282: Wine Sulphites, Mindful Drinking and Marketing Alcohol on The Erica Diamond Podcast
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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281: Splendid Vin Jaune, Jura Wine 's Wild Variety and Mysterious Grapes of the French Alps with Wink Lorch
Unreserved Wine Talk
What makes Vin Jaune from France's Jura region so special? What can you discover about the diversity of wine coming out of Jura and the French Alps? What are some insider tips for planning a journey to the French Alps? 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 posted a review of the podcast. I'll choose...
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280: Wines of Jura and the French Alps with Wink Lorch: From Ski Resorts to Worldwide Sensation
Unreserved 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...
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279: Dazzling Beaujolais Food Pairings and Wild Indigenous Yeast Flavours with Natasha Hughes
Unreserved Wine Talk
Why are Beaujolais wines so versatile when it comes to food pairing? How are younger producers bringing renewed optimism to Beaujolais? What is indigenous fermentation, and how does it contribute to the complexity of Beaujolais wines? In this episode of the Unreserved Wine Talk podcast, 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...
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278: The Surprising Complexity of Beaujolais with Natasha Hughes, Contributor to On Burgundy: From Maddening to Marvellous in 59 Tales
Unreserved 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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277: Will AI Replace Writers and Winemakers? Conversation with Ellen Clifford of The Wine Situation Podcast
Unreserved Wine Talk
Why don’t I think that artificial intelligence (AI) will replace human writers any time soon? What are some tips you can use for maintaining a healthy relationship with wine? What are some of the challenges women in the wine industry still face? In this episode of the Unreserved Wine Talk podcast, I'm being interviewed by Ellen Clifford on The Wine Situation podcast. You can find the wines we discussed at Highlights Was wine part of my family’s culture growing up? When did I start learning about wine, and why did I decide to make the career transition? When did I...
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276: Delicious Vegan Wine Pairings with Jennifer Huether and Priya Rao, Authors of The Social Herbivore
Unreserved Wine Talk
Which wineries are leading the way with vegan wines? How are some restaurants expanding into innovative vegan or vegetarian menus? What makes Riesling so versatile, especially with vegan dishes? In this episode of the Unreserved Wine Talk podcast, I'm chatting with Jennifer Huether and Priya Rao, authors of The Social Herbivore: Perfect Pairings For Plant-Based Cuisine. You can find the wines we discussed at Giveaway One of you is going to win a copy of Priya Rao & Jennifer Huether's terrific book, The Social Herbivore: Perfect Pairings For Plant-Based Cuisine - the...
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275: What Are Vegan Wines & Are They Better for You with Jennifer Huether and Priya Rao
Unreserved Wine Talk
Are vegan wines better for our health? What three aspects of a wine determine whether it’s vegan or not? How can you identify whether or not a wine is vegan by looking at the label? In this episode of the Unreserved Wine Talk podcast, I'm chatting with Jennifer Huether and Priya Rao, authors of The Social Herbivore: Perfect Pairings For Plant-Based Cuisine. You can find the wines we discussed at Giveaway One of you is going to win a copy of Priya Rao & Jennifer Huether's terrific book, The Social Herbivore: Perfect Pairings For Plant-Based Cuisine - the first book...
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274: The Golden Rule to Buy Burgundy & Avoid High Prices with Raymond Blake, Author of Côte d’Or
Unreserved 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...
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273: Changes in Burgundy and Untangling a Complicated Region with Raymond Blake, Author Breakfast in Burgundy
Unreserved 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_outlineHow do you pair wine and chocolate? Do the wines change with different types of chocolate, say milk chocolate versus dark chocolate? How is the 2019 harvest going in BC, Ontario and Nova Scotia? What can we expect as consumers in terms of style, quality, and price? How have the wildfires affected the California harvest of 2017, especially since those red wines are now hitting liquor store shelves?
That's exactly what I'm talking about in today's edition of Unreserved Wine Talk. I’m also hosting my first live wine class for the 5 Wine & Food Pairing Mistakes that Can Ruin Your Dinner (and how to fix them forever). This free class is also when I’ll share details about my new, in-depth paid course called The Wine Smart Course (catchy right?) A Full-Bodied Framework to Taste, Pair & Buy Wine Like a Pro. You’ll know when you can join me on the free class if you get my wine newsletter. Enjoy!
Highlights
- Should you even try to pair wine and chocolate?
- Won't the sweetness of the chocolate make the wine taste bitter?
- Why are fortified wines the best partners for chocolate?
- How do their sweetness and higher alcohol content match the flavours of chocolate?
- Why does port, in particular, go well with chocolate?
- Why is milk chocolate harder to pair with wine than dark chocolate?
- Which wines pair best with white chocolate?
- What about desserts with just a touch of chocolate, like strawberries dipped in chocolate?
- What critical factors affected the 2019 harvest in BC, Ontario and NS?
- Did Hurricane Dorian have an impact on the harvest?
- Which wines and grapes will do well this year, and which won't?
- How does a wet, cold spring impact the style of wines?
- Why is 2019 proving to be a challenging harvest for winemakers across the country?
- How did the 2017 wildfires affect Californian wines?
- What can you expect in terms of taste and style for the reds now hitting liquor store shelves?
To learn more about the resources mentioned in this episode, visit the show notes.