43: Wine Gossip and Stories with Friends of the Vine and Ian Osborn
Release Date: 09/25/2019
Unreserved Wine Talk
Should you avoid wine with sulphites? What are some of the important differences in the way wine is marketed to men versus women? How can you practice mindful drinking without giving up the wine you love? In this episode of the Unreserved Wine Talk podcast, I'm being interviewed by Erica Diamond on The Erica Diamond Podcast. You can find the wines we discussed at Highlights Why did I choose to write a completely different genre for my third book, Wine Witch On Fire? How did I first realize my drinking was sliding away from healthy? Why do I say wine today is like Virginia...
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info_outline 280: Wines of Jura and the French Alps with Wink Lorch: From Ski Resorts to Worldwide SensationUnreserved Wine Talk
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 at Giveaway One of you will win a copy of Wink Lorch's terrific book about the wines of Jura and the French Alps. To qualify, all you have to do is email me at and let me know that you've...
info_outline 279: Dazzling Beaujolais Food Pairings and Wild Indigenous Yeast Flavours with Natasha HughesUnreserved Wine Talk
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info_outline 278: The Surprising Complexity of Beaujolais with Natasha Hughes, Contributor to On Burgundy: From Maddening to Marvellous in 59 TalesUnreserved Wine Talk
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 Unreserved Wine Talk podcast episode, I'm chatting with Master of Wine and author, Natasha Hughes. You can find the wines we discussed at 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. To qualify, all you have to do is email me at and let me know that you've posted a...
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info_outline 275: What Are Vegan Wines & Are They Better for You with Jennifer Huether and Priya RaoUnreserved Wine Talk
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info_outline 274: The Golden Rule to Buy Burgundy & Avoid High Prices with Raymond Blake, Author of Côte d’OrUnreserved Wine Talk
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 at Giveaway One of you is going to win a copy of On Burgundy: From Maddening to Marvellous in 59 Wine Tales and two of you will win a copy of Wine...
info_outline 273: Changes in Burgundy and Untangling a Complicated Region with Raymond Blake, Author Breakfast in BurgundyUnreserved Wine Talk
Why is Pinot Noir considered the holy grail of wine? What makes the French region Burgundy so complicated, and how can we untangle it? What would surprise and delight you about how both the wine and the region have changed in the past five years? 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 at Giveaway One of you is going to win a copy of On Burgundy: From Maddening to Marvellous in 59 Wine Tales and two of you will win a copy of Wine Talk – An...
info_outlineOn today’s episode, I’m chatting with Ian Osborn, on his excellent podcast called Friends of the Vine. This is a bit of a turnaround from my usual format because Ian is interviewing me. I highly recommend that you check out Ian's podcast Friends of the Vine where he does a great job interviewing master sommeliers, masters of wine, winemakers and wine writers.
I wanted to share this episode with you because we dug into lots of great wine tips, from how to talk with the sommelier to becoming the expert on your own taste. I also share some behind-the-scenes stories about how I got into wine and what is what like writing my first book. Enjoy the episode!
Highlights
- When did I first become interested in wine?
- What role did Napa and Sonoma play in my journey to becoming a wine writer?
- Why is it important to taste wines side by side?
- Which tasting tip do I share with my students for developing their wine confidence?
- Why is it important to have the mindset of an enthusiastic amateur?
- Why are online courses more beneficial than free information?
- How can you become an expert in your own taste to have new and better wine experiences?
- Why do I believe online courses are better than in-person courses for a lot of people?
- Why have I switched my focus to TV and video?
To learn more about the resources mentioned in this episode, visit the show notes.