Natalie MacLean's Blog, page 18

Wine and Egg Pairing: Does it Work?

  This story by Shawna Wagman originally appeared on Ottawa Magazine. Eggs are not an ideal mate for wine but mimosas do the trick. For MacLean, eggs are a stomach-filler needed for drinking. The Eater: Natalie MacLean is Canada’s best-known wine writer and self-styled “wine cheapskate”. She is the author of Unquenchable: A Tipsy Quest for the World’s Best Bargain Wines, which was recently awarded a Taste Canada food writing award for the best English-language culinary narrative. The Place: I learned my lesson dining out with MacLean a few months ago at Brothers Beer Bistro; for her food is an […]

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4 Wines (and Reasons) to Celebrate National Wine Day

Watch the CTV Morning Live video here   This Saturday is National Wine Day and here to help us celebrate is Natalie MacLean, who offers Canada’s most popular online wine and food pairing classes at nataliemaclean.com.   Welcome, Natalie. Wine has a long and rich history, doesn’t it? Yes, ancient clay jars containing wine residue dating back to 6,000 BCE have been found in the country of Georgia. Egyptians were among the first to document the winemaking process in tomb paintings around 2500 BCE. The ancient Greeks and Romans not only improved winemaking processes, but they also spread wine culture […]

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How Wildfires Are Changing the Landscape of Wine Country

Watch CTV News video here   I’ve been reporting on the economic and environmental impact wildfires have on the wine industry. My hope is that this raises awareness among consumers for both the importance of fire safety in wine country and the need to support these wineries as they struggle to recover from these events. Here’s the latest segment on CTV News with anchor Mutsumi Takahashi.   Wildfire season has already begun and it’s hit Alberta and British Columbia hard. Last year, wildfires were also hard on B.C.’s wine country. So what do the wildfires mean for Canada’s wine industry […]

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Italy in a Wine Glass: The Story of Italy Through Its Wines with Marc Millon

Introduction Which almost-forgotten grape Italian varieties deserve more recognition? What might surprise you about the stories and wines from Campania? What makes wine such a great narrative vehicle throughout history? 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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Best LCBO Wine Reviews: Vintages Ratings May 25, 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 May 11th. 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 […]

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Mixing Business and Pleasure; Authenticity and Forgery in Art and Wine with Bianca Bosker

Introduction How are innovators making art and wine more engaging and accessible? What is it about the art and wine worlds that makes business and pleasure often one and the same? Is authenticity in art and wine important? 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.   How to Win […]

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Wine Glasses: How Many Do You Really Need? Which Shapes Work Best?

  I’m often asked if the shape of a wine glass really matters? How does it affect the taste of wine? Just how many wine glasses do you need? Here’s my advice …   A Glass Act: The 7 Essential Wine Glasses   Wine Glass Type Why It Works   Sparkling Wine Champagne, Italian prosecco, Spanish cava or any other sparkling wine is best enjoyed in a tall, narrow glass to preserve the bubbles. And there are specific glasses for different kinds of bubbly, ranging from straight, very slender flutes to long-stemmed, slim white-wine style glasses.   White Burgundy White Burgundy […]

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Recipe: Blue Cheese Hamburger with Red Wine Pairing

In celebration of National Hamburger Day, pair this savoury recipe for Blue Cheese Hamburger with the full-bodied red wine, such as Shiraz, Cabernet or Malbec. Please feel free to share this on social media with the hashtag #nationalburgerday Prep time: 30 minutes Total time, including cooking: 2 hours and 30 minutes Serves: 6 Ingredients: 1.5 pounds of lean ground beef 2 ounces of crumbled blue cheese ¼ cup of minced fresh chives 1/8 teaspoon of hot pepper sauce ½ teaspoon of Worcestershire sauce ½ teaspoon of coarsely-ground black pepper ¾ teaspoon of salt ½ teaspoon of dry mustard 6 hamburger buns   Directions: […]

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Rocky Road Cream Cheese Fudge with Port or Icewine

Make the festive season even more festive The calendar has flipped to December and you know what that means. Parties. Lots and lots of parties. And while we all look forward to going out and having a good time with friends and family, it’s not always easy to think of a nice gift to bring the hosts. Until now. This week I’m happy to share the recipe for Rocky Road Cream Cheese Fudge, which, I have to tell you, is as good as it sounds. Featuring Canadian Cream cheese, this particular recipe has a lot going for it. Yes, it’s […]

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Support Ontario Wineries: Buy Direct and Ship to Your Home (Video)

On CTV News, Leanne and I chat about how Ontario wineries were particularly hard hit by Covid-19, what they’re doing to pivot and how you can help support these local businesses: – Tasting rooms are closed as are major clients, restaurants in general – Most wineries didn’t have wines in the LCBO to begin with because they don’t produce enough wine to fill that channel – The majority of the 180 wineries have fewer than 20 employees – Many are turning to direct shipping   You can get free shipping and other deals here: nataliemaclean.com/niagara   When you buy a […]

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