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 [email protected] and let me know that you’ve posted a review of the podcast. It […]
Food & Wine Pairing
Romantic Pairing: Wine and Chocolate
In this month’s Costco Connection Lifestyle Magazine I chat with the editor about my favourite wine and chocolate pairings for Valentine’s Day. Here are my favourite wines for chocolate in liquor stores now. While many of us like to think we’re going to be creative with our Valentine’s Day gifts this year, let’s be honest. On February 13, we’re going to rush out and purchase our favourite standbys: wine and chocolate. And why shouldn’t we? Everybody likes this duo; they’re wildly delicious and indulgent, and they usually lead to a good time (insert suggestive eyebrow raise here). But what […]
Liquid Seduction: 9 Wines for your Valentine
Candy is dandy, but liquor is quicker. Wine has long been associated with romance. Here are my top 10 wines for Valentine’s Day, not only because of their sexy names, but also because the wine in the bottle is equally as seductive. Fifty Shades Of Grey Red Satin 2011 California, United States No mention of the book that inspired this wine, but no matter, it was launched this month as the liquid seduction tie-in to the book. Of course, there are lots of aromas of fresh and tanned leather on the nose and it’s voluptuously full-bodied … Natalie’s full […]
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 [email protected] and let me know […]
50 Ways to Keep Your Lover: Matching Wine and Chocolate
50 Ways to Keep Your Lover this Valentine’s Day Want to seduce someone this Valentine’s Day? Just share a glass of wine (or three) with your sweetheart. Wine is liquid sensuality: Its heady bouquet stimulates the appetite and its velvet caress soothes that desire. What other drink is described as both ‘voluptuous’ and ‘muscular’? And when you pair wine with the mouth-coating luxury of chocolate, the combination is impossible to resist. The creamy flavors of chocolate go best with sweet, full-bodied, high-alcohol wines. Find wines to complement 50 chocolate dishes in my matching tool at www.nataliemaclean.com/matcher. Just click on “desserts” […]
Wine and Comfort Food Pairing: Revel in Your Rut
Yes, I know that I’m supposed to be forward-looking to spring with a chirpy article about zesty white wines to pair with fresh vegetables, but it’s so cold outside … and I’m tired of writing seasonally-appropriate editorial content. So let’s make wallowing fun, and turn to comfort wines paired with comfort food. In our continuing video series with Canadian Press, we look at quick tips on pairing those old favourites, from braised meat to pasta in cream sauce with wine. It’ll make you (almost) care what time of year it is when you have bottled sunshine. Here are my favourite […]
Pioneer California Biodynamic Winemaking + 100 Adorable Sheep with Chris Benziger
Introduction What was it like to move to biodynamic wine farming at a time when hardly anyone was doing it? What crucial role do 100 adorable sheep play at the Benziger winery? How do biodynamic preparations that might seem a bit “woo” actually benefit the vineyard? What are the benefits of biodynamic farming practices for vine health and wine quality? In this episode of the Unreserved Wine Talk podcast, I’m chatting with Chris Benziger, winemaker with the Benziger family wines in Sonoma, California. You can find the wines we discussed here . Giveaway Three of you are going to win a bottle […]
The Biggest, Most Surprising Wine Myths with Hailey Bohlman
Introduction What’s the important difference between dry wines and the dry feeling you get when tasting certain wines? Do all or even most wines taste better when they’re older? How can you make the most of a trip to Washington wine country? In this episode of the Unreserved Wine Talk podcast, I’m chatting with Hailey Bohlman 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 […]
Video: The Ultimate Guide to Pairing Wine and Chocolate
The hosts of CTV’s The Social and I shared lots of scandalous laughs this week pairing wine and chocolate for Valentine’s Day. Click on the arrow above to play the video. Laurent-Perrier Millésimé Champagne 2007 Champagne A.C., France What’s you favourite pairing? We love chocolate not just for its taste, but also for its sensual texture. Cocoa butter, one of its main ingredients, melts close to body temperature, so sliding a piece into your mouth and feeling it seep out to coat your tongue can almost be orgasmic. Maybe that why’s the […]
8 Sexy Wine + Food Pairings: Aphrodisiac Wines
Pairing wine with aphrodisiac foods sparks a passionate debate on CTV. (It’s never to early too think about it … wine, that is.) We match libido-lifting dishes with different wine types to stimulate all of your senses. Many ingredients have historically been considered aphrodisiacs, sometimes because the food physically resembled male private parts (avocados, which according to the Aztecs, grew on the testicle tree) to their female counterparts (oysters and figs). Other foods, such as chili peppers, provoked the fiery passion of love, with its increased heart beat and sweating. Yet other foods may have contained minerals that increase energy, […]
