Gift Wines and Wines for Turkey Dinner: Global Morning Show

Rosie, Anthony and I chat about great gift wines and wines for turkey dinner and the holidays on Global Morning Show.   Get Natalie’s free Ultimate Guide to Wine & Food Pairing here. It’s free ;)             Freixenet Cordon Negro Brut Cava                                                                                                             […]

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A Day in the Life of Toro Malbec from Argentina

Our team recently tasted Toro Centenario Malbec from Mendoza, Argentina. We’re sharing our reviews of this terrific, value-priced wine here, plus photos we took with the wine below. Taking our inspiration from photo essays and books that focus on one topic for a day, we’ve assembled our pictorial interpretation of California’s Toro Malbec. We’re also sharing these photos on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, Tumblr and LinkedIn. The hashtag is Bodega Toro Winery Centenario Malbec 2019Mendoza, Argentina Like tango, soccer or a grilled steak, Argentines love the wines of their beautiful country, but their undisputed favourite is Toro. One out of […]

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7 Must-Buy Wines for Fall: New This Season (Video)

Today is the first day of fall, burr. I feel a chill in the air already. Just as we start to wear warmer clothes,  we should also change the wines we drink. That’s what we chat about on CTV News. Click the arrow above to watch the segment.       First off, what makes for a great fall wine? – full-bodied enough to pair well with more robust dishes. – extra texture, mouthfeel and weight for richer sauces. – and just for fun, the wine is trendy like fall fashions.   You have a couple of examples there for […]

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Wine and Principled Persuasion with Dragon’s Den Arlene Dickinson

Introduction What would it look like for you to pitch a winery on Dragon’s Den versus The Big Decision? What are the creative similarities between writing a book and making a wine? What’s the difference between being financially versus creatively invested in a company? What are the three pillars of principled persuasion in business and life? In this episode of the Unreserved Wine Talk podcast, I’m chatting with Arlene Dickinson, one of Canada’s top entrepreneurs who has had phenomenal success in many fields, from television to books and consultancy to consumer products. You can find the wines we discussed here.   Highlights How […]

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Pairing Wine and Cheese Pairings Like a Pro with Laura Werlin

Introduction What should you consider when pairing wine and cheese? Why is sparkling wine the perfect pairing for many cheeses? Are there red-flag flavours that signal a bad wine and cheese match? How can you develop your wine and cheese pairing palate? What can you do to make the most of your cheese and wine course when entertaining? In this episode of the Unreserved Wine Talk podcast, I’m chatting with James Beard award-winning author, Laura Werlin, one of the planet’s most authoritative writers on cheese and cheese and wine pairings. You can find the wines we discussed here.   Highlights […]

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The Wine Bible’s Karen MacNeil on Women and Wine

Introduction How did The Wine Bible get its name? How was it unlike any wine book of its time? What was it like as a young woman trying to break into the male-dominated New York wine scene in the 1970s? Why are there significantly fewer women than men with the Master Sommelier designation? How does wine help you to immerse yourself in other cultures? In this episode of the Unreserved Wine Talk podcast, I’m chatting with Karen MacNeil, author of The Wine Bible, former wine correspondent for the Today Show, the first Food and Wine Editor of USA Today, and […]

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How to Break Wine & Food Pairing Rules? with Chris Scott

Introduction Why should you pair wine to the diner, not the dinner? Do you always have to follow the “rules” when pairing food and wine? Which fun food and wine pairing should you try with your pandemic snacking? How can you develop your aroma vocabulary? In this episode of the Unreserved Wine Talk podcast, I’m chatting with Chris Scott, a U.K.-based sommelier who published the world’s first-ever wine podcast, the UK Wine Show and who, with his wife, Jane also founded ThirtyFifty, a company which offers fun and no-nonsense wine tastings for private and corporate events. You can find the […]

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6 Tips to Make You Wine Smart Quick (Video)

1. Expensive Doesn’t Mean Better: Do you need to pay a lot to get a great wine?         Ruffino Prosecco Tuscany, Italy                   Santa Margherita Brut Valdobbiadene Superiore Prosecco Veneto D.O.C.G., Italy         2. Look for Second Labels         Woodbridge Winery Robert Mondavi Cabernet Sauvignon 2011 California, United States                 Robert Mondavi Winery Private Selection Cabernet Sauvignon Central Coast, California, United States           3. Quick Pairing Tip: Is the Wine ​Mouth-​Watering or  […]

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How Did the Mega-Hit Movie Sideways Change Pinot Noir (and Merlot)?

Introduction How did the novel and movie Sideways change the wine market in North America? In the book, the character Miles is portrayed as a wine snob, but what really defines a wine snob? What do you need to know if you want to become a successful writer? In this episode of the Unreserved Wine Talk podcast, I’m chatting with Rex Pickett, author of the mega-hit wine book and movie Sideways. You can find the wines we discussed here.   Highlights How has time been a great friend to Sideways? What is it about the characters in Sideways that makes them […]

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Why You Need This New Wine Label Scanner App Now (Video)

On CTV Morning Live, Stefan and I chat about how this new wine label scanner app helps you in the liquor store … … from getting instant access to wine ratings and food pairings to tracking your favourites in your virtual cellar. You can get the free app now before you go to the liquor store.       Apple has just selected the app as one of the best Food & Drinks apps in the category of Wine & Cocktails … yay!       Wines Featured on CTV Morning Live           Colio Estate Wines Lily Sparkling […]

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