Unreserved Wine Talk

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93: Master of Wine vs Master Sommelier? Jane Masters Reveals the Difference Sep 09, 2020

Show notes

What's the difference between a Master of Wine (MW) and a Master Sommelier (MS)? How can you take advantage of your surroundings to become a better wine taster? Is there a benefit to focusing on tasting notes instead of scores? What is involved in each of the stages of the MW exam?

In this episode of the Unreserved Wine Talk podcast, I'm chatting with Jane Masters MW, Chairman of the Institute of Masters of Wine and independent consultant for the Opimian Society, Canada's largest wine buying club.

Highlights

How did other Masters of Wine inspire Jane in her wine career?
What key differences will you find between the Master of Wine (MW) and Master Sommelier (MS) programs?
Which aspects of wine do you learn about in the MW study program?
Why do you need stamina to become an MW?
How long would it take for you to earn the MW designation?
What was the focus of Jane's research when she sat the MW exam?
Are there any particularly interesting or notable holders of the MW?
How can you become a better taster?
How can you take advantage of your surroundings to improve your wine skills?
How does Jane influence the Canadian wine world through the Opimian wine buying club?
What should you expect from an Opimian membership?
How can you benefit from Jane's description and pairing-focused approach to wine?
Which non-wine beverages does Jane find interesting?

About Jane Masters

Jane Masters became a Master of Wine in 1997 and is currently one of 354. She was elected as Chairman of the Institute of Masters of Wine in September 2016. Jane is an independent wine consultant with over 30 years of experience and clients around the world. Her varied background enables her to work in all sectors of the trade including business strategy, quality improvement, sourcing, press & marketing communications, events organization and training.

Having originally trained as a winemaker at the Institute of Oenology in Bordeaux, Jane worked in wine production in France prior to joining the wine buying team at a major UK retailer. After 13 years in UK retail and running the Wine & Drinks Category for Marks & Spencer, Jane set up Mastering Wine in 2004.

A confident and engaging communicator Jane regularly writes about wine and hosts large tasting groups. She has filmed several wine shows and written sections for Jancis Robinson's Oxford Companion to Wine and Wine Opus. She is a senior panel chair judge for the International Wine Challenge.

Jane has visited all major wine-growing regions around the world and is really excited to be coming back to Chile after many years. She lives between London and Nice in France where she enjoys the food, wine and lifestyle. Her wine experience is complemented by an MBA from London Business School.

To learn more about the resources mentioned in this episode, visit the https://www.nataliemaclean.com/93.

92: Pairing Wine and Cheese Pairings Like a Pro with Laura Werlin Sep 02, 2020

Show notes

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 Beard award-winning author, Laura Werlin, one of the planet's most authoritative writers on cheese and cheese and wine pairings.

Highlights

What is the most surprising-but-delicious cheese and wine pairing you need to try?
Why do sparkling wine and goat brie work well together?
How can you identify a soft-ripened cheese?
What should look for when pairing wine and cheese?
What are the three types of cheese and wine pairings you can identify?
Are there red-flag flavours that signal a bad wine and cheese match?
Which wine and cheese pairings should you avoid?
Why should you make sure to have sparkling wine on hand for pairing?
What can you learn about cheese from Laura's books?
How can learning about the different families of cheese simply your life?
What should you pair with Limburger cheese?
Why are you better off pairing cheese with unoaked vs oaked Chardonnay?
What surprising coating will you find on Valencay cheese?
How can you develop your wine and cheese pairing palate?
What role does texture play in wine and cheese pairing?
What rind-related cheese etiquette rule should you always follow?
How can you take advantage of the best part of soft-ripened cheese?
What's the difference between wine scores and cheese ratings?
How is truffle cheese made?
How can you pair sweet wines with cheese?
What can you do to make the most of your cheese and wine course when entertaining?
Why did Laura decide to become a writer, with a focus on cheese?

About Laura Werlin Laura Werlin is one of the country's foremost authorities on cheese. She is a James Beard award-winning author of six books on the subject, is a sought-after speaker and spokesperson for consumer and trade organizations, and is a frequent television and radio guest. An expert in cheese and wine pairing and in particular American artisan cheese, Werlin received the prestigious James Beard award for her book The All American Cheese and Wine Book. Her book, Laura Werlin's Cheese Essentials, received a James Beard Award nomination. Her most recent book, Mac & Cheese, Please! focuses on one of America's favourite comfort foods, while two of her other books, Grilled Cheese, Please!, and Great Grilled Cheese focus on the other. Her groundbreaking first book, The New American Cheese, published in 2000, set the stage for what is the American artisan cheese movement today. Laura has been featured on numerous television and radio segments across the country including Fox & Friends, CNN, QVC, the Martha Stewart Show, the CBS Early Show as well as numerous local television and radio shows. In addition, she has been the subject of instructive yet fun cheese-related videos on the popular website chow.com. She also writes for national magazines including Food & Wine, Sunset, Everyday with Rachael Ray, Culture, Saveur and Cooking Light. Werlin is known for her approachable yet authoritative teaching style and is frequently asked to conduct cheese and wine pairing, cheese education, and cooking classes across the country. She is also a regular instructor at The Cheese School of San Francisco. In addition, she serves as the President of the American Cheese Education Foundation and is a member of the American Cheese Society and Slow Food USA. When she isn't eating or teaching about cheese, she can be found jogging on the streets of San Francisco, where she lives, or hiking in the mountains, which she loves.

To learn more about the resources mentioned in this episode, visit the https://www.nataliemaclean.com/92.

91: The Wine Bible's Karen MacNeil on Women and Wine Aug 26, 2020

Show notes

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 chatting with Karen MacNeil, author of The Wine Bible, former wine correspondent for the Today Show, the first Food and Wine Editor of USA Today, and creator and Chairman Emeritus of the Rudd Center for Professional Wine Studies at the Culinary Institute of America in the Napa Valley.

Highlights

Where did the idea to write The Wine Bible come from?
How is The Wine Bible different for you, as a reader, from other comprehensive wine books?
How does wine help you to immerse yourself in other cultures?
Why does hearing the story behind a wine create a more enjoyable experience for you?
What was it like to try to break into the male-dominated New York wine scene in the 1970s?
How can you confidently charge your worth?
Why do you see significantly fewer women than men with the Master Sommelier designation in the US?
What types of roles would you see typically filled by women in the wine industry?
How does the proportion of female executives in the wine industry compare to corporate America?
How has the "Me Too" movement impacted the wine industry?
Why was the naming of Karen's book so emotional?
What hurdle was Karen able to overcome with 8 years of silence?
How does Karen believe some women in the wine world are downplaying themselves?

About Karen MacNeil Karen MacNeil is the only American to have won every major wine award given in the English language. These include the Wine and Spirits Professional of the Year (James Beard Foundation) and the Global Wine Communicator of the Year (International Wine and Spirits Association). In a full-page profile on her, TIME Magazine called Karen "America's Missionary of the Vine." In 2018, Karen was named one of the 100 Most Influential People in the Wine Industry. Karen is also the author of the award-winning book, THE WINE BIBLE, the single best-selling wine book in the United States, praised as "The most informative and entertaining book I've ever seen on the subject" (Danny Meyer), "Astounding" (Thomas Keller), and "A masterpiece of wine writing…the single best wine book written in years…" (Kevin Zraly). The former wine correspondent for the Today Show, Karen was the host of the PBS series Wine, Food and Friends with Karen MacNeil, for which she won an Emmy. Karen is the creator and editor of WineSpeed, the leading digital "e-letter" in the U.S. for fast, authoritative information about wine. Her articles on wine and food have been published in more than 50 newspapers and magazines including The New York Times, Town & Country, Elle, and Worth. She was the first Food and Wine Editor of USA Today. Karen currently hosts #SipWithKaren, the leading Twitter tasting in the global wine sphere, which each month reaches 20+ million timelines from Indiana to India. Karen's firm, Karen MacNeil & Company, creates customized corporate events and wine tours around the world for companies and individual groups. Among Karen's corporate clients are Lexus, Merrill Lynch, Disney, General Electric, UBS, and Singapore Airlines, as well as numerous law and biotech firms. Karen is the creator and Chairman Emeritus of the Rudd Center for Professional Wine Studies at the Culinary Institute of America in the Napa Valley, which has been called "the Harvard of wine education.

To learn more about the resources mentioned in this episode, visit the https://www.nataliemaclean.com/91.

90: How to Break Wine & Food Pairing Rules? with Chris Scott Aug 19, 2020

Show notes

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, the UK Wine Show and who, with his wife, Jane also founded ThirtyFifty, a company which offers fun and no-nonsense wine tastings for private and corporate events.

Highlights

Should you care about food and wine pairing?
Why should you pair wine to the diner, not the dinner?
How can you experiment with how different types of food interact with wine?
Do you always have to follow the "rules" when pairing food and wine?
When would you use wine to enhance specific characteristics of your food?
Is food and wine pairing a good place for you to start your wine enthusiast journey?
What surprising wine pairing should you try with your pandemic snacking?
Which aspect of wine learning might take some extra work for you as a novice?
How can you develop your aroma vocabulary?
What comfort food and wine pairing should you try in 2020?

About Chris Scott Chris Scott is an award-winning wine podcaster and presenter who runs wine tasting company called ThirtyFifty and produces a weekly wine podcast, The UK Wine Show, which is consistently ranked in the top 10 Apple Podcasts' Food & Drink charts. Born and bred in New Zealand, Chris spent time as a student working hands-on in the vineyards of Canterbury before graduating with first-class honours in engineering. In 2001, he moved to London U.K. and now holds the WSET Level 4 Diploma in Wines & Spirits, the top qualification. He now heads up a team of 20 wine experts across the UK, between them running more than 500 corporate events, wine courses and private tastings per year.

To learn more about the resources mentioned in this episode, visit the https://www.nataliemaclean.com/90.

89: Why Should You Take Online Wine & Food Classes? with Chris Scott Aug 12, 2020

Show notes

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?

Highlights

How did I come around to wine after growing up around whiskey and beer?
Can being a supertaster affect your alcoholic beverage preferences?
What caused me to go from wine enthusiast to wine writer?
How did the worlds of high tech and wine overlap for me?
Why don't you find a lot of wineries in Ottawa?
What type of reading experience can you expect with Red, White and Drunk All Over?
What was it like to win the Louis Roederer 2009 Online Wine Writer of the Year award?
How do online classes give you an advantage over in-person classes?
Why does the Unreserved Wine Talk podcast's focus on storytelling help you learn about wine?
How is the pandemic impacting the way you buy wine?
What types of conversations will you be a part of when joining us on our Facebook wine tastings?
Why should you buy wine directly from wineries?
How can my Wine App help you find the best wine to pair with your food?
Which features of my Wine App will simplify your wine buying process?
Why is my Wine App beneficial for wine enthusiasts worldwide?

To learn more about the resources mentioned in this episode, visit the https://www.nataliemaclean.com/89.

88: How Does a Wine's Name Affect How Much You'll Pay for it? with Dr. Antonia Mantonakis Aug 05, 2020

Show notes

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 Viticulture Institute and Professor of Marketing and Consumer Psychology at Brock University's Goodman School of Business in St. Catharines, Ontario.

Highlights

Does a wine's name affect our perception of its taste and quality?
How was Antonia's research study designed to focus on how a winery name affects you?
What impact does the ease of pronunciation of a wine's name have on our pricing expectations?
Why might the effect of this phenomenon on wine enthusiasts surprise you?
Should you be concerned if your winery's name is easy to pronounce?
Why shouldn't you directly apply the results of this study to real-world settings?
What preliminary findings have been identified in how consumers perceive grape varietal names?
How might you unconsciously assess wines like Pfaffenheim?
What can you expect from Pfaffenheim Cuvée Bacchus Le Cave Des Vignerons De Pfaffenheim Gewurztraminer 2010?

About Dr. Antonia Mantonakis Dr. Antonia Mantonakis is a Fellow of the Cool Climate Oenology and Viticulture Institute and a Professor of Marketing and Consumer Psychology at Brock University's Goodman School of Business in St. Catharines, Ontario. She is a psychologist by training and holds a Bachelor of Science in Psychology from the University of Toronto, and has both a Masters in Experimental-Cognitive Psychology and a Doctorate in Experimental-Cognitive Psychology from Simon Fraser University. Her research focuses on the psychological factors that affect consumer behaviour and consumer decision making.

To learn more about the resources mentioned in this episode, visit the https://www.nataliemaclean.com/88.

87: Pairing Wine with Sharks, Dragons and Kevin O'Leary Jul 29, 2020

Show notes

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 founder of O'Leary Fine Wines, O'Leary Funds, and O'Leary Financial Group.

Highlights

What should you consider when buying wine as an investment?
How can you benefit from a "divorce cellar"?
What's the business case for you to invest in the Canadian wine market?
Why does a $14.95 price point allow you to gain market share quickly?
Why does consistency in production create a great experience for you as a wine consumer?
How were the final two wines chosen for the launch of O'Leary Wines?
What key points do you need to nail before pitching your new wine venture?
What's the marketing strategy for the first five years of O'Leary Wines?
What's the cold, hard truth about the Ontario wine industry?
How does O'Leary Unoaked Chardonnay give you an unexpected taste experience?
Which foods pair well with O'Leary Unoaked Chardonnay?
What twist can you add to your whites to make a refreshing summer beverage?
How does having a cork versus screwcap affect your perception of wine?
What can you experience from O'Leary Cabernet Merlot?
Which remarkable wine did Kevin's taste on his first encounter?
How was Kevin introduced to wine?

About Kevin O'Leary After his extraordinary success at the software company he founded – and a difficult period of obstacles and legal disputes – Kevin eventually found himself on television, quickly becoming a sought-after host and personality on a range of shows – including Discovery's Project Earth, CBC's Dragons' Den, and ABC's Shark Tank. Kevin has since launched O'Leary Funds, an investment fund company; O'Leary Fine Wines; and a best-selling book series on financial literacy. In 2014, Kevin founded O'Leary Financial Group – a group of brands and services that share Kevin's guiding principles of honesty, directness, convenience, and above all, great value.

To learn more about the resources mentioned in this episode, visit the https://www.nataliemaclean.com/87.

86: How We Buy Wine Based on Secret Retail Triggers with Dr. Tim Dodd Jul 22, 2020

Show notes

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 Management, and Director of the Texas Wine Marketing Research Institute at Texas Tech University.

Highlights

What was Tim's most iconic wine moment?
What might surprise you about the way we buy wine?
Which characteristics put certain wine stores and restaurants above the rest?
Are there certain questions you should ask wine buyers in order to better help them?
What techniques do retailers use to encourage us to buy wine?
What parallels can you see between the Canadian and Texan wine markets?
How does having a local wine industry affect you as a consumer?
Do wineries with large marketing budgets have a big influence on what you drink?
Why is direct to consumer sales so beneficial for you?
What is the economic argument for direct shipping?
Do men and women tend to have different wine buying habits?
How do men and women respond differently to free tasting and winery tours?
Why should you focus on educating consumers in your marketing?
What's the best piece of wine advice Tim has received?
Who would Tim like to share a glass of wine with?

About Dr. Tim Dodd Tim Dodd is the James Young Regents Professor of Hospitality Management, and Director of the Texas Wine Marketing Research Institute at Texas Tech University. He also serves as the Associate Dean of Administration in the College of Human Sciences. Dr. Dodd worked with the New Zealand grape and wine industry before becoming involved with the Texas industry in the late 1980s. He served as the President of TWGGA in 1996-1997 and was active in a number of other roles within the Association. Tim completed his dissertation work on winery tourism and continues to conduct research on various marketing and economic issues related to wine. He has also published numerous articles concerning wine marketing and winery tourism in a variety of journals and has presented at a number of international conferences.

To learn more about the resources mentioned in this episode, visit the https://www.nataliemaclean.com/86.

85: How Did the Mega-Hit Movie Sideways Change Pinot Noir (and Merlot)? Jul 15, 2020

Show notes

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 has time been a great friend to Sideways?
What is it about the characters in Sideways that makes them feel unique to you?
How did wine and California wine country become an important part of Rex's life?
Why does Rex start out with honing in on character and setting in his writing?
What is Rex telling you when he talks about wine snobs?
What is the key difference you can see in the depth of the wine world versus other types of alcohol?
How can you enjoy the purple prose of wine writing?
What change can you see in the red wine market as a result of Sideways?
Why does Rex believe Merlot needed a market correction after it's 1990s popularity?
What can you expect from a bottle of Hitching Post Pinot Noir?
Can you expect a different experience from the Sideways play in comparison to the movie and book?
Where does Vertical fit in with Rex's personal story?
What are Rex's best tips for you as an aspiring writer?

About Rex Pickett

Rex Pickett is the author of the novel Sideways, the multiple award-winning Alexander Payne film of the same title. Sideways captured over 350 critics and awards organization plaudits, including 2 Golden Globes, an Academy Award for Best Adapted Screenplay, the prestigious Writers Guild Award, 6 Indie Spirit Awards … and the list goes on. Rex has written and directed two independent feature films, California Without End and From Hollywood to Deadwood (Island Pictures). He wrote the 2000 Academy Award-winning Best Live Action Short My Mother Dreams the Satan's Disciples in New York.

His Sideways sequel Vertical won the Gold Medal for Fiction from the Independent Publisher Book Awards in 2012. His Sideways 3 Chile forms the final leg of the trilogy. In 2012, Rex adapted his novel into Sideways: the Play. He staged four record-breaking runs, first at Ruskin Group Theatre in Santa Monica where it ran for 6 months, then the La Jolla Playhouse, where it broke all attendance records for a non-musical in their 35-year history, with 3-time Tony Award winner Des McAnuff directing.

In 2017, in collaboration with composer Anthony Adams, Rex turned his attention to the musical version of Sideways. Two years later the Book for the musical is finished, half the songs are composed and recorded, and a 3-time Tony Award-winning musical theater director (to be announced soon) has come on board. There is every likelihood that the "workshop" (or premiere) production will happen in the latter part of 2020.

Rex grew up in southern California, matriculated from the University of California at San Diego (UCSD). He was a Special Projects major, specializing in literary and film criticism, and creative writing. A member of the Writers Guild of America, the Dramatists Guild, and now ASCAP, Rex has enjoyed success in long-form fiction, screenwriting, independent film, and now stage. The Rex Pickett Papers are now enshrined at his alma mater UCSD in Geisel Library's Special Collections & Archives.

To learn more about the resources mentioned in this episode, visit the https://www.nataliemaclean.com/85.

84: Are Celebrity Athlete Wines Great or Gimmicks? With Dr. Antonia Mantonakis Jul 08, 2020

Show notes

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 endorsement, when buying wine?

In this episode of the Unreserved Wine Talk podcast, I'm chatting with Dr. Antonia Mantonakis, Fellow of the Cool Climate Oenology and Viticulture Institute, Associate Professor of Marketing at the Goodman School of Business, and Associate Faculty of Psychology at Brock University in Niagara, Canada.

Highlights

Why is Antonia's research around wines associated with celebrities relevant to you as a wine consumer?
Is there any overlap when you think of certain sports and wine?
How do you determine how well-matched a sport is to wine?
Which sports had the highest and lowest matches with wine?
How were the final sports categories chosen for the study?
What do the study results suggest about the effect of celebrity endorsements on your wine buying behaviour?
Why do moderately mismatched products and sponsors cause you to pay the most attention?
How does your wine knowledge impact your interpretation of external cues when buying wine?
What wine-related research can you look forward to from Antonia in the near future?
How does the inclusion of a picture change your perception of a wine label?

About Dr. Antonia Mantonakis Dr. Antonia Mantonakis is a Fellow of the Cool Climate Oenology and Viticulture Institute, an Associate Professor of Marketing at the Goodman School of Business, and Associate Faculty of Psychology at Brock University in Niagara, Canada. She is a psychologist by training and holds a Bachelor of Science in Psychology from the University of Toronto; and has both a Masters in Experimental-Cognitive Psychology and a Doctorate in Experimental-Cognitive Psychology from Simon Fraser University. Her research focuses on the psychological factors that affect consumer behaviour and consumer decision making.

To learn more about the resources mentioned in this episode, visit the https://www.nataliemaclean.com/84.

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