367: Why Are So Many Swiss Vineyards Planted on Dangerous Terrain? Simon Hardy Reveals Why in the Smart Traveller's Guide to Switzerland
Release Date: 12/10/2025
384: Is It the Wine or Is It You? Alan Ramey on What Really Makes Wine Taste Good
Unreserved Wine Talk
Is a fully organic future in agriculture possible or even affordable, or are there limits to how far we can go? Why has biodynamics thrived in wine when many of its founder’s ideas were rejected in medicine and education? How much of what you enjoy in wine comes from what’s in the glass versus your mental perception of what you’re drinking? In this episode of the Unreserved Wine Talk podcast, I'm chatting with Alan Ramey, author of Pressing Matters: The Debates, Controversies and Mysteries that have Shaped the World of Wine. You can find the wines we discussed at . ...
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383: The Debates, Controversies and Mysteries That Have Shaped the World of Wine Like Organics With Alan Ramey, Author of Pressing Matters
Unreserved Wine Talk
What might surprise you about the amount of research on organic versus conventional farming when it comes to winemaking? Why are many strong opinions in wine accepted without much challenge or push for validation? Why are traditional wine regions being forced to balance heritage with visibility and branding in today’s market? In this episode of the Unreserved Wine Talk podcast, I'm chatting with Alan Ramey, author of the new book, Pressing Matters: The Debates, Controversies and Mysteries that have Shaped the World of Wine. You can find the wines we discussed at . Giveaway Two of...
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382: The Prison That Became a Distillery: Belfast's Most Unlikely Comeback Story with McConnell's Irish Whisky
Unreserved Wine Talk
Why do Irish distillers believe triple distillation creates a smoother, more refined whiskey? What makes a whiskey feel warm and smooth on the palate instead of fiery or harsh? Why does the Belfast origin of ginger ale make it such a natural pairing with McConnell’s Irish Whisky? In this episode of the Unreserved Wine Talk podcast, I'm chatting with John Kelly, CEO of the Belfast Distillery Company, responsible for reviving one of Belfast’s most famous brands, McConnell’s Irish Whisky. You can find the wines we discussed at . Highlights Why does Irish whiskey traditionally...
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381: From Hard Time to Happy Hour: The Remarkable Resurrection of McConnell's Irish Whisky
Unreserved Wine Talk
What’s the hidden meaning behind the opaque ribbed glass at the bottom of a McConnell’s Irish Whisky bottle? What made the opportunity to revive McConnell’s Irish Whisky important enough to leave a long and secure career behind? How does a master distiller notice that something is off long before anyone else can spot it? In this episode of the Unreserved Wine Talk podcast, I'm chatting with John Kelly, CEO of the Belfast Distillery Company, responsible for reviving one of Belfast’s most famous brands, McConnell’s Irish Whisky, which actually dates back 250 years this year...
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380: The Ghost in the Glass: 5 Ways AI Is Rewriting the Story of Wine
Unreserved Wine Talk
If your wearable device knows your cortisol level, your heart rate, and the ambient light in your dining room, should it also choose the perfect wine for you? The Romans raved about Falernian. The Georgians were fermenting in clay vessels eight thousand years ago. Could AI finally let us taste what they were drinking? Conversely, can AI write an accurate tasting note for wine still in the bottle before a single human lifts the glass? When every appellation is covered, every vintage scored, and every back label written by an algorithm, what is a wine writer actually for? You’re...
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379: More Than a Drink: Why Wine Divides & Unites Cultures with Sarah Heller MW
Unreserved Wine Talk
Why do some cultures embrace wine as a cultural expression while others see it simply as a beverage? Why do some cultures embrace wine as a cultural expression while others see it simply as a beverage? Can fine wine actually be defined, or is it something subjective to be debated? Why is it so important to identify both the aroma and structure of wines when tasting? In this episode of the Unreserved Wine Talk podcast, I'm chatting with Sarah Heller, Master of Wine. You can find the wines we discussed at . Highlights What was it about tasting Barolo for the first time...
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378: Does Formal Wine Tasting Language Strip the Emotion Out of Wine Writing? with Sarah Heller
Unreserved Wine Talk
Why is spitting essential if you want to taste wine seriously? What made Hong Kong’s wine boom in 2010 feel both extravagant and generous? Does formal wine tasting language strip the emotion out of wine writing? In this episode of the Unreserved Wine Talk podcast, I'm chatting with Sarah Heller. You can find the wines we discussed at . Highlights How did Sarah’s wine career almost end before it began? Why did her accident in southern France strengthen her commitment to the wine industry? What was it like to represent a restaurant alone at age 20 at the world’s largest wine...
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377: What Does It Mean For A Wine To Gain Wisdom As It Ages? with Neal Hulkower
Unreserved Wine Talk
Should wine competitions give judges the option to say that none of the wines in a category deserve a medal? Why have some classic regions become inaccessible while others remain within reach for wine drinkers? What does it mean for a wine to gain wisdom as it ages? In this episode of the Unreserved Wine Talk podcast, I'm chatting with Neal Hulkower, a PhD rocket scientist, who has just published his first book, Grape Explications. You can find the wines we discussed at . Giveaway Three of you are going to win a copy of Neal Hulkower's terrific new book, Grape Explications. To...
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376: What Can 1970s Wine Notes Reveal About Luxury Wines Today?
Unreserved Wine Talk
How can a single bottle of wine completely change your understanding of what wine can be? What makes a wine so remarkable that you can almost taste it again in your memory decades later? Why are people drawn to tasting notes even when words can never fully capture the experience of tasting and smelling wine? In this episode of the Unreserved Wine Talk podcast, I'm chatting with Neal Hulkower, a PhD rocket scientist, who has just published his first book, Grape Explications. You can find the wines we discussed at . Giveaway Three of you are going to win a copy of Neal...
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375: Why is Your Taste in Wine as Individual as Your Fingerprint? Jordan Salcito Shares the Story
Unreserved Wine Talk
Why did this author start the book with tasting, rather than history, regions or grapes? Was that because you wanted to get right into the sensory experience, rather than maybe some of the drier knowledge? Why is your experience of what tastes good as personal as a fingerprint? When it comes to wine, what do you mean by structure? Why are these important, these structural components? Do you think they matter more than identifying that, that wine’s from Burgundy, that wine’s from Bordeaux? In this episode of the Unreserved Wine Talk podcast, I'm chatting with Jordan Salcito, author of Smart...
info_outlineWhy are so many Swiss vineyards planted on dangerous terrain? How do the “three suns of Lavaux” shape the ripeness and character of Chasselas? Which unexpected historical figure owns the world’s smallest vineyard in Switzerland?
In this episode of the Unreserved Wine Talk podcast, I'm chatting with Simon Hardy, author of the terrific new book The Smart Traveller’s Wine Guide to Switzerland.
You can find the wines we discussed at https://www.nataliemaclean.com/winepicks.
Giveaway
Two of you are going to win a copy of Simon Hardy's terrific new book, The Smart Traveller’s Wine Guide to Switzerland. 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 two people randomly from those who contact me. Good luck!
Highlights
What makes Switzerland’s vertiginous vineyards some of the most dangerous in the world to farm?
How do growers move grapes from inaccessible cliffside plots during harvest?
Why were vineyards historically planted on seemingly impossible terrain?
What triggered Switzerland’s quality revolution in the 1980s, and how did opening trade with the European Union transform the country’s wine standards?
How do the “three suns of Lavaux” shape the ripeness and character of Chasselas?
Why does the Dalai Lama own the world’s smallest vineyard and how did it become a wine tourism landmark?
What makes Completer one of Switzerland’s most unusual native grapes?
How did the Three Lakes region popularize the term “eye of the partridge” for pale Rosé and why did it slip beyond their control?
What does the Röstigraben reveal about Switzerland’s linguistic and cultural divide?
If you were visiting Switzerland’s wine regions for the first time, which areas are must-visits?
How do raclette and chocolate highlight Switzerland’s expression of terroir?
Why might export growth and wine tourism shape the future of Switzerland’s alpine wine identity?
About Simon Hardy
Simon Hardy brings a rare blend of multinational brand marketing and entrepreneurial flair in the world of wine. Simon champions Swiss wine in the UK, organising Swiss Wine Week London for Swiss Wine Promotion. He is also the co-founder of Alpina Vina, a cross-border guide to Alpine wine regions, including documentary films he writes and presents.
Simon also wrote The Smart Traveller’s Wine Guide to Switzerland, which has just been published by the Académie du Vin Library with Club Oenologique. He is also a Regional Ambassador for Switzerland at The Old Vine Conference and a judge for the International Wine Challenge since 2018.
To learn more, visit https://www.nataliemaclean.com/367.