Unreserved Wine Talk

France has Champagne. Italy has Prosecco. Spain has Cava. So what's the new Canadian sparkling wine style that's just launched? Will Canadians remain loyal to domestic wines once American wines return to store shelves? Is the wine industry making a costly mistake by assuming young drinkers will turn to wine as their incomes grow? How could boxed wine change the way you think about buying and enjoying wine at home?

In this episode o...

How can a bottle of wine become the invitation, slow down the moment, and create space for real conversation? Why does the wine industry need to look beyond wine itself to win back consumers? How can wine become more relevant to younger consumers?

In this episode of the Unreserved Wine Talk podcast, I'm chatting with John Boynton.

You can find the wines we discussed at https://www.nataliemaclean.com/winepicks.

Highlights

Why ...

How can two rums taste completely different even though they're both made from sugar cane? What makes Jamaican rum so famously funky, and what does a dunder pit have to do with it? How does the type of ice you use change the strength, temperature, and texture of a cocktail?

In this episode of the Unreserved Wine Talk podcast, I'm chatting with Kara Newman, the author of eight cocktail books.

You can find the wines we discussed...

How does smoking whisky grains with elephant dung translate into flavours like raspberry and sandalwood? What does the saying "you can't turn a donkey into a racehorse" reveal about making great whisky? How are modern whisky makers using blending to capture emotions and experiences?

In this episode of the Unreserved Wine Talk podcast, I'm chatting with Kristiane Westray.

You can find the wines we discussed at https://www.nataliemac...

Is smelling or nosing whisky different from smelling a glass of wine? How did a 1960s marketing campaign convince generations of whisky drinkers that single malt was better than blended whisky? What is it like to step inside a working whisky kiln and experience peat smoke firsthand?

In this episode of the Unreserved Wine Talk podcast, I'm chatting with Kristiane Westray, author of Savour: A Guide To Tasting and Exploring Whisk...

How did Sacha Lichine's launch of Garrus and Whispering Angel from Château d'Esclans, which now exceeds 10 million bottles a year change Provence? What happens to a wine region when historic family estates are increasingly bought by wealthy outsiders and corporations? How can classifying wine by colour get in the way of understanding what's actually in the glass?

In this episode of the Unreserved Wine Talk podcast, I'm chatting wit...

How is Provence far more diverse as a wine region than just Rosé? Why has Rosé struggled to be taken seriously by wine professionals despite its enormous popularity with consumers? Does Provence make the best Rosé in the world or simply the best Rosé in its style?

In this episode of the Unreserved Wine Talk podcast, I'm chatting with Liz Gabay and Ben Bernheim.

You can find the wines we discussed at https://www.nataliemaclean....

What's the difference between a wine that's lean and one that's thin? Why is asking for a "smooth" wine one of the least helpful ways to describe what you actually want? What's the fastest way to learn more about wine without feeling intimidated?

In this episode of the Unreserved Wine Talk podcast, I'm chatting with Maryse Chevriere, author of the terrific new book, How to Sound Wine Smart.

You can find the wines we discussed at ht...

How can a hospitality disaster completely change your approach to wine and service? When do wine tasting notes become so over-the-top that they stop meaning anything? What makes natural wine like an unfiltered snapshot of a single moment?

In this episode of the Unreserved Wine Talk podcast, I'm chatting with Maryse Chevriere, author of the new book How to Sound Wine Smart.

You can find the wines we discussed at https://www.nat...

How do our personal memories shape the aromas we recognize in wine? What incredible Argentine wines are people missing when they focus only on Malbec? Why do food and wines from the same region often pair beautifully even when they break the usual rules?

In this episode of the Unreserved Wine Talk podcast, I'm chatting with Marisol de la Fuente.

You can find the wines we discussed at https://www.nataliemaclean.com/winepicks.

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How did Argentina help save Europe's vineyards during the devastating phylloxera crisis? Why is wine still treated as an exclusive product despite being more accessible than ever? How can vineyards that endure extreme temperatures still produce elegant, vibrant wines?

In this episode of the Unreserved Wine Talk podcast, I'm chatting with Marisol de la Fuente.

You can find the wines we discussed at https://www.nataliemaclean.com/win...

Why is the Daiquiri with just rum, lime and sugar used as a litmus test to see if a bartender is capable of making a decent drink? What is oleo saccharum and why is it a gorgeous way to sweeten sophisticated cocktails? What is tepeche and why do fermenting pineapples make a delicious cocktail?

In this episode of the Unreserved Wine Talk podcast, I'm chatting with Kaitlyn Stewart, author of Three Cheers: Cocktails Three Ways: Classi...

How does it feel competing against the world's best bartenders making six cocktails in six minutes in front of a large audience? How can bartending become a form of storytelling instead of simply making drinks? How did the Mojito begin as a 16th-century medical remedy?

In this episode of the Unreserved Wine Talk podcast, I'm chatting with Kaitlyn Stewart, the first Canadian to win the prestigious title of World Class Bartender of t...

How did a single decision trigger Sherry's decline from Britain's favourite drink? What would it take for Sherry to make a comeback after decades of decline? How can you make the most out of your trip to the Sherry region of Spain?

In this episode of the Unreserved Wine Talk podcast, I'm chatting with Ben Howkins, author of a new book on Sherry.

You can find the wines we discussed at https://www.nataliemaclean.com/winepic...

How does the Solera system give every glass of sherry centuries of history? How does Sherry's "second terroir" shape the wine just as much as the vineyard itself? Why should every great wine cellar have mature, dry Sherry?

In this episode of the Unreserved Wine Talk podcast, I'm chatting with Ben Howkins, who has just published a new book on Sherry.

You can find the wines we discussed at https://www.nataliemaclean.com/winepick...

Can Bordeaux adapt to changing wine tastes without losing its identity? Bordeaux is pulling up thousands of hectares of vines because of overproduction. How does Mouton Cadet's model offer a way out for some wine growers? How are modern Bordeaux producers, like Mouton Cadet, creating wines with more energy, smoothness, and drinkability for today's consumers?

In this episode of the Unreserved Wine Talk podcast, I'm chatting wit...

Why did the Bordeaux wine Mouton Cadet decide that sustainability needed to include people, not just the environment? Why is the Fair for Life certification that's focused on people, community, and respect the environment a perfect fit for Mouton Cadet? What does it mean to create trust with more than 100 grape growers that lasts for generations?

In this episode of the Unreserved Wine Talk podcast, I'm chatting with Véronique Hombr...

How did wine transform biblical meals into symbols of the covenant in the ancient world? Why did overflowing vineyards and giant clusters of grapes become such powerful symbols of the Promised Land? Why did religious leaders label Jesus a glutton, a drunkard, and a friend of sinners?

In this episode of the Unreserved Wine Talk podcast, I'm chatting with Professor Mark Scarlata, author of Wine, Soil, and Salvation in the Hebrew...

How does biking through wine country help you better understand the wines? Why has wine held a unique place in the Bible and our culture when so many other foods like milk, olive oil, honey, dates, and pomegranates symbolize abundance and blessing? How do the aromas and complexity of wine create such deep connections to memory in the brain? Why do so many people feel disconnected in modern life despite being more connected than eve...