Natalie MacLean's Blog, page 25

6 Under-the-Radar Trendy Wines You Need to Try Next

Watch CTV The Social video here   Welcome back everybody. We’re all familiar with wines like Chardonnay and Merlot but there are so many lesser-known grapes out there to discover!     Here to highlight vineyard vanguards to sip this spring is Natalie MacLean who offers Canada’s most popular online food and wine pairing classes. Welcome back, Natalie!   Natalie, before we get to the wine, congratulations are in order because you were selected as the 2024 Canada Wine Champion Award!   It’s presented to an individual who has demonstrated outstanding leadership, commitment and passion for the advancement of the […]

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How to Find the Best Organic Wines: Buying Tips

By Natalie MacLean Who makes organic wine? The number of wineries making organic wines is increasing steadily, with the result that they’re available in a far greater range of styles than ever before. Formerly, they were only the domain of small producers, but now large companies are taking an interest as a way to diversify their offerings and to improve their environmental images. Some of the producers implement some organic principles and not others, some grow organic grapes but don’t make organic wine and still others make both organic and non-organic wines. So check the labels carefully. Why don’t more […]

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Discovering the Secret Side of Malbec Wine

By Priya & Alex, A Vine Romance “Come, let me show you another side of Malbec, my friend.” Winemaker Aurelio Montes Jr. spoke the lovely quote above. What distinguishes him from many of his peers is that he makes wines for consumers rather than for winemakers, because he considers himself “a consumer first and foremost.” Perhaps this is why both of us (Alex, the Sommelier and Priya the casual drinker) were able to enjoy the horizontal tasting of Kaiken wines in Toronto at Nota Bene restaurant last week. Over a lunch spanning a leisurely 3 hours (a lovely Argentinian custom we wish Canadians would […]

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6 Best Spring Wines for Sipping and Drinking (Video)

  Mel As the weather warms up, it’s not just our wardrobes that need a seasonal update, our taste buds crave change too. So cast off those woolly-sweater wines and sip on something light, fresh and new. Here with the wine trends to look out for this spring is Natalie MacLean, who offers Canada’s most popular online wine classes. • Natalie Hello   Lainey We’re starting with a trend that I’m really excited about, Pink Prosecco. Why are they so popular right now? Natalie • Take two already trendy wines—rosé and prosecco—and combine them for a mashup of this season’s […]

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Best LCBO Wine Reviews: Vintages Ratings March 30, 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 March 16th. 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 […]

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The Surprising Complexity of Beaujolais with Natasha Hughes, Contributor to On Burgundy: From Maddening to Marvellous in 59 Tales

Introduction What’s behind the surprising complexity and variety of Beaujolais wines? How has Beaujolais Nouveau distorted the public perception of Beaujolais? What makes Beaujolais such a good value wine? In this episode of the Unreserved Wine Talk podcast, I’m chatting with Master of Wine and author, Natasha Hughes. You can find the wines we discussed here.   Giveaway One of you will win a copy of a terrific, new book to which Natasha Hughes is a contributor- On Burgundy: From Maddening to Marvellous in 59 Tales.   How to Win To qualify, all you have to do is email me at natalie@nataliemaclean.com and let […]

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Will AI Replace Writers and Winemakers? Conversation with Ellen Clifford of The Wine Situation Podcast

Introduction Why don’t I think that artificial intelligence (AI) will replace human writers any time soon? What are some tips you can use for maintaining a healthy relationship with wine? What are some of the challenges women in the wine industry still face? In this episode of the Unreserved Wine Talk podcast, I’m being interviewed by Ellen Clifford on The Wine Situation 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 […]

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From Tech to Terroir: The Long and Wining Road to Championing Canadian Wines

  I’m just back from a wonderful trip to the heart of British Columbia’s wine region, the Okanagan Valley. The journey actually started on January 12th when an email popped into my inbox. Why do all of the biggest changes in my life start with an unexpected email? No matter ;) It was from Dan Paszkowski, President and Chief Executive Officer of Wine Growers Canada, an organization representing 800 wineries across the country. I can now share his confidential note with you. It read: I am delighted to inform you that you have been selected as the 2024 recipient of […]

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Spring Wines for Fish, Shellfish and Seafood

CTV News anchor Natalie Piero and I chat about wines for spring, including those that pair well with both fish and shellfish, as well as those that drink well on their own as an aperitif.   Spring Wines for Fish, Shellfish and Seafood   Host: It’s the Natalie Show today ;) Natalie: Easy to remember. Host: Spring is here finally! Natalie: Yes! Host: And Natalie MacLean is here to talk about some of the spring wines. Natalie: Absolutely! Host: You change what you drink depending on the weather? Natalie: Yes, I do. Like winter wardrobe, get out of those heavy sweaters, get into something lighter, more comfortable. You’ll […]

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Delicious Vegan Wine Pairings with Jennifer Huether and Priya Rao, Authors of The Social Herbivore

Introduction Which wineries are leading the way with vegan wines? How are some restaurants expanding into innovative vegan or vegetarian menus? What makes Riesling so versatile, especially with vegan dishes? In this episode of the Unreserved Wine Talk podcast, I’m chatting with Jennifer Huether and Priya Rao, authors of The Social Herbivore: Perfect Pairings For Plant-Based Cuisine. You can find the wines we discussed here.   Giveaway One of you is going to win a copy of Priya Rao & Jennifer Huether’s terrific book, The Social Herbivore: Perfect Pairings For Plant-Based Cuisine – the first book ever on plant-based food and wine matching. […]

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