Unreserved Wine Talk Natalie MacLean

What is a heroic wine? Which emerging trends will shape the taste of Italian wine in the next decade? How has Italian art and architecture directly influenced its wines?
In this episode of the Unreserved Wine Talk podcast, I'm chatting with author Marc Millon.
You can find the wines we discussed at https://www.nataliemaclean.com/winepicks
 
Giveaway
Three of you will win a copy of Marc Millon's terrific new book Italy in a Wineglass: The Story of Italy Through Its Wines.
To qualify, all you have to do is email me at natalie@nataliemaclean.com and let me know that you've posted a review of the podcast. I'll choose one person randomly from those who contact me.  Good luck!
 
Highlights
What made Marchesi Antinori the wine producer who’s made the biggest impact on wine today?
How did a wine of the lowest classification revolutionize Italian winemaking in the 1970s?
How did Venetian merchants influence wine production standards in Italy?
What impact did the royal fascination with Barolo have on its global perception?
What defines a heroic wine?
How did World War II reshape Italian vineyard landscapes?
Why do the cultural practices surrounding wine in Italy enhance wine tourism more than in neighbouring countries?
What is the link between art and wine?
What might surprise you about the mafia’s influence on the Italian wine industry?
Which emerging trends in Italian wine will shape the next decade?
How has climate change affected the English wine industry?
What does Marc love about Lympstone Manor Estate Isabeau Rosé 2023?
What makes San Felice Poggio Rosso Chianti Classico Gran Selezione a great example of Chianti’s evolution?
Why would Marc choose Pliny the Elder to share a bottle of wine with?
What’s Marc’s top wine tip to make us more wine-savvy?
 
Key Takeaways
What is a heroic wine?
Marc defines them as wines made with immense effort from difficult terrains like sea cliffs or high mountain vineyards so they require heroic effort to make them and yet they’re not often well known.
Which emerging trends will shape the taste of Italian wine in the next decade?
Marc sees a greater focus on organic and sustainable viticulture due to climate change.
How has Italian art and architecture directly influenced its wines?
There are styles of wine that reflect architectural styles. Even the bottles and labels that producers create reflect architecture.
 
About Marc Millon
Marc Millon is a food, wine and travel writer and communicator and the author of numerous books as well as magazine articles published on both sides of the Atlantic. Marc has been travelling, eating, drinking, learning and writing about food, wine and travel for more than 40 years.
 
 
 
To learn more, visit https://www.nataliemaclean.com/288.

Which almost-forgotten grape Italian varieties deserve more recognition? What might surprise you about the stories and wines from Campania? What makes wine such a great narrative vehicle throughout history?
In this episode of the Unreserved Wine Talk podcast, I'm chatting with author Marc Millon.
You can find the wines we discussed at https://www.nataliemaclean.com/winepicks
 
Giveaway
Three of you will win a copy of Marc Millon's terrific new book Italy in a Wineglass: The Story of Italy Through Its Wines.
To qualify, all you have to do is email me at natalie@nataliemaclean.com and let me know that you've posted a review of the podcast. I'll choose one person randomly from those who contact me.  Good luck!
 
Highlights
What was it like spending summers running up and down Mexican pyramids as a child?
How has Marc been influenced by his Korean heritage?
What does Marc remember most vividly about moving to England at 19?
What was it like being a writer and travelling the wine regions of multiple countries pre-internet?
Why was Marc motivated to write his latest book, Italy in a Wineglass?
What makes Italy in a Wineglass so different from other books about Italian wine?
How did the Italian pride in history and story stand out to Marc while researching the book?
What has been the most interesting feedback on the book so far?
Why did the stories from Campania surprise Marc the most?
What makes wine such a great narrative vehicle throughout history?
Which almost-forgotten grape varieties deserve more recognition?
How does the Ancient Greek symposium compare to modern Italian social wine-drinking customs?
Which wine story in the book is most reflective of Italian culture?
 
About Marc Millon
Marc Millon is a food, wine and travel writer and communicator and the author of numerous books as well as magazine articles published on both sides of the Atlantic. Marc has been travelling, eating, drinking, learning and writing about food, wine and travel for more than 40 years.
 
Bonus Interview - Bianca Marais
Why did I write “Wine Witch on Fire,” and how did I know when it was the right time?
What was the inciting incident that kicked off my no good, very terrible year?
How did my story and experiences with misogyny resonate with other women in various industries?
How do you balance telling your truth in a memoir and concerns about potential legal repercussions down the line?
Who was responsible for paying for the expensive legal reviews and edits of my manuscript?
Why did I choose the theme of witches as the connecting thread throughout my memoir?
How did I weave in references to deepen the witch metaphor throughout Wine Witch on Fire?
 
 
 
 
To learn more, visit https://www.nataliemaclean.com/287.

How are innovators making art and wine more engaging and accessible? What is it about the art and wine worlds that makes business and pleasure often one and the same? Is authenticity in art important?
In this episode of the Unreserved Wine Talk podcast, I'm chatting with author Bianca Bosker.
You can find the wines we discussed at https://www.nataliemaclean.com/winepicks
 
Giveaway
Three of you will win a copy of Bianca Bosker's terrific new book Get the Picture: A Mind-Bending Journey among the Inspired Artists and Obsessive Art Fiends Who Taught Me How to See. To qualify, all you have to do is email me at natalie@nataliemaclean.com and let me know that you've posted a review of the podcast. I'll choose one person randomly from those who contact me.  Good luck!
 
Highlights
Are the art and wine worlds still ruled by gatekeepers?
How are innovators bringing in new voices and making art and wine more engaging and accessible?
What’s the role of the social grapevine in the art and wine industries?
Why is mentorship a critical aspect of moving up the ladder in these industries?
What is it about the art and wine worlds that makes business and pleasure often one and the same?
What are some creative ways to develop your taste and understanding of art and wine?
Is authenticity in art important?
How do forgeries and fakes impact the art world?
What can the art and wine worlds learn from each other?
Why was it important to Bianca to be in the action in the art world when writing Get in the Picture?
Which wines would Bianca pair with iconic artists and artwork?
Why would Joan Didion be Bianca’s ideal companion for sharing a bottle of wine?
 
Key Takeaways
Bianca says, “With art and wine, some people say there are no rules, you can engage with it any way you want." She found that advice really frustrating. She thinks that it is important to give people the tools to think for themselves to engage with art or with wine on their own terms.
Bianca observes that mixing business and pleasure is part of getting ahead in these different worlds, but it can be unfair for up-and-coming artists. It's hard to spend all of your time bopping around openings and networking.
With art, the idea of a forgery is actually a relatively recent invention, Bianca notes. We haven't always cared what was original and what was a forgery or what was a fake.
 
 
About Bianca Bosker
Bianca Bosker is the author of the New York Times bestselling books Get the Picture: A Mind-Bending Journey among the Inspired Artists and Obsessive Art Fiends Who Taught Me How to See and Cork Dork. A contributing writer at The Atlantic, she has also written for publications such as The New Yorker, The New York Times, and The Wall Street Journal. Her work has been recognized with awards from the New York Press Club, the Society of Professional Journalists, and more, and has been included in The Best American Travel Writing.
 
 
 
 
To learn more, visit https://www.nataliemaclean.com/286.

Why are people with obsessive natures often drawn to both wine and art? How does strategic snobbery create deliberate barriers to entry into the art and wine worlds? What does it mean to stay in the work or to stay with the wine?
In this episode of the Unreserved Wine Talk podcast, I'm chatting with author Bianca Bosker.
You can find the wines we discussed at https://www.nataliemaclean.com/winepicks
 
Giveaway
Three of you will win a copy of Bianca Bosker's terrific new book Get the Picture: A Mind-Bending Journey among the Inspired Artists and Obsessive Art Fiends Who Taught Me How to See. To qualify, all you have to do is email me at natalie@nataliemaclean.com and let me know that you've posted a review of the podcast. I'll choose one person randomly from those who contact me.  Good luck!
 
Highlights
Which cities has Bianca visited so far on her book tour?
What has Bianca found to be the top marketing strategies for her book?
Are art-world people more or less obsessive than wine-world people?
Why are people with obsessive natures drawn to art and wine?
How did getting into artists’ studios transform the way Bianca looks at art?
What does it mean to “stay in the work”?
How does strategic snobbery create deliberate barriers to entry into the art and wine industries?
Is there really a need for complex terminology and flowery language in describing wine?
How has art speak evolved to become less descriptive and more exclusionary?
Why does Bianca differentiate between the logic behind wine descriptions and art speak?
What’s behind the art world’s suspicion of beautiful things and are there parallels in the wine world?
How do art and wine help us to discover and appreciate beauty in the everyday?
 
Key Takeaways
Bianca observed an all-consuming passion and intensity in both worlds. As she says: "I'd never met a group of people willing to sacrifice so much for something of so little obvious practical value." They are both in their own way, hedonistic. They really sort of involve all of us - our minds, and our bodies.
Strategic snobbery creates deliberate barriers to entry into the art and wine worlds. Bianca explains that it exists to keep out the "Joe Schmoes." The language is one of these constructions that exists to distinguish you as someone that does or does not get it.
Bianca advises to slow down and absorb your experiences. It's also what I teach my online wine and food pairing students. Think about what you're experiencing and what you're tasting.
 
About Bianca Bosker
Bianca Bosker is the author of the New York Times bestselling books Get the Picture: A Mind-Bending Journey among the Inspired Artists and Obsessive Art Fiends Who Taught Me How to See and Cork Dork. A contributing writer at The Atlantic, she has also written for publications such as The New Yorker, The New York Times, and The Wall Street Journal. Her work has been recognized with awards from the New York Press Club, the Society of Professional Journalists, and more, and has been included in The Best American Travel Writing.
 
 
 
 
To learn more, visit https://www.nataliemaclean.com/285.

Why do Spanish wines pair well with earthy, savoury dishes? How does food photography affect the cost of a cookbook? How can you set yourself up for success as an aspiring food or drink writer?
In this episode of the Unreserved Wine Talk podcast, I'm chatting with author Barbara Scott-Goodman.
You can find the wines we discussed at https://www.nataliemaclean.com/winepicks
 
Giveaway
Three of you will win a copy of Barbara Scott-Goodman's terrific book Wine Time: 70+ Recipes for Simple Bites That Pair Perfectly with Wine.
To qualify, all you have to do is email me at natalie@nataliemaclean.com and let me know that you've posted a review of the podcast. I'll choose one person randomly from those who contact me.  Good luck!
 
Highlights
What are Barbara’s three favourite wine pairings?
Why is food photography so expensive and how does it affect the cost of a cookbook?
Do photographs of the dishes enhance or detract from restaurant menus?
What are Barbara’s favourite cookbooks and why?
How has the cookbook market evolved over the past 10 years and what are some of the trends Barbara sees now?
What were some of the most interesting cocktails Barbara came across while writing Brooklyn Bar Bites?
Which marketing channels were the most successful for Wine Bites and Wine Time?
How can you set yourself up for success as an aspiring food or drink writer?
Which chef and musician would Barbara like to share a bottle of wine with?
What makes a summer afternoon outdoors the perfect setting to enjoy a glass of wine?
Which simple high-low food pairing should you try next?
 
About Barbara Scott-Goodman
Barbara Scott-Goodman is an author, art director, and designer of cookbooks for many publishers. Her most recent book is Wine Time ((Chronicle Books, 2021). Other books include Cake (Penguin Press, 2018), a collaboration with writer and illustrator Maira Kalman, Delicious Dessert Cocktails (Bluestreak Books, 2018), Brooklyn Bar Bites (Rizzoli, 2016), Happy Hour at Home (Running Press, 2013), and Wine Bites (Chronicle Books, 2011).
Her work has been featured in publications in print and online, including Food & Wine, Bon Appetit, Saveur, Publishers Weekly, Food52, and Sweet Paul. Her books always emphasize the importance of warm and intimate gatherings and eating, drinking, and living well in this era of non-ostentatious, casual entertaining.
 
 
 
To learn more, visit https://www.nataliemaclean.com/284.

Can you pair pickled foods with wine, or will their vinegarized flavours ruin the wine? Which wines pair best with soft-shell crab? What goes into great food photography, whether in a magazine or cookbook?
In this episode of the Unreserved Wine Talk podcast, I'm chatting with author Barbara Scott-Goodman.
You can find the wines we discussed at https://www.nataliemaclean.com/winepicks
 
Giveaway
Three of you will win a copy of Barbara Scott-Goodman's terrific book Wine Time: 70+ Recipes for Simple Bites That Pair Perfectly with Wine.
To qualify, all you have to do is email me at natalie@nataliemaclean.com and let me know that you've posted a review of the podcast. I'll choose one person randomly from those who contact me.  Good luck!
 
Highlights
How did Barbara’s passion for creating recipes develop?
Which are the best wines to pair with soft-shell crab?
What was Barbara’s most memorable wine moment?
When did Barbara realize she wanted to transition into a writing career?
Why are book covers often like a political landmine?
What are the key elements of a good cookbook cover?
How did Barbara decide on the cover design for her book, Wine Time?
What makes great food photography?
How did the art of pickling surprise Barbara while researching Wine Time?
Can you pair pickled foods with wine?
 
Key Takeaways
Can you pair pickled foods with wine? As Barbara observed, contrary to popular belief, these vinegarized foods don’t always wreak havoc on wine. Riesling actually works very well with its own natural acidity, as do other acidic wines like Sauvignon Blanc and Gruner Veltliner.
Which wines pair best with soft-shell crab? Barbara would go with a chilled pinot grigio, or if she’s feeling extravagant, a white burgundy, which is an opulent French chardonnay.
What goes into great food photography, whether it’s in a magazine or cookbook? Barbara says there's a lot going on behind the scenes. You need to have a good food stylist and a good prop stylist. Most of us don't realize that there are people who get paid to shop for the right linen, the right glass, the right cup, and it's very subtle, but you look at it, you go, wow, that photograph is so good. It's because this team is thinking about it. And that's the magic of food photography.
 
About Barbara Scott-Goodman
Barbara Scott-Goodman is an author, art director, and designer of cookbooks for many publishers. Her most recent book is Wine Time ((Chronicle Books, 2021). Other books include Cake (Penguin Press, 2018), a collaboration with writer and illustrator Maira Kalman, Delicious Dessert Cocktails (Bluestreak Books, 2018), Brooklyn Bar Bites (Rizzoli, 2016), Happy Hour at Home (Running Press, 2013), and Wine Bites (Chronicle Books, 2011).
Her work has been featured in publications in print and online, including Food & Wine, Bon Appetit, Saveur, Publishers Weekly, Food52, and Sweet Paul. Her books always emphasize the importance of warm and intimate gatherings and eating, drinking, and living well in this era of non-ostentatious, casual entertaining.
 
 
 
To learn more, visit https://www.nataliemaclean.com/283.