Introduction What makes the Rioja region of Spain a must-visit destination for wine lovers? What are the best food pairings for Rioja wines? What’s the sticky history behind the Battle of Wine festival in La Rioja? In this episode of the Unreserved Wine Talk podcast, I’m chatting with Adam Lechmere, editor of The Smart Traveler’s Wine Guide to Rioja, among other books in this series. You can find the wines we discussed here. Giveaway Two of you will win a copy of the terrific new book, The Smart Traveller’s Wine Guide to Rioja, written by Fintan Kerr and edited by our […]
Wine Tasting Notes
The Rise of Southwestern Ontario Wines with Martin Janz, Winemaker at Pelee Island Winery
Introduction Why is winemaking always a challenge, no matter how long you’ve been doing it? How are wind machines used to mitigate the negative impact of cold weather? How does Pelee Island’s biodiversity influence the brand and winery? Why is it important for winemakers to respect the natural environment? In this episode of the Unreserved Wine Talk podcast, I’m chatting with Martin Janz, the chief winemaker at Pelee Island Winery in Southwestern Ontario. You can find the wines we discussed here. Giveaway Three of you will each win a fabulous bottle of LOLA Light Rosé from Pelee Island Winery. How to […]
How Alcohol Fuels Innovation and Group Cohesion with Edward Slingerland
Introduction What is the connection between alcohol and innovation? How does alcohol improve the quality of group brainstorming? Why is it important not to think about alcohol consumption through a medical lens alone? In this episode of the Unreserved Wine Talk podcast, I’m chatting with Edward Slingerland, a professor of philosophy at the University of British Columbia and the author of Drunk: How We Sipped, Danced, and Stumbled Our Way to Civilization. You can find the wines we discussed here. Giveaway Two of you will win a copy of his terrific book, Drunk: How We Sipped, Danced, and Stumbled Our […]
How Wine Fosters Creativity, Trust and Sociability with Edward Slingerland, Author of Drunk: How We Sipped, Danced, and Stumbled Our Way to Civilization
Introduction How does alcohol, especially wine, foster our creativity, trustingness, and sociability? What does the “beer before bread” hypothesis suggest about alcohol’s role in the development of civilization? Should there be different minimum drinking ages for wine and beer versus spirits? In this episode of the Unreserved Wine Talk podcast, I’m chatting with Edward Slingerland, a professor of philosophy at the University of British Columbia and the author of Drunk: How We Sipped, Danced, and Stumbled Our Way to Civilization. You can find the wines we discussed here. Giveaway Two of you will win a copy of his terrific book, […]
Beyond Eurocentric Wine and Food Pairings + Sonoma’s Hidden Gems with Winemaker Theresa Heredia
Introduction Why should you look beyond Eurocentric wine and food pairings? What’s so special about making vineyard-designated wines? How can you get the most out of your next trip to Sonoma County? In this episode of the Unreserved Wine Talk podcast, I’m chatting with superstar winemaker Theresa Heredia who has worked for some of California’s most prestigious wineries. You can find the wines we discussed here. Giveaway One of you will win a bottle of Gary Farrell wine. How to Win To qualify, all you have to do is email me at [email protected] and let me know that you’ve posted a review […]
Unrivaled Russian River Pinot Noir and Sonoma Wines with Theresa Heredia of Gary Farrell Winery
Introduction Does harvesting wine based on the biodynamic calendar make sense? What about actually drinking the wine based on the lunar cycle? How does fog play a profound role in growing grapes and winemaking in the Russian River Valley of Sonoma, California? Why do some winemakers add Mega Purple to wine, and what the heck is Mega Purple? In this episode of the Unreserved Wine Talk podcast, I’m chatting with superstar winemaker Theresa Heredia who has worked for some of California’s most prestigious wineries. You can find the wines we discussed here. Giveaway One of you will win a bottle of […]
Glorious Ontario Wines and the Stubborn, Pathological Optimists Who Make Them with Matthew Gaughan
Introduction Why do Ontario winemakers need to be exceptionally unreasonable, stubborn, and pathological optimists? Which Ontario wines should you try next, other than Icewine? Why should Ontario be at the top of your list of wine regions to visit? In this episode of the Unreserved Wine Talk podcast, I’m being interviewed by Matthew Gaughan on Matthew’s World of Wine and Drink. 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 […]
Riesling’s Big Personality and Germany’s Hidden Wine Gems with Anne Krebiehl
Introduction How do the soils of Germany change the expression of Riesling in your glass? What would surprise you about the size and of German wine production in relation to other leading wine-producing countries? How is climate change dramatically changing the way Germany cultivates vines? In this episode of the Unreserved Wine Talk podcast, I’m chatting with author Anne Krebiehl. You can find the wines we discussed here. Giveaway One of you will win a copy of Anne Krebiehl’s terrific book, The Wines of Germany. How to Win To qualify, all you have to do is email me at [email protected] and let […]
Untangling German Wine Styles, Laws and Mysteries with Anne Krebiehl, Author of The Wines of Germany
Introduction Why has German beer been so much more successful marketing-wise than German wine in foreign markets, particularly in the U.K. and North America? How does German law make it complex to navigate the country’s wines for consumers? What is selective harvesting, and why is it fundamental to understanding German wine? In this episode of the Unreserved Wine Talk podcast, I’m chatting with author Anne Krebiehl. You can find the wines we discussed here. Giveaway One of you will win a copy of Anne Krebiehl’s terrific book, The Wines of Germany. How to Win To qualify, all you […]
How Pigs, Sheep and Bats Help in the Vineyard with Wine Writer Sophie Menin
Introduction Why are pigs roaming up and down the rows of more and more vineyards? Do biodynamic preparations really help vineyards by treating them more holistically or is this junk science? How does fog help vineyards, especially in Napa and Sonoma? In this episode of the Unreserved Wine Talk podcast, I’m chatting with author Sophie Menin. You can find the wines we discussed here. Giveaway Three of you will win a copy of Sophie Menin and Bob Chaplin’s terrific new book, A Year In The Vineyard. How to Win To qualify, all you have to do is email me […]
