Natalie MacLean's Blog, page 19

July 9, 2024

Why Wine Growing is a Nail-Biter Experience with Sophie Menin, Co-Author of a Year in the Vineyard

Introduction Why do many wineries plant roses at the end of each vine row? What does bee activity tell you about a vineyard? What does it mean for winemakers to have an “aesthetic vision”? In this episode of the Unreserved Wine Talk podcast, I’m chatting with author Sophie Menin. You can find the wines we discussed here.   Giveaway Three of you will win a copy of Sophie Menin and Bob Chaplin’s terrific new book A Year In The Vineyard.   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 […]

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Published on July 09, 2024 23:58

Why Wine Growing a Nail-Biter Experience with Sophie Menin, Co-Author of a Year in the Vineyard

Introduction Why do many wineries plant roses at the end of each vine row? What does bee activity tell you about a vineyard? What does it mean for winemakers to have an “aesthetic vision”? In this episode of the Unreserved Wine Talk podcast, I’m chatting with author Sophie Menin. You can find the wines we discussed here.   Giveaway Three of you will win a copy of Sophie Menin and Bob Chaplin’s terrific new book A Year In The Vineyard.   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 […]

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Published on July 09, 2024 23:58

July 4, 2024

Celebrity Wines from Brad Pitt, Pink, Sarah Jessica Parker, Francis Ford Coppola

Today we’re chatting about wines owned by celebrities. Are the wines any good or is this just a marketing gimmick? Here to give us the inside scoop is Natalie MacLean who offers North America’s most popular online wine and food pairing classes at nataliemaclean.com.   Welcome Natalie.   So let’s start off with why celebrities would want to own a winery?   Owning a sports team or restaurant is just so 2021. These days, if you really want to show some class, you need to own a winery. There’s no better photo opp than one with you getting dirty pruning […]

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Published on July 04, 2024 13:41

July 3, 2024

Best LCBO Wine Reviews: Vintages Ratings July 6, 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 June 22nd. These are just some of the benefits of supporting our 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 what […]

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Published on July 03, 2024 06:32

July 2, 2024

Why Wildfire Smoke Taint in Wine Intensifies as it Ages with Dr. Wes Zandberg

Introduction Should we, as consumers, be concerned about buying wines from regions which have experienced wildfires? Why does smoke taint intensify as a wine ages? How can wineries mitigate the risk of producing smoke-tainted wine? In this episode of the Unreserved Wine Talk podcast, I’m chatting with researcher Wes Zandberg. 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 into the comments as we watch it […]

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Published on July 02, 2024 23:58

Easy Entertaining with Wine and Cheese (Video)

In the second segment, Leanne and I talk about chat about what makes wine and cheese pop on a plate visually, and how to mix textures, tastes and flavours.   You can watch our first video segment on wine and cheese pairing here.                       Pasqua Pinot Grigio Delle Venezie Veneto DOC, Italy                   Oyster Bay Sauvignon Blanc Marlborough, New Zealand                   Miguel Torres Chile Las Mulas Sauvignon Blanc Central Valley, Chile       […]

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Published on July 02, 2024 06:04

June 30, 2024

The Best Online Wine Tasting & Pairing Classes (Video)

As the kids head back to school, let’s chat about how the adults have changed the way they learn about wine, especially with online courses. It’s a virtual world of wine learning at your fingertips. Yesterday, I chatted with Nicole Dube on CTV’s Morning Live show.   First, tell us why online wine courses have become so popular?   Online courses offer the best of both worlds: they’re accessible to everyone no matter where you live, they’re more comprehensive than a one-off class, but not as technical and time-consuming as college courses.   Plus, there’s no drinking, then driving home, […]

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Published on June 30, 2024 05:57

June 27, 2024

Canadian Wine Trailblazers: Canada’s 5 Revolutionary Winemakers

  On CTV’s The Social, we celebrate the long weekend by raising a glass to trailblazing Canadian wineries. These industry pioneers are leading the way in many areas, like new winemaking techniques and strong environmental practices.     They’re also leaders in the quality of wines they produce. Here to highlight her top picks from across the country is Natalie MacLean who offers Canada’s most popular online wine classes.   We’re starting on the west coast in British Columbia. What makes Gold Hill Winery a standout? The team at Gold Hill Winery almost exclusively immigrants. The founders, brothers Sant and […]

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Published on June 27, 2024 08:37

Cheers to Canada! 5 Great Wines and Spirits to Celebrate the Long Weekend

Click on the image above to play the video   On CityTV’s Breakfast Television, we chat about terrific Canadian drinks from coast to coast to celebrate Canada Day. Hey Natalie! Hey Meredith and Tracy, great to be back with you!     Natalie, before we get started, we hear congratulations are in order. You’ve just been named the 2024 Canadian Wine Champion. Wine Growers Canada, representing 800 wineries across the country, voted to select the individual who has demonstrated outstanding leadership, commitment and passion for our homegrown industry. I’m proud to be on Team Canada when it comes to wine […]

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Published on June 27, 2024 08:29

June 25, 2024

How Wildfires Affect the Taste of Your Wine with Dr. Wes Zandberg

Introduction What are the main causes of wildfires in wine country? Which two weather-based factors are the strongest predictors of the severity of wildfires each season? What impact do wildfires have on the taste of your wine, and why is it difficult to predict whether smoke-exposed grapes will, in fact, produce tainted wine? In this episode of the Unreserved Wine Talk podcast, I’m chatting with researcher Wes Zandberg. 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 […]

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Published on June 25, 2024 23:58