Natalie MacLean's Blog, page 2

Have you joined the Come Over October wine movement yet?

  Come Over October is a new global movement founded by Karen MacNeil, author of the Wine Bible. It invites us to create unforgettable moments with the people who matter most over a glass of wine or two.   Who better to help us than our favourite drinks expert Natalie MacLean, editor Canada’s largest wine site at nataliemaclean.com.   Welcome, Natalie.   Great to be back with you! You know, Come Over October is proof that the best things in life aren’t downloaded, they’re uncorked. This movement celebrates wine’s 8,000-year history of bringing people together.   Our ancestors didn’t need […]

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Best LCBO Wine Reviews: Vintages Ratings: October 25, 2025

  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  October 11th  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 […]

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Rooted in Change: The Stories Behind Sustainable Wine with Andy Neather and Jane Masters

Introduction How can the wine world help tackle climate change, and why is choosing sustainable and biodynamic wines not enough? What happens when vineyards embrace biodiversity with cover crops, insects, and wildlife? How are wine producers in South Africa rebuilding natural ecosystems around their vineyards? In this episode of the Unreserved Wine Talk podcast, I’m chatting with Andrew Neather & Jane Masters. You can find the wines we discussed here.   Giveaway Two of you are going to win a copy of Andrew Neather & Jane Masters’ terrific new book, Rooted in Change: The Stories Behind Sustainable Wine.   How to Win […]

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How Is The Spanish Sparkling Wine Cava Different From The Italian Bubbly Prosecco In Production, Taste and Reputation?

Introduction How is the Spanish sparkling wine Cava different from the Italian bubbly Prosecco? What makes Xarel·lo stand out from Spain’s other traditional Cava grapes? How did Alicante’s Monastrell grape give rise to the rare Fondillón wine, and what makes it different from Port or Sherry? In this episode of the Unreserved Wine Talk podcast, I’m chatting with Sarah Jane Evans, author of the terrific new book The Wines of Central and Southern Spain: From Catalunya to Cadiz. You can find the wines we discussed here.   Giveaway Two of you are going to win a copy of Sarah Jane Evans’ wonderful new […]

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How Is The Spanish Sparkling Wine Cava Different From The Italian Bubbly Prosecco Iin Production, Taste and Reputation?

Introduction How is the Spanish sparkling wine Cava different from the Italian bubbly Prosecco? What makes Xarel·lo stand out from Spain’s other traditional Cava grapes? How did Alicante’s Monastrell grape give rise to the rare Fondillón wine, and what makes it different from Port or Sherry? In this episode of the Unreserved Wine Talk podcast, I’m chatting with Sarah Jane Evans, author of the terrific new book The Wines of Central and Southern Spain: From Catalunya to Cadiz. You can find the wines we discussed here.   Giveaway Two of you are going to win a copy of Sarah Jane Evans’ wonderful new […]

The post How Is The Spanish Sparkling Wine Cava Different From The Italian Bubbly Prosecco Iin Production, Taste and Reputation? appeared first on Natalie MacLean.

Best LCBO Wine Reviews: Vintages Ratings: October 11, 2025

  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  September 27th  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 […]

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Roero: Piedmont’s Hidden Wine Gem Sparkles With Arneis and Nebbiolo

  By Carolyn Hetke   The first time I tasted Arneis wine was at a trade tasting in Toronto. It made an immediate impression and I enthusiastically took note of the varietal. So I was delighted when I had the opportunity to visit the Roero wine region in Piedmont, Italy. Roero is the only region that produces Arneis and is also home to its own unique expression of Nebbiolo wines.   Roero wine region, situated in Italy’s north-west Piedmont region, is burgeoning with pride, passion and ambition following its promotion to DOCG status and recognition of its 134 menzioni geografiche […]

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How Does the Biggest Misconception About Spanish Wine Make It a Hidden Gem for Wine Lovers? Sarah Jane Evans Reveals This and More in Her New Book

Introduction How does the biggest misconception about Spanish wine make it a hidden gem for wine lovers? How did Spain’s civil war and period of dictatorship delay the growth of its wine culture? What makes the vineyards of Priorat challenging to walk and unforgettable to visit? In this episode of the Unreserved Wine Talk podcast, I’m chatting with Sarah Jane Evans, author of the terrific new book The Wines of Central and Southern Spain: From Catalunya to Cadiz. You can find the wines we discussed here.   Giveaway Two of you are going to win a copy of Sarah Jane Evans’ wonderful […]

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How Much of Wine’s Taste Is Shaped By Psychology? Dr. Alex Maltman Reveals The Surprising Evidence

Introduction How much of what we perceive about the taste of wine is actually shaped by psychology? Are vineyard soils important contributors to a wine’s tasting profile? Why do so many wine producers highlight their soils as a unique factor that makes their wines stand out? Where do the “minerals” we taste in wine originate from? In this episode of the Unreserved Wine Talk podcast, I’m chatting with Dr. Alex Maltman, author of the new book Taste the Limestone, Smell the Slate: A Geologist Wanders Through the World of Wine. You can find the wines we discussed here.   Giveaway Two of you […]

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Prà di Bosso – A Lambrusco That Drew the Line

  In the rolling hills and fertile plains of Emilia-Romagna, Lambrusco has always been more than wine. It’s a daily companion to meals, a spark of joy at family gatherings, and a tie that binds communities together. Among all the versions of this beloved red sparkler, Prà di Bosso from Casali Viticultori stands apart as a landmark in the region’s winemaking story.   Why the Name Matters   The phrase Prà di Bosso translates roughly to “Field of Boxwood.” Centuries ago, boxwood plants were used to mark vineyard boundaries. That same sense of definition carries through in the wine itself. […]

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