272: Candid Wine Conversations with Scott Sexsmith of Up Close & Personal and Matt Cundill of You May Also Like
Release Date: 02/14/2024
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 choose the best wine pairings for dessert? When should you summon the sommelier? How can you improve your smell vocabulary and learn to distinguish between different aromas?
In this episode of the Unreserved Wine Talk podcast, I'm being interviewed by Scott Sexsmith of Up Close & Personal and Matt Cundill on You May Also Like.
You can find the wines we discussed at https://www.nataliemaclean.com/winepicks
Highlights
Is it normal to find it difficult to detect the tastes and aromas from wine tasting notes?
How can you improve your smell vocabulary and learn to distinguish between different aromas?
Does my alcohol consumption concern me, considering my family history of alcoholism?
How did wine mom culture contribute to the massive increase in women drinking during the pandemic?
What does it mean to pair the wine with the diner, not the dinner?
Can thinking more deeply about wine and food pairing increase your enjoyment of both?
What are some of my go-to wine pairings you can try?
Can you get a good bottle of wine without spending a fortune?
Which bargain wines should you try on your next trip to the wine store?
Is the enjoyment of food the gateway drug to wine?
How can you find new wines to experiment with?
What three aspects of wine make it a unique experience compared to other drinks or food?
Which aspects of wine lead to more sensual enjoyment versus other alcoholic beverages?
Why does Chianti work with tomato-based foods?
Why do I prefer to think of myself as an enthusiastic amateur, rather than an expert?
Are we making any progress in breaking down the elitism and snobbery that have historically been associated with the wine industry?
How has my taste in wine changed over the years?
Why do some wines leave you with a headache the next day while others don’t?
When should you summon the sommelier?
How does the LCBO’s purchasing power impact the wines that are available in the regions they serve?
Does your palate change as you age?
Which wines and regions have flourished in Nova Scotia?
Which type of wine pairs best with spicy Indian curries?
Why did I start the Unreserved Wine Talk podcast?
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 Scott Sexsmith and Matt Cundill
Scott Sexsmith has worked in media for over 30 years, having spent the bulk of his career in radio. In addition to Up Close & Personal, Scott also hosts a podcast with Michael Friscolanti called Inside the Village.
Matt Cundill's voice has been on radio, television and online since the 90's. More recently, he has taken on films and worked with e-learning companies to train employees and podcast companies to deliver the perfect host-read ad.
To learn more, visit https://www.nataliemaclean.com/272.