Unreserved Wine Talk Natalie MacLean

How did I come up with the wine pairings mentioned throughout Wine Witch on Fire? Why is wine marketed so differently to men versus women? What can you do to support your mental health in an era where you have to be online?
In this episode of the Unreserved Wine Talk podcast, I'm being interviewed by Marcy Gordon and Beth Costa on the Wine Road Podcast and Jeff Sammut on Canada Now.
You can find the wines we discussed at https://www.nataliemaclean.com/winepicks
 
Highlights
Could an online pile-on like I experienced in 2012 happen today?
What can you do to support your mental health in an era where you have to be online?
Why did I use real people’s names in my memoir?
How did I come up with the wine pairings mentioned throughout Wine Witch on Fire?
Why is wine marketed so differently to men versus women?
How do I manage the different aspects of an online-based career?
Which Sonoma wineries must you visit on your next trip?
Which wine pairs best with catharsis?
What was it like when I realized my husband of 20 years wanted a divorce?
Looking back, were there signs that I missed?
How did I communicate with my son about the difficult situation that was my divorce?
Why did feeling alone lead me to reexamine my whole life?
Why is it important to me that we have more conversations about overdrinking?
How did I manage to curb my overdrinking after the year from hell?
What is it about podcasting that makes it great for connecting with people?
 
Join me on Instagram, Facebook and YouTube Live
Join the live-stream video of this conversation on Wed at 7 pm ET on Instagram Live Video, Facebook Live Video or YouTube Live Video.
I want to hear from you! What’s your opinion of what we’re discussing? What takeaways or tips do you love most from this chat? What questions do you have that we didn’t answer?
Want to know when we go live? Add this to your calendar: https://www.addevent.com/calendar/CB262621
 
About The Wine Road Podcast and Marcy Gordon and Beth Costa
Marcy Gordon and Beth Costa bring a wealth of knowledge and personal experience regarding, food, wine, events, and travel in and around Northern Sonoma County. Dubbed the Click and Clack of Wine—their snappy banter and laugh filled show provides insider tips on wine tasting and advice for listeners planning everything from a day trip to a two week stay in Wine Country.
Marcy Gordon is a freelance wine and travel writer. Her work has appeared in a variety of publications including Wine Enthusiast, Forbes Travel Guide, Sonoma Discoveries, and The San Francisco Chronicle. In 2017 she was awarded a fellowship to the prestigious Symposium for Professional Wine Writers. Her blog Come for the Wine was named one of the Top 100 Most Influential Wine Blogs in 2015.
Beth Costa is the Executive Director of the Wine Road. Beth has been at the helm of Wine Road for the past 17 years. Prior that she managed the tasting rooms for Kendall-Jackson Winery. Beth has lived in Sonoma County for the past 30 years and loves to get out and explore – rivers, redwoods and the ocean are big draws!
 
About Canada Now and Jeff Sammut
Canada Now shares the stories that matter to Canadians, going beyond the headlines to shine a spotlight on the cities, towns and people that motivate and inspire us each and every day. Host Jeff Sammut goes coast to coast across the country talking to Canadians about Canadians and the stories that affect us all, big and small.
 
 
 
To learn more, visit https://www.nataliemaclean.com/262.

Why should you consider mood and experience when pairing wines? What is a lustful wine? What do you need to know about British Columbia’s wine regions?
In this episode of the Unreserved Wine Talk podcast, I'm chatting with author and host of The Sipsters Wine Podcast, Luke Whittall.
You can find the wines we discussed at https://www.nataliemaclean.com/winepicks
 
Giveaway
Three of you are going to win a personally signed copy of Luke's new book, The Sipster's Pocket Guide to 50 Must-Try Ontario 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 three people randomly from those who contact me.  Good luck!
 
Highlights
What makes the Golden Mile Bench so special?
Which wineries on the Golden Mile Bench should not be missed?
Why should you consider mood and experience when pairing wines?
What is a lustful wine?
Why does Luke describe Vancouver Island as the Italy of BC?
Which labels should you look for from Vancouver Island?
What makes the red wines of the Similkameen Valley unique?
What do you need to know about the other BC wine regions including Fraser Valley, Gulf islands, Kootenays, Lillooet, Shuswap, and Thompson Valley?
What does BC need to do in order to thrive as a wine region for the next five to ten years?
How do Luke’s The Sipster’s Pocket Guides differ from other wine guides?
 
Key Takeaways
I love that Luke likes to pair wines to moods rather than simply food. I think our emotional state and occasion are often far better predictors of a great match than whether your asparagus was oven-roasted or steamed. I especially like his description of a lustful wine.
Luke continues to share surprising insights about British Columbia’s wine regions and wines. I’m intrigued with the way Golden Mile Bench wines retain their acidity and structure, and am motivated to visit that area again. 
I enjoyed his notion that there are times when you can tell that the wine really likes you. 
 
Join me on Instagram, Facebook and YouTube Live
Join the live-stream video of this conversation on Wed at 7 pm ET on Instagram Live Video, Facebook Live Video or YouTube Live Video.
I want to hear from you! What’s your opinion of what we’re discussing? What takeaways or tips do you love most from this chat? What questions do you have that we didn’t answer?
Want to know when we go live? Add this to your calendar: https://www.addevent.com/calendar/CB262621
 
About Luke Whittall
Luke Whittall has worked in cellars, vineyards, and wine shops since 2005. He has authored or co-authored 4 books on wine and is currently a wine instructor at Okanagan College. His most recent book, The Sipster’s Pocket Guide to 50 Must-Try BC Wines follows up on the success of The Sipster’s Pocket Guide to 50 Must-Try BC Wines, and continues to mark a new direction in wine writing.
 
 
To learn more, visit https://www.nataliemaclean.com/261.

What are five things that will surprise you about the wine regions and wines of British Columbia? What are some top tips to help you get the most from your visit to BC? Which challenges does this west coast wine industry face going forward?
In this episode of the Unreserved Wine Talk podcast, I'm chatting with author and host of The Sipsters Wine Podcast, Luke Whittall.
You can find the wines we discussed at https://www.nataliemaclean.com/winepicks
 
Giveaway
Three of you are going to win a personally signed copy of Luke's new book, The Sipster's Pocket Guide to 50 Must-Try Ontario 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 three people randomly from those who contact me. Good luck!
 
Highlights
What was Luke’s inspiration for writing Valleys of Wine: A Taste of British Columbia’s Wine History?
Why did John Schreiner choose Luke to help him write the sixth edition of his Okanagan Wine Tour Guide?
Why are authentic stories important for a winery and how can impact their success?
How does the wine industry in British Columbia compare to Ontario?
What are some of the geographical limitations of wine production BC?
Why is the growth of the BC wine industry slowing?
How is climate change changing the profile of the wine industry?
How has the increasing frequency and severity of wildfires impacted British Columbia?
What’s the difference between a smoky flavour in wine versus smoke taint?
How do the production levels of BC and Ontario compare?
What makes up the unique climate of the BC wine regions?
What might surprise you about the Okanagan region?
What are Luke’s top travel tips for visiting the Okanagan?
 
Key Takeaways
There were so many fascinating nuggets about BC that Luke shared, from the profound influence of the lake to how embers from wildfires were able to traverse across it.
The range of wine styles and grapes is both a blessing in its diversity and experimentation and a curse in the optimization that still needs to happen as BC matures as a wine region.
Luke’s tips for visiting the region were helpful, particularly breaking up your journey into a few days and several wineries that have restaurants.
 
Join me on Instagram, Facebook and YouTube Live
Join the live-stream video of this conversation on Wed at 7 pm ET on Instagram Live Video, Facebook Live Video or YouTube Live Video.
I want to hear from you! What’s your opinion of what we’re discussing? What takeaways or tips do you love most from this chat? What questions do you have that we didn’t answer?
Want to know when we go live? Add this to your calendar: https://www.addevent.com/calendar/CB262621
 
About Luke Whittall
Luke Whittall has worked in cellars, vineyards, and wine shops since 2005. He has authored or co-authored 4 books on wine and is currently a wine instructor at Okanagan College. His most recent book, The Sipster’s Pocket Guide to 50 Must-Try BC Wines follows up on the success of The Sipster’s Pocket Guide to 50 Must-Try BC Wines, and continues to mark a new direction in wine writing.
 
 
To learn more, visit https://www.nataliemaclean.com/260.

How can we, as wine consumers, support environmental change in the wine industry? What is proactive farming as it relates to growing vines for wine? Does wine tourism have a positive or negative impact on the environment?
In this episode of the Unreserved Wine Talk podcast, I'm chatting with sustainability expert Anna Brittain.
You can find the wines we discussed at https://www.nataliemaclean.com/winepicks
 
Highlights
Why is good soil health foundational to vineyards, both from the wine and sustainability perspectives?
What is proactive farming?
How can the wine industry increase its emphasis on social justice and diversity and inclusion?
Why do climate action and regenerative agriculture make the ultimate umbrella for sustainability efforts in the wine industry?
What is the environmental impact of wine tourism?
What can we do as consumers to advocate for or induce change in the wine industry?
Are there commonalities between different wine regions and the climate challenges they face?
What is Domaine Carneros doing differently as a dedicated sustainability leader?
What does Anna love about Domaine Carneros Taittinger and what foods would it be best paired with?
Which breakfast foods could you pair with the classic St. Supéry Cabernet Sauvignon?
Why does Anna believe we need to focus on improving quality and sustainable practices in the wine industry rather than expanding?
What are Anna’s favourite childhood foods to pair with wine?
What is Anna’s favourite wine book?
Why would Anna love to share a glass of wine with Brené Brown?
Why is it crucial to take action on climate change in the here and now?
 
Key Takeaways
Anna has some concrete steps for how we, as wine consumers, support environmental change in the wine industry. Every bit helps, and the need is urgent. We all have purchasing power - we vote with our dollars, and they send strong signals to the industry to advocate for change.
I found her concept of proactive farming as it relates to growing vines for wine fascinating.
She also has an interesting take on wine tourism’s impact on the environment.
 
Join me on Instagram, Facebook and YouTube Live
Join the live-stream video of this conversation on Wed at 7 pm ET on Instagram Live Video, Facebook Live Video or YouTube Live Video.
I want to hear from you! What’s your opinion of what we’re discussing? What takeaways or tips do you love most from this chat? What questions do you have that we didn’t answer?
Want to know when we go live? Add this to your calendar: https://www.addevent.com/calendar/CB262621
 
About Anna Brittain
Anna Brittain has worked locally, nationally and internationally on environmental management and policy with organizations ranging from the environmental economics think tank Resources for the Future in Washington, DC to the International Union for Conservation of Nature in Hanoi, Vietnam. She has spent over 12 years facilitating and growing sustainability in the wine industry, with expertise in communications and certification standards.
 
 
To learn more, visit https://www.nataliemaclean.com/259.

Which aspect of winemaking has the greatest impact on the environment? Are you curious about the difference between sustainable and organic winemaking? What are the six pillars of sustainable winegrowing leadership?
In this episode of the Unreserved Wine Talk podcast, I'm chatting with sustainability expert Anna Brittain.
You can find the wines we discussed at https://www.nataliemaclean.com/winepicks
 
Highlights
How did Anna realize she wanted to dedicate her career to environmental work?
What drives Anna to work in climate action and sustainability within the wine industry?
What does it mean to be voted as “the most intriguing environmentalist”?
How did the global pandemic contribute to the worst moment in Anna’s wine career?
What was the impact of COVID-19 on consumer investment in sustainability and climate action?
What was it like to put together the first climate and wine symposium?
Is wine production bad for the environment?
What does it mean for the wine industry to be a leader in soil-to-bottle sustainability?
What are the biggest misconceptions about sustainability?
Why did Anna create the six pillars of sustainable winegrowing leadership?
How can you distinguish between sustainability, organic, and biodynamic practices?
Why are there so many different organic certifications in the US?
How can vineyards optimize irrigation systems and water use?
What does it take to start dry farming?
How can energy efficiency potentially produce cost savings for vineyards?
What do wineries need to think about when it comes to waste management and supply chain emissions?
Is it irresponsible for wineries to continue to use extremely heavy-weight bottles?
 
Key Takeaways
Anna provides an excellent global view of wine’s impact on the environment rather than just focusing narrowly or organic winemaking or sustainability.
She gave us a clear definition on the differences between sustainable and organic winemaking. I think most people might assume that wine made organically is also farmed sustainably, but that’s not always the case.
She also presents clear and compelling facts such as that 40-50% of the emissions from a winery operation come from packaging and distribution alone.
 
Join me on Instagram, Facebook and YouTube Live
Join the live-stream video of this conversation on Wed at 7 pm ET on Instagram Live Video, Facebook Live Video or YouTube Live Video.
I want to hear from you! What’s your opinion of what we’re discussing? What takeaways or tips do you love most from this chat? What questions do you have that we didn’t answer?
Want to know when we go live? Add this to your calendar: https://www.addevent.com/calendar/CB262621
 
About Anna Brittain
Anna Brittain has worked locally, nationally and internationally on environmental management and policy with organizations ranging from the environmental economics think tank Resources for the Future in Washington, DC to the International Union for Conservation of Nature in Hanoi, Vietnam. She has spent over 12 years facilitating and growing sustainability in the wine industry, with expertise in communications and certification standards.
 
 
To learn more, visit https://www.nataliemaclean.com/258.

What might surprise you about Rosé wine? Is being a supertaster an advantage in the wine industry? Do you feel you’re drinking too much wine?
In this episode of the Unreserved Wine Talk podcast, I'm being interviewed by Wendy Mesley and Maureen Holloway for their podcast, Women of Ill Repute.
You can find the wines we discussed at https://www.nataliemaclean.com/winepicks
 
Highlights
Why didn’t I apologize after being called out for using other people’s reviews on my website?
How does the herd mentality bring out the worst in people online?
What is it about the wine industry that continues to feed into the deeply-rooted sexism?
How does wine marketing perpetuate stereotypes and negatively impact women?
What does it mean to be a super taster?
How do I review so many bottles of wine?
Why is it important for a wine reviewer to expectorate?
What is it about artichokes that makes them hard to pair with alcohol?
What might surprise you about Rosé wine?
What are the five aspects of tasting wine?
How has the vocabulary of wine evolved over time?
What can you do to develop your smell vocabulary?
 
Join me on Instagram, Facebook and YouTube Live
Join the live-stream video of this conversation on Wed at 7 pm ET on Instagram Live Video, Facebook Live Video or YouTube Live Video.
I want to hear from you! What’s your opinion of what we’re discussing? What takeaways or tips do you love most from this chat? What questions do you have that we didn’t answer?
Want to know when we go live? Add this to your calendar: https://www.addevent.com/calendar/CB262621
 
 
About Women of Ill Repute
Women of Ill Repute is a compliment. And not just for women! Wendy Mesley and Maureen Holloway have left CBC and CHFI to chat with sassy women about sex, family, politics, and media. Lots of secrets and no room for shame. Is it journalism or comedy? It’s both. Smart talk with tv and radio stars, comedians, authors, lawyers, politicos, restaurant icons and more. All of them brave, fierce and funny.
 
 
To learn more, visit https://www.nataliemaclean.com/257.