Natalie MacLean's Blog, page 17
June 15, 2024
9 Best Napa Valley Wines to Drink Now
On CTV news, Leanne and I chat about terrific Napa Valley wines at the LCBO. You can watch our first chat about California wines on CTV News here. We’re narrowing our focus on Napa Valley wines in this segment. Tell us about this region. What would surprise us about Napa Valley? It’s the most famous wine growing region in the U.S. but it’s actually tiny, producing just 4% of Californian wine and only 0.4% of the world’s wine production. The valley floor is just 30 miles long and just 5 miles at its widest point. […]
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June 14, 2024
California Wines: Grapes, Styles, Regions and What to Buy
On CTV News, Leanne and I chat about why Californian wines are among the most popular at the liquor store. You can also watch our second chat about Napa Valley wines here. How the wildfires impacted California wineries? Thankfully, 2021 is a “drama free harvest.” It’s small but mighty, as drought is the defining feature in Napa and Sonoma, as it was the third-driest year in more than a century, and the stress has meant fewer grapes. But drought also causes smaller grapes with more concentrated flavor and tannins. People talk about intense aromas and depth, […]
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Toast to Dad: Perfect Father’s Day Wine and Book Gifts
Father’s Day is Sunday, so why not toast Dad with wines that not only pair well grilled favourites, but also with some terrific new books? Here with her tips is Natalie MacLean who offers Canada’s most popular online wine and food pairing classes at nataliemaclean.com. Welcome Natalie. Great to be with you, Crystal! What are you recommending first? I have Farmhouse Vegetables: A Vegetable-Forward Cookbook by the award-winning chef Michael Smith from PEI. This collection of vibrant recipes is inspired by the culinary bounty of his farm at the Inn at Bay Fortune. […]
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The Ultimate Father’s Day Gift Guide: Wine and Book Pairings
Father’s Day is Sunday, so why not toast Dad with wines that not only pair well grilled favourites, but also with some terrific new books? Here with her tips is Natalie MacLean who offers Canada’s most popular online wine and food pairing classes at nataliemaclean.com. Welcome Natalie. Great to be with you, Melissa! What are you recommending first? I have Daniel Ricciardo: In Pursuit of Greatness by Nate Sanders. Daniel is a superstar in the Formula One racing world. In fact, he competed in the Montreal Grand Prix this past weekend with a […]
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June 12, 2024
BBQ Bliss: 4 Caymus Wines to Impress Dad this Father’s Day
Watch the CTV News video here Father’s Day is Sunday and BBQ season is in full swing, so why not toast Dad with wines that pair well with the grill? But which wines work best? Here with her tips is Natalie MacLean who offers Canada’s most popular online wine and food pairing classes at nataliemaclean.com. Welcome Natalie. Great to be with you, Mona! Tell us about this first wine. The first wine is the coveted Caymus Napa Cabernet, made by the Wagner family who are celebrating the 50th anniversary vintage of this wine. […]
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June 11, 2024
Celebrating Women in Wine with Jennifer Wilhelm & Andrea Brambila
Introduction Are you curious about the untold stories of the legendary women who helped create the Ontario wine industry and who also shaped its future? Wine might lead people to work in the wine industry, but what sustains a lifetime career beyond that? Why don’t we celebrate people while they’re alive, but instead wait to express those heartfelt thoughts in a eulogy, post-mortem biography or other memorials? In this episode of the Unreserved Wine Talk podcast, I’m chatting with author Jennifer Wilhelm. You can find the wines we discussed here. Giveaway Three of you will win a copy of Jennifer Wilhelm’s […]
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June 10, 2024
How to Buy the Perfect Summer Wine
In this episode of our wine education video series, we look at to buy a terrific summer wine, whether it’s for fresh seafood, barbecued meats or crisp salad. Also find out why you should take another look at rose wine this summer. What’s your favourite warm weather wine? Post with permission of Canadian Press (CP). So, this summer I think it is a great time to crack open a bottle of Canadian wine. Whether you’re grilling meats on the barbecue or you’re having some fresh seafood this summer, or even field green summer salads, the range of styles here […]
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June 9, 2024
Wines for Summer BBQ, Picnics, Seafood: CJAD Radio
Which wines to crack open for summer BBQs: big reds for meats and flavourful whites for seafood and veggies. Seven Deadly Zins, Menage a Trois, Innsikillin Riesling, St. Nicholas Cider and Errazuriz Sauvignon Blanc. Do you have to pay much a lot for good wine? No, and here’s why. We chat about this and other tasty topics on CJAD radio, one of the largest morning talk shows in the country. Wines for Summer BBQ, Picnics, Seafood: CJAD Radio Barry: 7:41 summer’s here, although it’s kind of tough to tell this morning, but summer is here. So what wines go […]
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June 5, 2024
Summer Wines and Seafood, Barbecue, Picnics – Sommelier Sheila Person
In this interview, I chat Sheila Person who at the time was sommelier and manager at Eight Wine Bar in Toronto. Sheila has since moved back to Calgary, Alberta, where she shares her passion for wine at Crowfoot Wine and Spirits. We chat about spring and summer wines, including great bottles for the cottage and pairings for her favourite books. Fun! What first got you interested in wine? Growing up in small town Alberta, I wasn’t exactly immersed in wine culture. Sure, my parents drank it, and my dad even made fruit wine, but it was actually the tools that […]
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June 4, 2024
Heroic Italian Wines & the Future of Italy’s Wines with Marc Millon
Introduction What is a heroic wine? Which emerging trends will shape the taste of Italian wine in the next decade? How has Italian art and architecture directly influenced its wines? In this episode of the Unreserved Wine Talk podcast, I’m chatting with author Marc Millon. You can find the wines we discussed here. Giveaway Three of you will win a copy of Marc Millon’s terrific new book Italy in a Wineglass: The Story of Italy Through Its Wines.. How to Win To qualify, all you have to do is email me at natalie@nataliemaclean.com and let me know that you’ve posted a review […]
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