Natalie MacLean's Blog, page 51
July 12, 2022
Best LCBO Wine Reviews: Vintages Ratings July 16
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 18th. 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 […]
10 Best Zinfandel Wines to Buy Now + 5 Surprising Facts about Zinfandel
In our latest Facebook Live Video chat, we chat about the robust red wine Zinfandel. What makes it different from other red wines? How is it related to the Italian red wine Primitivo? What foods pair best with Zinfandel? What’s the group Zinfandel Advocates and Producers (ZAP) all about, and International Zinfandel Day on November 19? You can click on the arrow above to play the video. Zinfandel is a vitis vinifera red wine grape that produces deep robust wines, most famously from California. You’ll find my most recent Zinfandel reviews and ratings here. Surprising Facts about Zinfandel: […]
July 5, 2022
The 3 Biggest Forces Changing Your Wine Now with Mike Veseth, author of Wine Wars II: The Global Battle for the Soul of Wine
Introduction Which three forces have shaped the evolution of the modern wine market more than any others? What is a wine economist? How have the wine industry and wine buyers evolved in the past 10 years? How does that impact the wines you drink? In this episode of the Unreserved Wine Talk podcast, I’m chatting with author and editor of The Wine Economist newsletter, Mike Veseth. 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 […]
July 1, 2022
Stories Behind Family-Owned Canadian Wineries (Video)
Welcome back. The long weekend is almost here and if you’re looking for vino to sip on, our next guest has you covered with her amazing recommendations! Here to highlight some family-owned vineyards from across the country is Natalie MacLean, who offers Canada’s most popular online wine classes. Hi Natalie! Natalie, we love getting your wonderful wine recommendations but before we get to talking about the specific vineyards you’re going to highlight today, can you tell us a bit about the wine production in Canada? • There are four major regions in Canada that produce wines made from grapes: […]
June 28, 2022
Oregon’s Undiscovered White Wines & How Soil Changes Wine Taste with Eugenia Keegan
Introduction How has Oregon white wine evolved since it was first produced? Which elements make up the “classic Oregon” style of wine? How do different types of soil express themselves in wine? In this episode of the Unreserved Wine Talk podcast, I’m chatting with entrepreneur and winemaker, Eugenia Keegan. 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 together […]
Best LCBO Wine Reviews: Online Exclusives Vintages Release Ratings June 30th
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 4th. 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 […]
June 27, 2022
Pairing Canadian Wine with Salmon, Crab, Lobster (Video)
The long weekend is coming up, and you might be celebrating with a glass of Canadian wine or two, but what should you pair with your vino? Here with her tips is Natalie MacLean, who offers Canada’s most popular online wine classes at nataliemaclean.com So we’re going to start on the west coast Natalie. What do you recommend? We’ll start with this lovely, zesty Sauvignon Blanc from Red Rooster Winery, nestled high above Okanagan Lake on the Naramata Bench in the Okanagan Valley. It has crisp, fresh aromas of lime zest and lemon sunshine. Red […]
Pairing Canadian Wine with Poutine, Smoked Meat, Tourtiere
We’re back with more Canadian wines and dishes to help you celebrate your long weekend. Natalie, you’re taking us to Quebec next. What do you recommend? We can’t talk about Quebec wine and cuisine without talking about poutine. Few Canadian dishes are as iconic as this bowl of crispy fries and squeaky cheese curds with a generous ladling of gravy over it. I’d pair this dish with a Quebec Rosé that’ll cut through the wonderful richness of this dish and maybe even help clean out your arteries afterwards. This one from Domaine Pelchat in Quebec’s Eastern […]
June 21, 2022
Oregon Wines, History and Future with Eugenia Keegan of Jackson Family Wines
Introduction Are you curious about what makes Oregon unique from other wine regions? How could climate change impact winemaking? What can we learn from the youngest generation in the wine industry? In this episode of the Unreserved Wine Talk podcast, I’m chatting with Eugenia Keegan, a winemaker and pioneering legend in the wine industry. 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 […]
June 19, 2022
5 Best Father’s Day Book-an-Bottle Gift Sets
Father’s Day is this Sunday, and you might like to toast dad with a glass of wine or two, but what should you pair with your vino beyond BBQ? How about some terrific books? Here with her tips is Natalie MacLean, who offers Canada’s most popular online wine classes at nataliemaclean.com. What are you recommending first? I have Hockey 365, The Second Period: More Daily Stories from the Ice by Mike Commito. Remind dad of why he loves hockey every day of the year, not just during the play-offs. Whether you are a Canadiens fan or a long-suffering […]
