Click on the image above to play the video We’re all becoming more conscious of the impact of our purchases, and that includes what we pour into our glasses. Many wineries and distilleries are leading the way, combining exceptional taste with sustainability and community support. 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! I think of these wines and spirits as drinking with a conscience — we get to feel virtuous and tipsy at the same time. That’s […]
Best Wines
How Can You Improve Your Sense of Smell with Wine? Johannes Frasnelli Has Great Tips
Introduction How can you train your sense of smell? Why does smelling require much more focus than our other senses? What is retronasal olfaction and why is it so important when it comes to enjoying wine? In this episode of the Unreserved Wine Talk podcast, I’m chatting with author Johannes Frasnelli. 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 […]
Smell, the Cinderella Sense, Goes Full Princess on Wine with Johannes Frasnelli
Introduction Why is smell, often called the Cinderella sense, so underrated in our culture, especially when many luxury products, such as wine, spirits and perfume, are based on it? Even though dogs have more than twice the number of scent receptors than humans, why are we better at detecting wine aromas? What might surprise you about how we perceive the senses of taste and smell? Why is the sense of smell so evocative compared to other senses? In this episode of the Unreserved Wine Talk podcast, I’m chatting with Johannes Frasnelli, a physician and a professor focused on the sense of smell. You […]
Best LCBO Wine Reviews: Vintages Ratings November 16, 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 November 2nd. 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 […]
Women, Wine and Health: The Good News with Tony Edwards
Introduction What might surprise you about the impact of alcohol on heart disease? How can wine drinkers reduce the risk of certain cancers with one supplement? Does wine help protect against cognitive decline and dementia? Why do some organizations make extreme recommendations for eliminating alcohol? In this episode of the Unreserved Wine Talk podcast, I’m chatting with author Tony Edwards. You can find the wines we discussed here. Giveaway Three of you will win a copy of his terrific new book, The Very Good News About Wine. How to Win To qualify, all you have to do is email me at [email protected] and […]
4 Wines for Your Bored Taste Buds: Uncork the Unexpected
Are you stuck in a wine rut, buying the same bottle over and over? Well, it’s time to shake things up and explore the wonderful world of wine alternatives. Joining us today is Natalie MacLean who offers Canada’s most popular online wine classes at nataliemaclean.com. Welcome, Natalie. Thanks for having me! I’m excited to play the wine edition game of “If This, Then That,” similar to how bookstore websites recommend a new novel based on what you’ve purchased previously, but always with a twist. I like to call it Wine Tinder, less ghosting, more toasting […]
10 Best Merlot Wines to Buy Now + 5 Surprising Facts about Merlot
Merlot became a brand name wine in the 1980s because of its smooth, rich, easy-drinking flavors and texture. It has less acidity and astringency (that furry mouth feeling from tannins) than many other grapes and a medium-body that appeals to many palates. Reif Estate Winery First Growth Merlot Niagara River, Ontario V.Q.A., Canada You’ll find my Top 10 Merlot reviews and ratings here. Merlot has since been somewhat vilified, like Chardonnay, for being boring: the soft jazz of the wine world. Remember Miles’ scorn for Merlot in the movie Sideways? […]
10 Best Tempranillo Wines to Buy Now + 5 Surprising Facts about Tempranillo
Tempranillo is a native grape from Spain, and many believe, the most important grape for Spanish wine. The name Tempranillo comes from the Spanish word “temprano” which means “early” and is a reference to the fact that this grape ripens earliest of all other grapes in the country. You’ll find my most recent Tempranillo reviews and ratings here. 5 Surprising Facts about Tempranillo: 1. Tempranillo is most commonly known as Tempranillo, but it does have as many synonyms, as there are dialects of Spanish. Here are a few more of its names: Tinto Fino, Tinto del Pais, Ull de Llebre, […]
Best LCBO Wine Reviews: Vintages Ratings November 2, 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 October 19th. 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 […]
Does the shape of a wine glass really matter? (Video)
Does the shape of a wine glass really matter? On CTV’s The Social yesterday, we conducted the ultimate taste test with the hosts. Click on the arrow above to play the video. Wines featured in our tasting included: La Marca Prosecco, Veneto D.O.C., Italy Even after I started learning about wine, I’d always secretly believed that varietal-specific stemware was an unnecessary expense, fueled by snobs and glassware companies. Then one evening, a friend poured some Bordeaux for me in a large, elegant glass at a dinner party. As soon as the gorgeous aromas […]
