Natalie MacLean's Blog, page 7
February 13, 2025
Cupid’s Crush: What’s the Best Wine for Each Stage of a Relationship?
Have you ever wondered which wines pair best with the roller coaster of romance? From first dates to final goodbyes, we’re exploring wines that match every stage of your love life. Joining us today is Natalie MacLean who offers Canada’s most popular online wine classes at nataliemaclean.com. Welcome, Natalie. Great to be back with you! My motto for Valentine’s Day is candy is dandy and liquor is quicker – but wine is divine. Let’s start with first dates. What wine would you recommend for those nerve-wracking initial encounters? Romeo […]
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February 12, 2025
Best LCBO Wine Reviews: Vintages Ratings February 15, 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 February 1st. 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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February 11, 2025
Why are Languedoc Wines Capturing Worldwide Attention? Rosemary George Tells the Story
Introduction What makes the Languedoc particularly well-suited for organic viticulture? How have the wines of the Languedoc evolved since the 70s? How do the wines of the Languedoc region of southern France differ from neighbouring Roussillon? In this episode of the Unreserved Wine Talk podcast, I’m chatting with Rosemary George You can find the wines we discussed here. Giveaway Two of you are going to win a copy of her terrific book, Wines of the Languedoc. 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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Forget Roses: Which Wines Say “I Love You”?
Have you ever wondered which wines pair best with the roller coaster of romance? From first dates to final goodbyes, we’re exploring wines that match every stage of your love life. Joining us today is Natalie MacLean who offers Canada’s most popular online wine classes at nataliemaclean.com. Welcome, Natalie. Great to be back with you, Crystal! My motto for Valentine’s Day is candy is dandy and liquor is quicker – but wine is divine. Let’s start with first dates. What wine would you recommend for those nerve-wracking initial encounters? Lenz Moser […]
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February 4, 2025
Why Did Greece Have the First Sommeliers, Wine Tastings and Writers? Konstantinos Lazarakis Reveals the Answers
Introduction What are some of the significant contributions that Greece has made to the world of wine? How does the Greek volcanic island of Santorini produce wines of stunning depth and freshness at the same time? How are Greek wines shifting the perspective on what’s possible for warm climate wines? In this episode of the Unreserved Wine Talk podcast, I’m chatting with Master of Wine Konstantinos Lazarakis. You can find the wines we discussed here. Giveaway Two of you are going to win a copy of his terrific book, The Wines of Greece. How to Win To qualify, all you […]
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January 29, 2025
Dry January: A Shift Toward Alcohol-Free Wines and the ‘Dry-ish’ Trend
The start of 2025 brings a shift in drinking habits, with a new movement called “Dry January.” It’s gaining popularity with those seeking reduce or eliminate alcohol consumption while still enjoying the occasional glass or two. Joining us today is Natalie MacLean who offers Canada’s most popular online wine classes at nataliemaclean.com. Welcome, Natalie! Great to be back with you, Mona! I’m thrilled to chat about wines that have great taste without the alcoholic heft. Tell us about the scale of this movement. The numbers are revealing – 46% of Generation Z embraced Dry January […]
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January 28, 2025
What are the Surprising Wines and Regions of Greece? Konstantinos Lazarakis Shares His Favourites
Introduction What makes wine worth waiting for? How much wine is produced in Greece? What would surprise you about the wines of Greece? In this episode of the Unreserved Wine Talk podcast, I’m chatting with Konstantinos Lazarakis, author of the new book The Wines of Greece. You can find the wines we discussed here. Giveaway Two of you are going to win a copy of his terrific book, The Wines of Greece. 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 of the podcast. It […]
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Best LCBO Wine Reviews: Vintages Ratings February 1, 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 January 18th. 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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January 27, 2025
BNN Bloomberg: How is the wine industry responding to the Dry January trend?
As we kick off the new year, many Canadians are looking to make healthier choices. There’s a growing trend called Dry-ish January for those who want to either moderate or eliminate their alcohol consumption. Joining us today is Natalie MacLean who offers Canada’s most popular online wine classes at nataliemaclean.com. Welcome, Natalie! Great to be with you, Amanda! How big is this trend? Market research shows that 46% of Gen Z participated in Dry January last year, with Millennials and Gen X at about 20%. Even more are choosing “Dry-ish” or “Damp” January […]
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January 21, 2025
Why is Chardonnay the Winemaker’s Grape + What a Family Brand Means with Chris Benziger
Introduction Why is Chardonnay the one grape that is equally made in the vineyards and the winery? What’s the difference between biodynamic and regenerative farming? What does it mean to be part of a family brand of wine? In this episode of the Unreserved Wine Talk podcast, I’m chatting with Chris Benziger You can find the wines we discussed here. Giveaway Three of you are going to win a bottle of one of his spectacular wines from California (open to Canadian residents only). How to Win To qualify, all you have to do is email me at natalie@nataliemaclean.com and let me know […]
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