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Unreserved Wine Talk — Arts
Unreserved Wine Talk

The Unreserved Wine Talk podcast features candid conversations with the most fascinating people in the wine world. Your host, award-winning journalist Natalie MacLean, dives into how it feels to compete in the nerve-wracking World’s Best Sommelier Competition, the shadowy underground of wine forgery, the zany tactics of a winemaker who hosted a funeral for cork, and more. Nestled in these colourful stories are practical tips on how to choose wine from a restaurant list, pair it with food and spot great values in the liquor store.

Every second episode, Natalie goes solo with an unfiltered, personal reflection on wine. She’ll share with you how it feels to be a woman in what is still a largely male-dominated field, her gut reaction to the latest health study that says no amount of alcohol consumption is safe and her journey in writing her next book. She’ll reveal these vulnerable, sometimes embarrassing, stories with tipsy wit and wisdom that she’s soaked up from 20 years of writing about wine.

This podcast is for wine lovers from novices to well-cellared aficionados.

Copyright: © Nat Decants Inc. 2018-2021

Latest Episodes:

63: Aphrodisiac Wine Pairings for Valentine's Day Feb 12, 2020

Show notes

Do you need to follow a food and wine pairing rulebook? What wine-worthy aphrodisiacs should you add to your menu this Valentine's Day? Does the classic romantic food, chocolate, have a perfect wine match you should try? Where does salinity in wine come from?

In today's episode, I'm chatting with you about aphrodisiac wine pairings and salt in wine. Enjoy!

Highlights

What is the most important rule you should remember when choosing wine?
Why do you enjoy sparkling wines especially with oysters?
Which high-zinc nuts were often prescribed to the love-sick and pair well with Sauvignon Blanc?
Can you successfully pair wine with asparagus?
How should you pair soft cheeses with wine?
What factors should you consider when pairing wine with strawberries and cream?
Why should you consider bacon as an aphrodisiac?
If you taste some salinity in wine, where does it come from?
Should you pay attention to the salinity of vineyard soil?
Why shouldn't you expect additives to be responsible for all of wines tasting notes?
What do your taste perceptions with wine mean?

To learn more about the resources mentioned in this episode, visit https://www.nataliemaclean.com/63.

62: Pairing Wine and Cannabis with the Herb Sommelier Jamie Evans Feb 05, 2020

Show notes

What does a wine enthusiast have in common with a cannabis user? How can you pair wine with cannabis? What do you need to know about terpenes and wine pairing? How do infused beverages bring together the cannabis and wine industries?

In this episode of the Unreserved Wine Talk podcast, we're chatting with Jamie Evans, founder of The Herb Somm, a cannabis blog and lifestyle brand that is focused on the gourmet side of the cannabis industry. Enjoy!

Highlights

What health and lifestyle benefits can you experience from using cannabis?
Where can you explore the culinary side of cannabis?
Can you try cannabis without experiencing a high?
Why is cannabis a good "exit drug"?
Why should we break the stigma associated with cannabis?
How did Jamie develop her interest in the cannabis industry?
What was Jamie's involvement in the cannabis restaurant movement in San Francisco?
Where does Jamie think the future of the cannabis industry is going?

About Jamie Evans

Jamie Evans is the founder of The Herb Somm, a cannabis blog and lifestyle brand that is focused on the gourmet side of the cannabis industry. She is an educator, host, and writer specializing in cannabis, food, recipes, wine, and the cannaculinary world.

In addition to her work in the cannabis industry, Jamie has over ten years of wine industry experience. Having represented a wide array of organizations and wineries, she is best known for producing high-end events and developing topnotch public relations, marketing, and hospitality programs. Jamie is also a contributor to POPSUGAR and MARY Magazine specializing in cannabis recipes and cannabis lifestyle pieces. She was also recently named as one of Wine Enthusiast Magazine's Top 40 Under 40 Tastemakers in 2018.

Born and raised in Truckee, CA, Jamie's roots extend back to South Dakota farm families. She developed a love for wine and agriculture while earning her degree in Wine and Viticulture, with a concentration in Wine Business at Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo. As an avid traveler, she expanded her knowledge and explored different regions where she studied enology and viticulture at The University of Adelaide, Australia and The Engineering School of Enology at Changins, Switzerland.

To learn more about the resources mentioned in this episode, visit the https://www.nataliemaclean.com/62.

61: Single Vineyards versus Blends, Drops of God Manga Wine, Wine Scores Jan 29, 2020

Show notes

How does blending grapes impact the flavour profile of wine? What can blends give you that a single varietal can't? What can you learn about wine from reading the Drops of God manga series? Why should you engage your creative side when it comes to wine? Why do you need to dive deeper into wine scores before buying?

In today's episode, I'm chatting with you about the power and problems with wine scores, whether single vineyard or blends are better and the viral sensation of the Manga wine series called Drops of God. Enjoy!

Highlights

How is the Drops of God anime series impacting wine sales?
Why should you engage your creative side when it comes to wine?
What can blends give you that a single varietal can't?
How does blending grapes impact the flavour profile of wine?
What are some well-known wines that are blends?
Why might Submission wine be on your radar?
How did the Toronto Star's score for Submission impact its sales?
How did I review Submission?

To learn more about the resources mentioned in this episode, visit https://www.nataliemaclean.com/61.

60: Mark Oldman: The Wine World's Greatest Showman Jan 22, 2020

Show notes

What insider tip can you use the next time you're faced with a restaurant wine list? What do billionaires look for in wines for daily drinking? Why should you cultivate a wine spouse? How can you signal to restaurant staff that you're a wine insider (even if you're not)?

In this episode of the Unreserved Wine Talk podcast, we're chatting with Mark Oldman, New York-based wine best-selling author, speaker and entrepreneur and one of the liveliest and wittiest guests I've had on the show. Enjoy!

Highlights

What should you do if you think your restaurant glassware or wine has a fault?
How can a label help you to identify a great value wine?
Why shouldn't you say no to paper cups?
Why is a restaurant wine list like the Bermuda Triangle?
Why should you pay extra attention to the back label?
When is oak "deliciously slutty"?
Should you request specific glassware to match your wine?
Why is blind tasting overrated?
How did Mark end up in criminal court over a bottle of Bordeaux?

About Mark Oldman

Mark Oldman is a wine expert, author, entrepreneur, speaker, and media personality, and, elementally, someone who delights in helping people simplify complex subjects.

In the world of wine, he is known for his singular ability to unravel wine's complexities with a potent blend of entertainment, style, and humor. Mark's enduring, award-winning books are considered by many to be the best of their kind.

His standing invitations to the country's top food festivals and consistently sold-out events attest to his position as one of gastronomy's most captivating speakers.

Named "everybody's favorite wine expert" by festival guru Lee Brian Schrager and a "hot ticket" by the New York Post, Mark brings the ruckus to audiences at major fairs, corporations, and institutions around the world.

To learn more about the resources mentioned in this episode, visit the https://www.nataliemaclean.com/60.

59: Bargain Wines, Pairing Wine and Artichokes, Wine Region Vacations with the Restaurant Guys Mark Pascal and Francis Schott Jan 15, 2020

Show notes

What makes a bargain wine? How can you prepare artichokes to be more wine-friendly? Should you plan a trip to Canada's wine regions?

In today's episode, I'm chatting again with Mark Pascal and Francis Schott, on their excellent radio show The Restaurant Guys. If you missed part one of our conversation, go back to episode 56 after you listen to this one.

Mark and Francis have been in the fine dining and wine retail business for more than 25 years, and co-own Stage Left Restaurant in New Brunswick, New Jersey, which the New York Times has ranked in their excellent category and Citysearch named among the Top 10 Restaurants in America and Worth The Drive from any Major City. They also own a second restaurant called Catherine Lombardi as well as the Stage Left Wine Shop.

I wanted to share this one with you because we chat about tips on spotting bargain wines, pairing wine and veggies, including the especially tough match of artichokes, and why Canadian wine regions are excellent places to vacation. This is actually two episodes rolled into one as I've been a guest on their show a number of times. Enjoy the episode!

Highlights

How can my mobile wine app make your wine-shopping life much easier?
Why do you have to put more effort into finding bargain wines?
Which region-based rule can help you find great bargain wines?
Where can you find the most vibrant wine destination on the east coast of the US?
Do Canadian wine regions make good tourist destinations?
Are some wines better suited to certain seasons?
Which characteristics can you look for in a good wine to pair with vegetables?
Why should you give a toast at your next celebration?

To learn more about the resources mentioned in this episode, visit https://www.nataliemaclean.com/59.

58: Getting Graphic with Wine and Madeline Puckette of Wine Folly Jan 08, 2020

Show notes

In this episode of the Unreserved Wine Talk podcast, we're chatting with Madeline Puckette, the content director and co-founder of Wine Folly whose passion for helping beginners learn about wine is the inspiration behind the award-winning website winefolly.com, and the NYT best-selling book, Wine Folly: The Essential Guide to Wine. Enjoy!

Highlights

How can Wine Folly empower you on your wine tasting journey?
Do the flavours you taste in wine come from additives like other fruits?
How does your sense of smell affect the way things taste?
What can you deduce from the colour of wine?
What out of the box wine pairing do you need to try?
Why should Spain be at the top of your wine trip bucket list?
Which next-door wine region should you visit next?
How can you use Wine Folly when tasting wine?

About Madeline Puckette

Madeline Puckette is the content director and co-founder of Wine Folly. Her passion for helping beginners learn about wine is the inspiration behind the award-winning website winefolly.com, and the NYT best-selling book, Wine Folly: The Essential Guide to Wine. Madeline's background in visual design, music and restaurant hospitality have helped shape her communication of wine through infographics, entertainment and social media.

Since the inception of the site on December 25, 2011, Madeline's enigmatic wine designs have been featured in places like NPR, Fast Company Design and The Washington Post. The Wine Folly book has been published in 20 countries including Korea, Germany, Russia, China, France and Italy.

To learn more about the resources mentioned in this episode, visit the https://www.nataliemaclean.com/58.

57: BYOB Wines to Restaurants Jan 01, 2020

Show notes

What does BYOB, Bring Your Own Bottle, to a restaurant mean? What special laws and etiquette do you need to know about it? Which provinces and states allow it? How does BYOB benefit you as a wine lover, aside from reducing your restaurant bill? How should you calculate the tip when you bring your own wine?

On today's episode of Unreserved Wine Talk, I'm sharing everything you need to know, plus my best tips for enjoying BYOB wines at restaurants. Enjoy!

Highlights

Why is BYOB perfect for you if you don't cook much at home?
How does BYOB benefit you as a wine lover?
Should you BYOB when venturing into more casual fare?
How much does wine contribute to restaurant profits?
How should you calculate an appropriate tip when you BYOB?
How can BYOB help emerging wine regions and small producers?
What aspects of BYOB especially benefit dining and wine culture?
What BYOB etiquette tips should you keep in mind?
How is wine helping some chain restaurants to differentiate themselves?

To learn more about the resources mentioned in this episode, visit https://www.nataliemaclean.com/57.

56: Champagne Special with the Restaurant Guys Mark Pascal and Francis Schott Dec 25, 2019

Show notes

In today's episode, I'm chatting with Mark Pascal and Francis Schott, on their excellent radio show The Restaurant Guys. They've been in the fine dining and wine retail business for more than 25 years, and co-own Stage Left Restaurant in New Brunswick, New Jersey, which the New York Times has ranked in their excellent category and Citysearch named among the Top 10 Restaurants in America and Worth The Drive from any Major City.

Since I've chatted with them, they've launched a second restaurant called Catherine Lombardi and their Stage Left Wine Shop is booming. Although their radio show was wildly popular, they decided to retire it and focus their time on the restaurants and wine boutique, and actually get a full night's sleep now and then.

I wanted to share this one with you because we dig into some of my most personal and earliest wine stories as well as tips on how to choose a great festive wine, pairings for turkey dinner and navigating a big restaurant wine list. This is actually two episodes rolled into one as I've been a guest on their show a number of times. Enjoy the episode!

Highlights

How do you become a wine expert?
How can you tackle a daunting restaurant wine list?
Should you always follow the advice of a restaurant's resident wine "expert"?
Are you able to fit wine into your weight loss diet?
Why is wine the perfect companion for your holiday meals?
Can you serve Champagne before the start of the meal?
Where can you look for Sparkling Wine that tastes as good as Champagne?
What's the correct temperature for you to serve Champagne?
How do you figure out how much wine you should buy?
What can you do to make sure the wine you bring to dinner is well-received?

To learn more about the resources mentioned in this episode, visit https://www.nataliemaclean.com/56.

55: Pairing Gift Wines with Personalities Dec 18, 2019

Show notes

Why does wine make such an ideal holiday gift? Which wines are the best to give, especially when you don't know the personal taste of the recipient? Are there some wines you should never give as a gift beyond Two Buck Chuck? How can you match the gift wine to the personality of the giftee?

We're always talking about pairing wine and food, but how about pairing wine with the people on your holiday gift list? After all, when you give the gift of wine, doubles are fine unlike toaster ovens, there are no wrong sizes unlike that ugly sweater and regifting is so much easier compared to fruit cake or a bathroom scale. On today's episode of Unreserved Wine Talk, I'm sharing some special bottles for those special people on your shopping list. Enjoy!

Highlights

Why should you give wine as a gift?
What makes bubbly the perfect wine for you to bring to a dinner party?
Which blue-chip wine has the perfect price-quality ratio for a gift to your financial planner?
Where should you look for a zesty wine with a backstory to gift your travel agent?
What characteristics make a great gift wine for your hairdresser?
Who would make the perfect recipient for a tasteful wine from one of the fastest-growing wine regions?
Which robust red wine can you gift to a fitness enthusiast without worry?
How can you make sure to pick a gift wine that stands up to analysis for your therapist?
Which California wines can you rely on for your online date?
What consistent red wine can be enjoyed come snow, rain, sleet or heat?
Which imaginative wine choices should you consider for your mechanic?
Which wine will pair perfectly with your Christmas spirit?

To learn more about the resources mentioned in this episode, visit https://www.nataliemaclean.com/55.

54: What's Minerality in Wine? Plus California Wildfires Dec 11, 2019

Show notes

What it minerality mean when it comes to wine? Is it a taste? A feeling? Or some bogus concept meant to keep wine mysterious? What's the latest with the devastating wildfires in Sonoma wine country? Why are winemakers wary of cannabis producers? It's not what you might think. And what is a new wine group doing to help with a balanced life?

On today's episode of Unreserved Wine Talk, I'm taking a deep dive into the controversial concept of minerality, assessing the impact of recent wildfires on California wine country, discussing the controversy between cannabis producers and winemakers and sharing a resource I recently found for helping you live a balanced life as a wine lover. Enjoy!

Highlights

What impact has the Kincade Fire had on Sonoma County?
How will that affect the wines we drink in the future?
Which of the Sonoma wineries were affected by the Kincade Fire?
Should cannabis producers be allowed to use wine appellations?
How is cannabis added to wine?
What effects should you expect to feel from drinking cannabis-infused wine?
What are you experiencing when wine is described as having great minerality?
Does geology influence grapes and wine?
What are some simple tips you can use to keep your wine consumption in balance?

To learn more about the resources mentioned in this episode, visit https://www.nataliemaclean.com/54.

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