/winepicks Giveaway One of you is going to win a copy of Amanda's beautiful hardcover book, The...
Dec 27, 2023•42 min•Ep. 265
What’s the difference between tasting wine and beer when you want to identify specific aromas and flavours? What are some of the similarities and differences between a Cicerone or beer sommelier and a wine sommelier? How do retronasal aromas give you a different, deeper sense of the aromas of both beer and wine? In this Unreserved Wine Talk podcast episode, I'm chatting with author Mandy Naglich. You can find the wines we discussed at https://www.nataliemaclean.com/winepicks Giveaway Two of you ...
Dec 20, 2023•37 min•Ep. 264
You love to eat, but do you know how to taste? What is a bliss point when it comes to food or tasting? What makes our most memorable meals and wines delicious? How can you make sure to bring home the best experiences from a wine trip? In this episode of the Unreserved Wine Talk podcast, I'm chatting with author Mandy Naglich who has just published How to Taste: A Guide to Discovering Flavor and Savoring Life . You can find the wines we discussed at https://www.nataliemaclean.com/winepicks Giveaw...
Dec 13, 2023•35 min•Ep. 263
How did I come up with the wine pairings mentioned throughout Wine Witch on Fire? Why is wine marketed so differently to men versus women? What can you do to support your mental health in an era where you have to be online? In this episode of the Unreserved Wine Talk podcast, I'm being interviewed by Marcy Gordon and Beth Costa on the Wine Road Podcast and Jeff Sammut on Canada Now. You can find the wines we discussed at https://www.nataliemaclean.com/winepicks Highlights Could an online pile-on...
Dec 06, 2023•35 min•Ep. 262
Why should you consider mood and experience when pairing wines? What is a lustful wine? What do you need to know about British Columbia’s wine regions? In this episode of the Unreserved Wine Talk podcast, I'm chatting with author and host of The Sipsters Wine Podcast, Luke Whittall. You can find the wines we discussed at https://www.nataliemaclean.com/winepicks Giveaway Three of you are going to win a personally signed copy of Luke's new book, The Sipster's Pocket Guide to 50 Must-Try Ontario Wi...
Nov 29, 2023•40 min•Ep. 261
What are five things that will surprise you about the wine regions and wines of British Columbia? What are some top tips to help you get the most from your visit to BC? Which challenges does this west coast wine industry face going forward? In this episode of the Unreserved Wine Talk podcast, I'm chatting with author and host of The Sipsters Wine Podcast, Luke Whittall. You can find the wines we discussed at https://www.nataliemaclean.com/winepicks Giveaway Three of you are going to win a person...
Nov 22, 2023•45 min•Ep. 260
How can we, as wine consumers, support environmental change in the wine industry? What is proactive farming as it relates to growing vines for wine? Does wine tourism have a positive or negative impact on the environment? In this episode of the Unreserved Wine Talk podcast, I'm chatting with sustainability expert Anna Brittain. You can find the wines we discussed at https://www.nataliemaclean.com/winepicks Highlights Why is good soil health foundational to vineyards, both from the wine and susta...
Nov 15, 2023•33 min•Ep. 259
Which aspect of winemaking has the greatest impact on the environment? Are you curious about the difference between sustainable and organic winemaking? What are the six pillars of sustainable winegrowing leadership? In this episode of the Unreserved Wine Talk podcast, I'm chatting with sustainability expert Anna Brittain. You can find the wines we discussed at https://www.nataliemaclean.com/winepicks Highlights How did Anna realize she wanted to dedicate her career to environmental work? What dr...
Nov 08, 2023•44 min•Ep. 258
What might surprise you about Rosé wine? Is being a supertaster an advantage in the wine industry? Do you feel you’re drinking too much wine? In this episode of the Unreserved Wine Talk podcast, I'm being interviewed by Wendy Mesley and Maureen Holloway for their podcast, Women of Ill Repute. You can find the wines we discussed at https://www.nataliemaclean.com/winepicks Highlights Why didn’t I apologize after being called out for using other people’s reviews on my website? How does the herd men...
Nov 01, 2023•38 min•Ep. 257
