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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:

33: The Smart Woman Behind the Wine for Dummies Books: Mary Ewing-Mulligan MW Jul 17, 2019

Show notes

In this episode of the Unreserved Wine Talk podcast, we're chatting with Mary Ewing-Mulligan, president of the International Wine Center and the first woman in America to become a Master of Wine. She's also just published the seventh edition of the book "Wine For Dummies." Mary's motto "Peace. Community. Wine." is a wonderful summary of the work she's doing in the wine industry, from wine education to advocating for women in the industry, to her tenacity and determination to achieve the highest designation and continuing to grow her knowledge and ability. I really enjoyed this fantastic chat and I know you'll get a lot from her journey. Enjoy!

Highlights

Where did Mary get the idea to write Wine for Dummies?
Does the "for Dummies" title ever get a negative reception?
When did Mary decide to test for the Master of Wine programme?
How long did it take for Mary to achieve the Master of Wine designation?
What are Mary's thoughts on the current situation for women in the wine industry?
How can veteran women in the wine industry support younger women just starting out?
Is the impact of climate change on the wine industry being discussed by industry leaders?

About Mary Ewing-Mulligan

Mary Ewing-Mulligan, president of International Wine Center, is the first woman in America to become a Master of Wine. This title represents the highest level of knowledge and proficiency in the wine trade. Currently 369 individuals worldwide are Masters of Wine, including 45 in the U.S.

In addition to heading International Wine Center, Mary is co-author (with her husband, Ed McCarthy) of "Wine For Dummies" and "Wine Style, Using your senses to explore and enjoy wine," both published by John Wiley & Sons. With more than one million copies sold, translations into 38 languages, and an audio tape, Wine For Dummies is the fastest-selling wine book ever in the U.S. The couple have also authored White Wine For Dummies, Red Wine For Dummies, Wine Buying Companion For Dummies, Italian Wine For Dummies and French Wine For Dummies.

Mary Ewing-Mulligan was wine columnist for The Daily News in New York City for more than ten years, as well as a columnist for trade magazines, "Nation's Restaurant News" and "Beverage Dynamics." She also contributed wine articles to several publications in the U.S. and England. She is a past president of the Institute of Masters of Wine (North America) and currently serves as one of its Directors.

To learn more about the resources mentioned in this episode, visit the show notes.

32: Orange Wines, Pairings for Meatless Burgers Jul 10, 2019

Show notes

Is orange the new white? Which wines pair best with meatless burgers? How do you keep your wines cool in the summer heat? I'd love for you to share your questions or comments with me. You can do that in the comments on the show notes post or email me at natalie@nataliemaclean.com. Enjoy!

Highlights

Are orange wines a fad or here to stay?
Which wines to pair with the new meatless burgers?
How do you keep your wines cool in the summer heat, especially when dining outdoors?
How is orange wine made?
What are the specifications and requirements for Canadian orange wine?
Who makes orange wines in Ontario?

To learn more about the resources mentioned in this episode, visit the show notes.

31: Pairing Wine & Charcuterie with Jennifer McLagan Jul 03, 2019

Show notes

In this episode of the Unreserved Wine Talk podcast, we're chatting with Jennifer McLagan, an author and expert in charcuterie. Sometimes, I think we've become so paranoid about fat in our diets that we forget that not all fats are alike. Jennifer talks about those that are good for us, and together, we discover some terrific wines to pair with them. Enjoy!

Highlights

How does Jennifer respond to people who are concerned about "healthy eating"?
How should charcuterie be served?
What does it mean for meat to be cured?
What's the difference between regional cured hams such as Serrano, prosciutto and pata negra?
Can you pair pickled and brined foods with wine?
Are there wines that don't pair well with charcuterie?
What goes into putting together a charcuterie plate at home?
What's the difference between pâté, terrine and rillettes?

About Jennifer McLagan

Jennifer McLagan is the author of the widely acclaimed books Bones (2005), Fat (2008), Odd Bits (2011), Bitter (2014) and Les Os (2014). All her books made The New York Times list of top cookbooks and she has won four James Beard Awards. Fat was named the James Beard Cookbook of the Year. Her book Bitter, was selected by The Guardian as one of the top ten food books, made the list for the Art of Eating prize, and was featured in the Wall Street Journal, New Scientist and British Vogue.

Australian by birth, Jennifer left behind a degree in economics and politics to train in the food business, beginning her professional life in the kitchens of the Southern Cross Hotel in Melbourne. Work as a chef took her to England, where she practiced her trade at Prue Leith's highly regarded restaurant in London and then in the kitchens of Winfield House, home of the U.S. ambassador. Equipped with a quirky sense of humour, and a contrarian point of view, Jennifer McLagan is known for taking on challenging subjects and questioning our relationship to what we eat.

To learn more about the resources mentioned in this episode, visit the show notes.

30: Canada Day Wines Jun 26, 2019

Show notes

In honour of Canada Day on July 1st, we're doing a deep dive into Canadian wine, including some colourful history and surprising facts that you can drop casually at your barbecue gathering as you crack open a bottle.

What do Canadian wine regions have to offer visitors? Why do Canadian wines make up only 1/3 of the wine we buy in Canada? We're also testing your vinous savvy with The Great Canadian Wine Quiz. I'd love to hear how you did - email me or tag me on social media.

Highlights

What were the Canadian wines of the 70s and 80s like?
Why are Canadian wines often less expensive than imported wines?
What is the Celine Dion-Shania Twain Syndrome that Canadian wines are suffering from?
Why do Canadian wines only account for 1/3 of the wine purchased in Canada?
What experiences can you have when visiting a Canadian winery?

To learn more about the resources mentioned in this episode, visit the show notes.

29: Wine Scandals, Fakes and Forgery with Maureen Downey Jun 19, 2019

Show notes

In this episode of the Unreserved Wine Talk podcast, we're chatting with Maureen Downey, a.k.a. the Wine Detective, about wine forgeries, fakes and scandals. You'll learn tips on how to spot a fake wine based on the label and more. Enjoy!

Highlights

Why did Maureen become interested in wine fraud?
What aspects of the wine does Maureen consider to determine its authenticity?
How does Maureen use technology when testing a wine's authenticity?
How pervasive is wine counterfeiting?
What is blockchain and how can it help us to trace the provenance of a bottle of wine?
What are some of the simple information mistakes wine counterfeiters have made?
How can the average wine buyer avoid becoming a victim of wine fraud?
What role does the wine industry play in perpetuating wine fraud?

About Maureen Downey

Maureen Downey, DWS, CWE, FWS is known as the Sherlock Holmes of wines and is considered the world's foremost expert in counterfeit wine identification. She is an expert on rare wines and an authority on wine fraud, counterfeit and fine wine authentication. She earned a degree in hospitality from Boston University and she took the advanced sommelier exams at the age of 23.

Over the past 20 years, she has inspected hundreds of millions of dollars worth of both authentic and counterfeit wine. She advises some of the world's top collectors in purchasing, selling, and managing their collections with her firm Chai Consulting based in San Francisco. She has assisted the government prosecution in the biggest wine counterfeiting cased, ever tried by the US government and continues to work with law enforcement to investigate wine fraud cases. You can also catch her in the Netflix film, Sour Grapes.

To learn more about the resources mentioned in this episode, visit the show notes.

28: Father's Day Wines Jun 12, 2019

Show notes

This Sunday is Father's Day, so I'm going to get downright practical on this episode with some terrific gift wines suggestions that you can buy dear old dad.

So, how do you choose the perfect gift bottle? And is there such a thing as "man's wine" versus a woman's wine"? Of course, it's all awash once you're on to your third glass of Pinot or Cabernet. Let's dig in, shall we?

Highlights

Does the research show a difference in wine consumption between men and women?
Why has it taken so long for wine companies to target their marketing towards men?
What approach do wine companies take when marketing to men?
How are canned wines marketing themselves differently from bottled wines?
What are my top wine picks for Father's Day gifts?

To learn more about the resources mentioned in this episode, visit the show notes.

27: Gripping Wine Stories with San Francisco Chronicle Wine Columnist Esther Mobley Jun 05, 2019

Show notes

In this episode of the Unreserved Wine Talk podcast, we're chatting with Esther Mobley, on the gripping stories that catapulted her to become the columnist for one of the most prestigious wine columns in North America, the San Francisco Chronicle, at just 24 years of age. Enjoy!

Highlights

How did Esther's college admissions essay end up in the New York Times?
Should wine writers all experience winemaking?
What has changed about California winemaking since Esther started writing for the San Francisco Chronicle in 2015?
What is Esther's opinion on natural wine and its growing popularity?
How did Esther connect with Alecia "P!nk" Moore and end up interviewing her?
What does the $315 million sale of Meiomi wines mean for the wine industry?
Can a brand be authentic without owning a vineyard?
What are some interesting insights that Esther uncovered in her exploration of food and wine pairing with Ali Bouzari?

About Esther Mobley

Esther Mobley is a staff writer at the San Francisco Chronicle. She writes primarily about wine, and her beat also includes beer, spirits, drinking culture and, occasionally, doughnuts. In her regular Drink Up column, she reviews Bay Area bars. Before joining The Chronicle, Mobley was an assistant editor at Wine Spectator magazine in New York. She has worked two harvests, in Napa, California and Mendoza, Argentina. She studied English literature at Smith College.

To learn more about the resources mentioned in this episode, visit the show notes.

26: Wine & War: The Vinous Insurrection May 29, 2019

Show notes

Welcome back for Part Two of an audio essay to celebrate National Wine Day, this past Saturday, May 25.

Most of what I'm going to share with you today is based on a magazine piece about wine and civility that I wrote two months after 9/11. On this episode we're looking at the role wine has played in some of the greatest conflicts our world has ever seen from French winemakers' fight against the Nazi wine trade, to the impact of 9/11 on the US wine economy.

If you missed part one, please go back and have a listen to Episode 24. I hope this is drink for thought for you.

To learn more about the resources mentioned in this episode, visit the show notes.

25: Pairing Wine and Yoga to Unwined with Morgan Perry May 22, 2019

Show notes

In this episode of the Unreserved Wine Talk podcast, we're chatting with Morgan Perry who pairs wine and yoga in her Vino Vinyasa classes. More than marketing or whimsy, it's actually rooted in a holistic lifestyle philosophy. Enjoy!

Highlights

What is a yoga vinyasa class experience like?
What are vinyasa and shavasana?
Why does Morgan believe yoga enhances the wine tasting experience?
How does Morgan make her classes accessible for students at all levels?
What's the most interesting feedback Morgan has gotten about her class?
Is the wine and yoga crossover a growing trend?
Morgan shares some fun wine and yoga pose matches

About Morgan Perry

Morgan Perry is the founder of Vino Vinyasa Yoga. Morgan's wine experience started in wine marketing and PR at an agency in New York City, but it wasn't until she took a trip to Chile that she truly fell in love with wine. She returned to New York and began taking Wine and Spirit Education Trust classes to learn more. She now has her Advanced Certification, which she passed with distinction.

To learn more about the resources mentioned in this episode, visit the show notes.

24: National Wine Day Prompts These Thoughts May 15, 2019

Show notes

May 25 is National Wine Day and in honour of that, I think it's worth exploring how wine, as a beverage, has influenced our culture. Wine has been an integral part of human history from ancient civilizations right through to the modern day. It has become deeply associated with culture, power and prestige in a way that no other beverage has.

Most of what I'm going to share with you today is based on a magazine piece about wine and civility that I wrote two months after 9/11. However, the search for civility in everyday life has more resonance than ever, with the seemingly daily mass shootings in various places around the world, the ongoing threat of ISIS, and the aggression that many women and others face daily on social media.

I'm going to break this topic up into two episodes, with today's show being part one, and part two will be published on May 29. I welcome your thoughts on this audio essay!

To learn more about the resources mentioned in this episode, visit the show notes.

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