natalie maclean

The bestselling, award-winning writer Natalie MacLean discusses her new memoir Wine Witch on Fire: Rising from the Ashes of Divorce, Defamation, and Drinking Too Much (Dundurn Press, 2023), with Joseph Planta.

The post Natalie MacLean first appeared on thecommentary.ca.

The episode explores Natalie MacLean's journey into wine, including some personal details, but also talks about her books, podcast and other endeavors. It also touches on a few sensitive and important topics for the wine industry.

Natalie offers popular online wine and food pairing courses at www.nataliemaclean.com. She's the host of Unreserved Wine Talk, selected as one of the best drinks podcasts by The New York Times.

Both of her books, Red, White and Drunk All Over: A Wine-Soaked Journey from Grape to Glass and Unquenchable: A Tipsy Quest for the World's Best Bargain Bottles were chosen as one of Amazon’s Best Books of the Year.

Natalie was named the World's Best Drinks Journalist at the World Food Media Awards, and has won four James Beard Foundation Journalism Awards. She is the only person to have won both the M.F.K. Fisher Distinguished Writing Award from the James Beard Foundation and the M.F.K. Fisher Award for Excellence in Culinary Writing from Les Dames d'Escoffier International.

Natalie is offering Vintners Podcast listeners the Ultimate Food & Wine Pairing Guide at:

https://www.nataliemaclean.com/vintners

Two people from those who request the guide will also get signed copies of Natalie's books: Red, White and Drunk All Over: A Wine-Soaked Journey from Grape to Glass and Unquenchable: A Tipsy Quest for the World's Best Bargain Wines.

Those who want to find out more about her free online food and wine pairing class and Unreserved Wine Talk podcast are welcome to visit at www.nataliemaclean.com.

What's the difference between English sparkling wine and champagne? Why bother doing the Master of Wine qualification? What's the story behind Wine Blast, and why is podcasting so suited to wine? If we could be any wine, what would it be? What to do with a wine festival in lockdown? If we could share a glass of wine with anyone, who would that be? 

We answer all these questions and more in an interview conducted expertly by Natalie MacLean and originally featured on her Unreserved Wine Talk podcast (Ep 118: Dream Wine Careers with Susie Barrie and Peter Richards). This is the second part of this interview; Part 1 is the previous episode of Wine Blast (S2 E16). 

We also talk about how to film wine TV amidst a global pandemic, focusing on Peter's recent trip to Georgia. Oh, and there are passing mentions of Blue Nun, the King of the Netherlands, epic orange Frysland cheese, a neolithic picnic, the WineGB Awards, a MiG fighter jet, personalised portaloos...and the importance of bubbles.

Our story - as told (in slightly roundabout fashion) to Natalie MacLean on her Unreserved Wine Talk podcast. Beans are spilled...apologies issued...we reveal our career low points as well as what wine has done for our relationship (Susie skates on thin ice). Also why Peter makes a bad Santa and what we think of the fancy dress tendencies of your average French marathon runner. Among other things. 

So yes, this is a re-run of 'Having a Wine Blast with Susie Barrie and Peter Richards', Episode 117 of Natalie's Unreserved Wine Talk, from Feb 2021, in which she interviews us (and chooses a few embarrassing photos of ours to prod us with). As part of our intro, we announce the winner of our New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc competition from our last episode, sharing  the funniest and best of myriad inspired entries, and say sorry for not putting out an episode lately... Part 2 to follow.

With so much noise and content online, how does one find their “voice”?

Today we speak with Natalie MacLean, one of the most influential wine personalities, about her tips on navigating the digital wine world and connecting with your audience.

Natalie MacLean offers wildly popular online wine and food pairing courses at www.nataliemaclean.com. She’s offering ourlisteners a free copy of her Ultimate Guide to Wine and Food Pairing. where you can download it for free at nataliemaclean.com/china.

  In addition, She's the host of Unreserved Wine Talk, selected as one of the best drinks podcasts by The New York Times.

Natalie's first book Red, White and Drunk All Over: A Wine-Soaked Journey from Grape to Glass and her second book Unquenchable: A Tipsy Quest for the World's Best Bargain Wines were both selected as one of Amazon's Best Books of the Year.

She was named the World's Best Drinks Journalist at the World Food Media Awards, and has won four James Beard Foundation Journalism Awards.

Learn more:  https://www.nataliemaclean.com

Connect on Instagram @nataliemacleanwine

Listen to her podcast:  Unreserved Wine Talk

Bottled in China brings you into the food and drink scene through conversations with the some of the most happening personalities. Hosted by Emilie Steckenborn, the show is your one spot for all things food, beer, wine and spirits from across the world. 

Follow us on Instagram @bottled.in.china 

Podcast available on iTunes, Spotify , online or wherever you listen to your episodes! 

What wine goes best with ketchup (or sweet chilli) crisps? What's 'ice cuvée fizz'? How to pair Netflix with wine? How good is Canadian wine, and which are the best ones to buy? Most importantly, how can you win prizes up to the value of CA$400 (or £260)?! It's all here, a small wine universe in a podcast. We're talking to globally renowned wine communicator and proud Canadian Natalie MacLean, who hosts the excellent Unreserved Wine Talk podcast (among MANY other things), and recommending a range of top Canadian wines. Natalie touches on many fascinating topics in our interview, from how she first fell in love with wine to her top wine tip, her advice for those looking to make wine a career, how women should aim high, dealing with an alcoholic father, how the pandemic has changed wine learning, podcasting highs and lows and food pairings. Not to mention ketchup crisps...which gives us an idea...