Interesting review and discussion here of several wine books that focus on bargain wines from the wine columnist for the Washington Post… Someone has declared war on wine. I think it’s the Tea Party. One salvo came from Slate, which used to be known for intelligent wine writing until it fired its wine writer, Michael Steinberger. Early this month, Slate published an essay by Brian Palmer under the headline, Drink Cheap Wine. (Palmer has probed other searing questions for Slate such as why Americans don’t eat horse meat and why some people pee themselves and others don’t.) Palmer quotes a […]
Books: Wine
Canadian Wine Writer Pens New Bestseller – Wine Access Magazine
Wondering what to get for your favourite wine lover this holiday season? Consider a copy of Canadian wine writer Natalie MacLean’s new book. The book, Unquenchable: A Tipsy Quest for the World’s Best Bargain Wines, chronicles MacLean’s lively forays into wine regions and interviews with some of the world’s top winemakers, both familiar (Australia’s Wolf Blass) to less-known but equally influential (Italy’s Andrea Franchetti); the book is already on bestseller lists across Canada. Her award-winning first book, “Red, White and Drunk All Over,” was also a bestseller. It was published in 2006 in seven countries and several languages. In addition […]
Unquenchable Becomes a Page-Turner after Reading a few Pages – Winesworld’s Magazine
Unquenchable is packed with colourful stories about passionate personalities who inhabit the world of wine, award-winning writer Natalie travelled to Germany, Australia, Argentina, Chile, South Africa, and the Niagara region in Ontario in search of in-depth knowledge and value bottles. After all, she is of Scottish origin, and cannot resist a bargain. She conveys her deep love and knowledge about wine (she worked as a sommelier, as a cellar hand, and has been involved with wine for a few decades) in her witty writing style. The narrative is so captivating that Unquenchable becomes a page-turner after reading a few pages […]
Engaging, Lively and Informative Wine Writing for the Wine Novice – Dave’s Travel Corner
Join wine writer Natalie MacLean’s wine and travel world as she jets from one continent to another, from one wine region to the next exploring her passion for wine and highlighting some of the best values out there. Her style of writing is engaging, lively, and informative to the wine novice and educated consumer alike. She meets with owners and winemakers and explores the “stories” behind the wine. The book highlights the uniqueness, differences, and challenges that winemakers face in their respective regions. It is a wine book with truly a global perspective. At the end of each chapter/region Natalie […]
Chuckling at her Funny Tales, Captured by the Unique History of each Winery – Cookbooks and Apps
Don’t get me wrong… I love to drink wine. That said, I am definitely not a connoisseur, just one of those people who may not know about wines, or even want to really learn all the ins and outs of the various grapes, the distinctive wine making processes, or any of the other facts that real wine aficionados savour as much as the flavour. I’m one of those who hopes that the person selling the wine, really knows what will be the perfect choice for the dinner I’m preparing. The subtitle says it best “A Tipsy Quest for the World’s […]
Wine History and Definitions are Subtly Slipped into the Stories – San Francisco Bay Guardian
My recent flights overseas required some serious reading, and finishing Natalie Maclean’s new Unquenchable: A Tipsy Quest for the World’s Best Bargain Wines (www.nataliemaclean.com) helped a 10-hour flight pass quickly. Each section hits a different part of the world in search of high quality, value wines. From South Africa to Sicily, wine terms and history are subtly slipped into stories about individual winemakers and pairing recipes. A cheery book cover belies Ms. Maclean’s skill with imagery (she’s won the M.F.K. Fisher Distinguished Writing Award and four James Beard Foundation Journalism Awards). For example, in her particularly engaging chapter on German […]
Good Wine Doesn’t Have to be Expensive – Real Moms Love to Eat
Around the World in 8 Days: A Wine Guide That Gets It Right I’m no wine snob, but I can appreciate a good glass of…basically whatever my husband might hand to me. He’s even invested in a wine cooler so he can keep bottles stored at the right pressure and temperature. But do either of us know all the right words to use when describing it? Could we hold our own in a room filled with real wine connoisseurs? Not a chance, unless it involved talking with one of my new favorite writers, Natalie MacLean. This gal is a wine […]
A Wine Book with a Light, Funny and Conversational Style
If you are already thinking about the holidays and gift giving for wine lovers, I’ve got a recommendation. How about another book written by bestselling and award winning wine authority, Natalie MacLean? A few years ago I wrote a piece about a new wine book entitled, Red, White and Drunk All Over, by Natalie MacLean. I have known MacLean for many years through the Wine Writer’s Circle of Canada. Her first book was exceptionally well written and funny. I proclaimed to MacLean on many occasions, “Nat, you need to write a sequel!” (I’m sure that I’m not the only person […]
Crack a Bottle and a Book: Literary Gifts for Wine Lovers – Santa Barbara News-Press
While others across the country are imbibing in spiked eggnog, Santa Barbara County in particular will see wine lovers popping their favorite bottles during the holidays. Now come Christmas, when they open that pinot noir or pinot gris, they can enjoy it while drinking in one of the following wine titles they found under the tree. Unquenchable, subtitled “A Tipsy Quest for the World’s Best Bargain Wines,” by Natalie MacLean is a wine travelogue of sorts, detailing the author’s worldwide search for tasty but affordable everyday wines. Her search leads to the wine cellars, tasting rooms and dining tables in […]
Readable, Instructive, and Entertaining Book – New Jersey Monthly
If someone on your list thirsts for a readable, instructive, and entertaining book about wine, consider Unquenchable: A Tipsy Quest for the World’s Best Bargain Wines by Natalie MacLean. MacLean, a winner of four James Beard Foundation journalism awards, writes about her encounters and wine tasting experiences from around the world. Each chapter lists insider notes, best values, and recipes. Available at bookstores and online at www.nataliemaclean.com. You can read more reviews of my new wine book Unquenchable here.
