Splendid Vin Jaune, Jura Wine’s Wild Variety and Mysterious Grapes of the French Alps with Wink Lorch

Introduction What makes Vin Jaune from France’s Jura region so special? What can you discover about the diversity of wine coming out of Jura and the French Alps? What are some insider tips for planning a journey to the French Alps? In this episode of the Unreserved Wine Talk podcast, I’m chatting with author Wink Lorch. You can find the wines we discussed here.   Giveaway One of you will win a copy of Wink Lorch’s terrific book about the wines of Jura and the French Alps.   How to Win To qualify, all you have to do is email me at [email protected] and […]

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Wines of Jura and the French Alps with Wink Lorch: From Ski Resorts to Worldwide Sensation

Introduction What is it about wines from the French Alps and Jura that makes them so different from any other wine region in the world? How has climate change impacted wines in the region? How did their perception as “ski resort wines” negatively impact Jura and Savoie wineries? In this episode of the Unreserved Wine Talk podcast, I’m chatting with author Wink Lorch. You can find the wines we discussed here.   Giveaway One of you will win a copy of Wink Lorch’s terrific book about the wines of Jura and the French Alps.   How to Win To qualify, all […]

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Dazzling Beaujolais Food Pairings and Wild Indigenous Yeast Flavours with Natasha Hughes

Introduction Why are Beaujolais wines so versatile when it comes to food pairing? How are younger producers bringing renewed optimism to Beaujolais? What is indigenous fermentation, and how does it contribute to the complexity of Beaujolais wines? In this episode of the Unreserved Wine Talk podcast, I’m chatting with Master of Wine and author, Natasha Hughes. You can find the wines we discussed here.   Giveaway One of you will win a copy of a terrific, new book to which Natasha Hughes is a contributor- On Burgundy: From Maddening to Marvellous in 59 Tales.   How to Win To qualify, all you […]

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The Surprising Complexity of Beaujolais with Natasha Hughes, Contributor to On Burgundy: From Maddening to Marvellous in 59 Tales

Introduction What’s behind the surprising complexity and variety of Beaujolais wines? How has Beaujolais Nouveau distorted the public perception of Beaujolais? What makes Beaujolais such a good value wine? In this episode of the Unreserved Wine Talk podcast, I’m chatting with Master of Wine and author, Natasha Hughes. You can find the wines we discussed here.   Giveaway One of you will win a copy of a terrific, new book to which Natasha Hughes is a contributor- On Burgundy: From Maddening to Marvellous in 59 Tales.   How to Win To qualify, all you have to do is email me at [email protected] and let […]

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Delicious Vegan Wine Pairings with Jennifer Huether and Priya Rao, Authors of The Social Herbivore

Introduction Which wineries are leading the way with vegan wines? How are some restaurants expanding into innovative vegan or vegetarian menus? What makes Riesling so versatile, especially with vegan dishes? In this episode of the Unreserved Wine Talk podcast, I’m chatting with Jennifer Huether and Priya Rao, authors of The Social Herbivore: Perfect Pairings For Plant-Based Cuisine. You can find the wines we discussed here.   Giveaway One of you is going to win a copy of Priya Rao & Jennifer Huether’s terrific book, The Social Herbivore: Perfect Pairings For Plant-Based Cuisine – the first book ever on plant-based food and wine matching. […]

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What Are Vegan Wines & Are They Better for You with Jennifer Huether and Priya Rao

Introduction Are vegan wines better for our health? What three aspects of a wine determine whether it’s vegan or not? How can you identify whether or not a wine is vegan by looking at the label? In this episode of the Unreserved Wine Talk podcast, I’m chatting with Jennifer Huether and Priya Rao, authors of The Social Herbivore: Perfect Pairings For Plant-Based Cuisine. You can find the wines we discussed here.   Giveaway One of you is going to win a copy of Priya Rao & Jennifer Huether’s terrific book, The Social Herbivore: Perfect Pairings For Plant-Based Cuisine – the first book ever […]

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The Golden Rule to Buy Burgundy & Avoid High Prices with Raymond Blake, Author of Côte d’Or

Introduction How did the French region of Burgundy come to the world’s attention as a wine region in the first place? What’s the golden rule for buying Burgundy, especially Pinot Noir? What’s behind the sometimes eye-watering stratospheric prices of Burgundian wines? In this episode of the Unreserved Wine Talk podcast, I’m chatting with one of Ireland’s leading wine writers, Raymond Blake. You can find the wines we discussed here.   Giveaway One of you is going to win a copy of On Burgundy: From Maddening to Marvellous in 59 Wine Tales, to which Raymond Blake contributed three essays. Two of you will […]

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Women Drive Wine Sales Up: Liquid Profits

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, […]

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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 […]

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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 […]

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