Leanne and I had fun chatting about Pinot Noir this past Wednesday on CTV News! I’ll be posting the wines we featured soon. Pinot Noir is a wine of great sensuality, a silky texture and seductive aromas. “God made Cabernet Sauvignon whereas the devil made Pinot Noir,” winemaker André Tchelistcheff once remarked. This thin-skinned berry is known as the “heartbreak grape” because it’s difficult to grow and is unstable even bottled. That’s why you often pay more for Pinot Noir than most other red wines. You’ll find my top 10 Pinot Noir reviews and ratings here, including pinot […]
French Wine
The First Sale is Based on the Wine Label; the Second on What’s in the Bottle – Global TV
It’s never too early to talk wine! I enjoyed chatting with Steve and Sophie on Global TV’s BC Morning Show. Click on the arrow above above to play the video clip. We chatted about tips on how to spot great wines in the liquor store in general, as well as about four terrific bargain wines, including Quails Gate Riesling, Okanagan Valley; Goats do Roam, South Africa; Sumac Ridge Tribute Sparkling Wine, Okanagan Valley; and Alamos Malbec, Argentina. You can buy Unquenchable wherever books are sold as well as online from these book retailers. Stay tuned next Thursday when we chat […]
Sparkling Wine for New Year’s Eve versus Champagne
Most people think of champagne as the drink of choice to ring in the New Year. But when the price of one bottle averages $60, you might want to consider sparkling wine, which offers great taste for a fraction of champagne’s price. Although champagne only comes from the Champagne region of France, almost every other region of the country and many countries around the world produce sparkling wines, often using the same techniques and grapes as champagne. Most sparklers are a blend of the traditional champagne grapes—Pinot Noir, Pinot Meunier and Chardonnay. Like champagne, they’re labeled according to their […]
Embarrassing Wine Moments, Oak as Ketchup & Powerful Stories
Introduction Why are sugar and oak often the ketchup of the wine world, used to hide bad grapes or poor winemaking? How did researching my first book lead to my most embarrassing wine moment? What’s the problem with biodynamic and natural wines? In this episode of the Unreserved Wine Talk podcast, I’m being interviewed by Paul K on the Wine Talks with Paul K podcast. You can find the wines we discussed here. Highlights How can you navigate the shelves at the wine store when every bottle has a 90+ score? Why do I believe the individual experience is so important […]
Restaurant List Tips, Wine Courses & Buying Local Wines
Introduction Why are restaurant wine lists often tricky to navigate, even for wine professionals? Is it worth pursuing wine certifications and courses? Wine is the most value-added agricultural product we produce so why are there so many barriers for these small farmers who try to sell their wines across the country? In this episode of the Unreserved Wine Talk podcast, I’m being interviewed by Paul K on the Wine Talks with Paul K podcast. You can find the wines we discussed here. Highlights What was my winding journey to sommelier certification like? What is it about wine that can feel so […]
Luxury Wine Marketing, Dom Pérignon, Must-Have Gadgets with Robert Vernick & Peter Yeung
Introduction What are the six key elements that define a luxury wine? What’ll surprise you about Dom Pérignon that makes it different from other luxury wines? Which two wine gadgets must you own as a wine lover? In this episode of the Unreserved Wine Talk podcast, I’m chatting with Robert Vernick and Peter Yeung, co-hosts of the XChateau podcast. You can find the wines we discussed here. Watch Party Join me for the debut Watch Party of the video of this conversation that I’ll be live-streaming for the very first time on Zoom on Wednesday, September 1st at 7 pm […]
Learn About Wine via Podcasts, Books, Influencers with Robert Vernick & Peter Yeung
Introduction How are podcasts a great way to learn about wine? Which wine books can jumpstart your education about wine and further it as you get more knowledgeable? What’s behind the backlash against wine influencers on social media? In this episode of the Unreserved Wine Talk podcast, I’m chatting with Robert Vernick and Peter Yeung, co-hosts of the XChateau podcast. You can find the wines we discussed here. Watch Party Join me for the debut Watch Party of the video of this conversation that I’ll be live-streaming for the very first time on Zoom on Wednesday, August 25th at 7 pm […]
Fruit Wine, Pet-Nat Bubbly & Slovenian Wines with Nikki Goddard
Introduction Why are fruit wines becoming more popular and how do they differ from grape-based wines? What is Pét-Nat-style wine and which ones should you try? What are wines from Slovenia like, and which foods pair best with them? In this episode of the Unreserved Wine Talk podcast, I’m chatting with wine writer and educator, Nikki Goddard. You can find the wines we discussed here. Watch Party Join me for the debut Watch Party of the video of this conversation that I’ll be live-streaming for the very first time on Zoom on Wednesday, August 18th at 7 pm eastern. You can […]
Good Wine Faults, DRC, Misleading Wine Experts with Nikki Goddard
Introduction When can wine faults actually improve the taste of wine? Does learning about wine decrease your enjoyment of it? Can wine experts really distinguish between different types of wine? In this episode of the Unreserved Wine Talk podcast, I’m chatting with wine writer and educator, Nikki Goddard. You can find the wines we discussed here. Watch Party Join me for the debut Watch Party of the video of this conversation that I’ll be live-streaming for the very first time on Zoom on Wednesday, August 11th at 7 pm eastern. You can save your spot for free right here. I’ll be […]
How to Get the Most from Your Wine Bar Visit with Tanisha Townsend
Introduction What’s it like to explore Paris by visiting different wine bars? How do you know which company to choose for guided tours? What do you need to know before buying wine from a wine list, whether you’re at a restaurant or a wine bar? In this episode of the Unreserved Wine Talk podcast, I’m chatting with Tanisha Townsend, Chief Wine Officer of lifestyle agency Girl Meets Glass. You can find the wines we discussed here. Watch Party Join me for the debut Watch Party of the video of this conversation that I’ll be live-streaming for the very first time on […]
