Introduction 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 here. Giveaway Three of you will win a copy of Bianca Bosker’s terrific new book Get the Picture: A Mind-Bending Journey among the Inspired Artists and Obsessive Art Fiends Who Taught Me How to See. […]
Best Wines
Is Chardonnay Too Cool to be the Teacher’s Pet? Video Report Card
On CTV News, we chat about Chardonnay: it’s rise to popularity, fall from grace and resurgence. We also discuss the International Cool Climate Chardonnay Celebration (i4c) and which Chardonnays you should be drinking now. Let’s start with why Chardonnay became so popular in the first place? · It’s the second most widely planted white wine grape on the planet, but the most popular among drinkers. · The most widely planted white wine grape is a Spanish workhorse grape called Airen that’s often in rustic blends, to put it politely, and it’s gradually being replaced with Chardonnay. · If Chardonnay got […]
Wine Review of the Week: Long Weekend Wine for Victoria Day
Sommelier Astrid Young has selected our Wine Review of the Week to celebrate the Victoria Day long weekend. Contrary to appearances in the prim picture to the left, Queen Victoria adamantly opposed abstinence from alcohol, calling it a “pernicious heresy.” Her majesty’s favourite tipple? A tumbler filled half with red wine and half with whisky. No wonder why she reined so long; she was completely “preserved.” Astrid, an International Sommelier Guild (ISG) graduate and candidate for Master of Wine, has a much more modern and palatable suggestion for the long weekend, especially if grilled grub is on the menu. Astrid […]
Sip & Read: Uncork the Perfect Mother’s Day Wine & Book Gifts She’ll Love
Watch CTV News video here Mother’s Day is this Sunday. You might like to toast mom with a glass of wine or two, but what can you pair with wine beyond flowers? How about some terrific new books? Here with her tips is Natalie MacLean, who offers Canada’s most popular online wine classes at nataliemaclean.com What are you recommending first? I have Blank: A Novel by Zibby Owens. Pippa Jones is a 40-something writer whose first book was an instant bestseller. Now she can’t think of what to write as she faces a blank page. […]
The Best Books & Bottles for Mother’s Day Gifts
Watch CTV News video here Mother’s Day is this Sunday. You might like to toast mom with a glass of wine or two, but what can you pair with wine beyond flowers? How about some terrific new books? Here with her tips is Natalie MacLean, who offers Canada’s most popular online wine classes at nataliemaclean.com. What are you recommending first? I have The Sugar Bowl Feud by Halifax author Gina Brown is about four grieving siblings who inherit their mother’s house full of stuff. When the oldest chooses the sugar bowl as a keepsake, sparks fly. […]
Spanish Wine Pairings + Cookbook Creation Secrets with Barbara Scott-Goodman
Introduction 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 here. Giveaway Three of you will win a copy of Barbara Scott-Goodman’s terrific book Wine Time: 70+ Recipes for Simple Bites That Pair Perfectly with Wine. How to Win To qualify, all you have to do is email me at [email protected] and let me […]
Best LCBO Wine Reviews: Vintages Ratings May 11, 2024
You can access the wines that I reviewed as a text wine list with my complete tasting notes, scores, food matches. If you are a Paid Member, you can add my wine picks to your custom shopping list with one click and access that list on your smartphone to find the stock for each wine in your closest LCBO store. You can also see my wine reviews for April 27th. These are just some of the benefits of supporting out wine community as a Paid Member. Inventory stock numbers are usually posted online a day or two before the release based on the LCBO doing so. Curious about […]
Challenging Wine Matches with Barbara Scott-Goodman, Author of Wine Time: 70+ Recipes for Simple Bites That Pair Perfectly with Wine
Introduction 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 here. Giveaway Three of you will win a copy of Barbara Scott-Goodman’s terrific book Wine Time: 70+ Recipes for Simple Bites That Pair Perfectly with Wine. How to Win To qualify, all you have to do is email me at [email protected] and let me […]
Mother’s Day Brunch Wine and Champagne Pairings
Jeff and I had such fun chatting about wines for Mother’s Day gifts on Canada AM, especially champagne for brunch. There’s even a “live action” shot with uncorking a sparkler. (Okay, not so much.) Here are my Top 20 Wines for Mother’s Day, either made by women or named for them. Often the latter were originally made by women. You’ll also find more suggestions in my Mother’s Day wines for Epicurious as well as for More Magazine. Jeff: It’s Mother’s Day, of course, on Sunday, and if you are planning on taking her out for brunch, you might want to […]
Wine Sulphites, Mindful Drinking and Marketing Alcohol on The Erica Diamond Podcast
Introduction 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 here. Join me on Instagram, Facebook and YouTube Live Video Join the live-stream video of this conversation on Wednesday at 7 pm eastern on Instagram Live Video, Facebook Live Video or YouTube Live Video. I’ll be jumping […]
