A recent Globe & Mail report says that women have been driving wine sales up over the past decade. As a woman who writes about wine, it doesn’t surprise me given that wine is the drink of conversation, to be savored and enjoyed with friends over dinner rather than knocked back as shots in a bar. I get several hundred e-mails every day from the 326,000 subscribers to my wine e-newsletter, many of them from women asking about how to pair wine with food or how to serve it (glass, temperature etc). Women are still largely the the social planners, […]
Marketing Women
Women’s Wines: Are They Pink Plonk?
Pretty in pink is a common theme. As are images of stilettos, vamp red lips, long limbs and sexy cocktail parties. In a bid to corner the chick wine market while at the same time helping women overcome their supposed fear of buying wine, wineries around the globe are tarting up their labels with a wink towards debaucherous girls’ nights out – rebranding or creating new blends with names such as Strut, Bitch and Pink. “I’m always skeptical of marketing-driven wines,” says Natalie MacLean, editor of Canada’s largest wine review site. “Authentic wine has its roots in the ground, not […]
Men Versus Women Winemakers: Battle of the Bottles?
In honour of International Women’s Day, we chatted with one of Canada’s best winemakers, Ann Sperling, who just happens to be a woman ;) You can click on the arrow above to watch our interview. You can also read more than 75 comments here: https://www.facebook.com/pg/natdecants/posts We discussed Ann’s pioneering work with biodynamic and organic viticulture, her various vineyards across Canada and in Argentina, and her own approach to winemaking. Want to get one of Ann’s wines? You have a wide choice: Southbrook, Versado, Sperling Vineyards and she has consulted for Benjamin Bridge. You’ll also find the specific wines we tasted […]
Video: Wine Supertasters, Vinotype Quiz and Your Taste in Wine?
On CTV’s The Social yesterday, we chatted about how to find your Vinotype, or taste in wine. Click the arrow above to play the video. We also discussed what a Supertaster is: “Someone who lives in a neon taste world,” according to researcher Linda Bartoshuk, “whose taste sensations are roughly three times as intense to them as non-tasters.” I’ve also heard compared to having 500 fingers rather than 10. So yes, I was tested, did the blue dye tongue test and measurements with Tim Hanni in California (see our video chat below). You can take Tim’s quiz to find your vinotype […]
What is a Wine Witch and Why Use it in a Book Title? I Share Why on The Wonderful World of Wine Podcast
Introduction Which Canadian wine regions should you add to your must-try and must-visit lists? What makes some of the wine designations and certifications problematic? Why do stories about witches run through my new book Wine Witch on Fire? In this episode of the Unreserved Wine Talk podcast, I’m being interviewed by Mark Lenzi and Kim Simone, hosts of The Wonderful World of Wine Podcast. 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 […]
New South African Wines and Pinotage Misconceptions with Dr. Winnie Bowman
Introduction Are you curious about new South African wine styles and regions to try? What do most people misunderstand about Pinotage wine? Is it really necessary to spit when doing a wine tasting? In this episode of the Unreserved Wine Talk podcast, I’m chatting with international wine and spirit judge Dr. Winnie Bowman. 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 […]
Should You Buy Wines Based on Competition Medals? Dr. Winnie Bowman, Cape Wine Master, Has Thoughts
Introduction What is a Cape Wine Master? Should you buy wines based on medals won from competitions? What does the future of wine recommendations look like? In this episode of the Unreserved Wine Talk podcast, I’m chatting with international wine and spirit judge, Dr. Winnie Bowman. 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 we watch it together so that […]
Can Artificial Intelligence (AI) Give Good Wine & Food Pairing Tips? Dina Blikshteyn Shares Surprising Insights
Introduction How can you use AI to get wine and food pairing advice? Will using AI make wine styles and flavours less diverse? Will AI replace wine writers? In this episode of the Unreserved Wine Talk podcast, I’m chatting with Dina Blikshteyn, a lawyer who specializes in how artificial intelligence and machine learning is changing the wine world. Note: Our discussion is not intended to be a substitute for professional legal advice and is for informational purposes only. You can find the wines we discussed here. Join me on Instagram, Facebook and YouTube Live Video Join the live-stream video of this […]
How Artificial Intelligence (AI) Will Change the Wines Your Drink with Dina Blikshteyn
Introduction Are you curious how artificial intelligence will change the wines you drink? What’s the difference between AI-based technology and existing automated machines? Will AI eventually replace most people working in the vineyard? In this episode of the Unreserved Wine Talk podcast, I’m chatting with Dina Blikshteyn, a lawyer who specializes in how artificial intelligence and machine learning is changing the wine world. Note: Our discussion is not intended to be a substitute for professional legal advice and is for informational purposes only. You can find the wines we discussed here. Join me on Instagram, Facebook and YouTube Live Video Join […]
Why I Don’t Review Bad Wines with Luke Whittall of the Sipster’s Wine Podcast
Introduction Why do I not review bad wines? What’s the difference between sexist, sexy and sensual writing whether it’s in wine tasting notes or beyond? What are the big differences between wine reviews and articles, and what value does each form give to readers? In this episode of the Unreserved Wine Talk podcast, I’m being interviewed by Luke Whittall, host of The Sipster’s Wine Podcast. 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 […]
