Unreserved Wine Talk

34
Food #200

The Unreserved Wine Talk podcast features candid conversations with the most fascinating people in the wine world. Your host, award-winning journalist Natalie MacLean, dives into how it feels to compete in the nerve-wracking World's Best Sommelier Competition, the shadowy underground of wine forgery, the zany tactics of a winemaker who hosted a funeral for cork, and more. Nestled in these colourful stories are practical tips on how to choose wine from a restaurant list, pair it with food and spot great values in the liquor store.Every second episode, Natalie goes solo with an unfiltered, personal reflection on wine. She'll share with you how it feels to be a woman in what is still a largely male-dominated field, her gut reaction to the latest health study that says no amount of alcohol consumption is safe and her journey in writing her next book. She'll reveal these vulnerable, sometimes embarrassing, stories with tipsy wit and wisdom that she's soaked up from 20 years of writing about wine.This podcast is for wine lovers from novices to well-cellared aficionados.

More
Recent Episodes
  • 340: Why do wine descriptors like cat's pee alienate many wine lovers? Charles Jennings and Paul Keers answer that and more in "I Bought It So I'll Drink It"
    Jun 4, 2025 – 45:48
  • 339: What Do Wild Orchids Reveal About the Health of a Vineyard and How Does Preschool Turn France Into a Nation of Gourmets?
    May 28, 2025 – 46:08
  • 338: What Are 4 Ways That Winemakers Die in Wineries and Why Is It So Dangerous? Caro Feely, Author of Grape Expectations, Has Answers
    May 21, 2025 – 50:51
  • 337: Why do Celebrities, like Brad Pitt, John Legend, Sarah Jessica Parker, Jon Bon Jovi, Cameron Diaz and Kylie Minogue Choose Rosé for Their Brands?
    May 14, 2025 – 49:59
  • 336: How did Marcel Ott, of Domaines Ott, revolutionize Rosé wine? Rasmus Emborg & Jens Honoré Share the Story in Rosé Revolution
    May 7, 2025 – 42:32
  • 335: Why are major Champagne houses, like Taittinger and Pommery, spending millions on English vineyards?
    Apr 30, 2025 – 41:26
  • 334: Is chalky soil really the secret to great English wine or just clever marketing? Henry Jeffreys, Author of Vines in a Cold Climate Shares His Stories
    Apr 23, 2025 – 39:18
  • 333: How Can a Vineyard (or Life) Disaster Turn Into a Good Thing? Sally Evans' Life Story is Proof That it Can
    Apr 16, 2025 – 59:51
  • 332: Start a Bordeaux Winery and Make The Midlife Move with Sally Evans
    Apr 9, 2025 – 54:34
  • 331: How Do Oak and Yeast Magically Transform Wine and Whisky?
    Apr 2, 2025 – 54:16
  • 330: The Surprising Science of Booze and Wine with Adam Rogers
    Mar 26, 2025 – 42:56
  • 329: Tuscan White Wines, Vin Santo and Spirited Sangiovese with Susan Keevil
    Mar 19, 2025 – 37:12
  • 328: On Tuscany: From Brunello to Bolgheri, Tales from the Heart of Italy with Susan Keevil
    Mar 12, 2025 – 38:02
  • 327: What do Famille Perrin, Torres and Gaja Wines Have in Common that Makes Them Uncommon? Fiona Morrison Goes Behind the Scenes of These Family Businesses
    Mar 5, 2025 – 42:07
  • 326: Who Are The 10 Great Families of Wine? Fiona Morrison Gives Us A Tour Through Europe
    Feb 26, 2025 – 49:38
  • 325: Why is the Languedoc a Hotbed of Experimentation? Rosemary George Reveals What This Means for the Wines You Drink
    Feb 19, 2025 – 32:01
  • 324: Why are Languedoc Wines Capturing Worldwide Attention? Rosemary George Tells the Story
    Feb 12, 2025 – 32:59
  • 323: Why Did Greece Have the First Sommeliers, Wine Tastings and Writers? Konstantinos Lazarakis Reveals the Answers
    Feb 5, 2025 – 01:11:21
  • 322: What are the Surprising Wines and Regions of Greece? Konstantinos Lazarakis Shares His Favourites
    Jan 29, 2025 – 01:14:51
  • 321: Why is Chardonnay the Winemaker's Grape + What a Family Brand Means with Chris Benziger
    Jan 22, 2025 – 41:28
  • 320: Pioneer California Biodynamic Winemaking + 100 Adorable Sheep with Chris Benziger
    Jan 15, 2025 – 46:37
  • 319: The Biggest, Most Surprising Wine Myths with Hailey Bohlman
    Jan 8, 2025 – 01:02:33
  • 318: Flute or White Wine Glass for Champagne, Serving Tips and Styles with Chris Ruhland
    Jan 1, 2025 – 42:15
  • 317: Dom Perignon, Grand Cru Champagnes and Marketing Myths with Chris Ruhland
    Dec 25, 2024 – 49:11
  • 316: Piemonte Sparkling Wines, Roero Nebbiolo and Visiting Alba with David Way
    Dec 18, 2024 – 01:06:43
  • 315: Exploring Piemonte Wines Beyond Barolo and Barbaresco with David Way
    Dec 11, 2024 – 01:19:36
  • 314: Why We Struggle to Describe Wine Yet Keep Trying with Hugh Johnson
    Dec 4, 2024 – 45:08
  • 313: The legendary Hugh Johnson, author of The World Atlas of Wine, on how you can improve your wine-tasting skill and pleasure
    Nov 27, 2024 – 41:33
  • 312: How Can You Improve Your Sense of Smell with Wine? Johannes Frasnelli Has Great Tips
    Nov 20, 2024 – 41:31
  • 311: Smell, the Cinderella Sense, Goes Full Princess on Wine with Johannes Frasnelli
    Nov 13, 2024 – 44:17
  • 310: Women, Wine and Health: The Good News with Tony Edwards
    Nov 6, 2024 – 48:08
  • Scents and Sensibility: How Smell Shapes Your Wine and World with Johannes Frasnelli
    Nov 6, 2024 – 01:10:05
  • 309: The Surprising Health Benefits of Wine with Tony Edwards, Author of The Very Good News About Wine
    Oct 30, 2024 – 45:09
  • 308: Defining Minerality, Mouthfeel and Musty Aromas with Gus Zhu
    Oct 23, 2024 – 43:27
  • 307: Umami, Petrol and Vegetal Aromas Behind the Glass in the Chemical and Sensorial Terroir of Wine Tasting with Gus Zhu
    Oct 16, 2024 – 46:31
  • 306: Wine and Folklore Share Terroir and Storytelling with Jo Penn Author of Blood Vintage
    Oct 9, 2024 – 42:05
  • 305: Blending Biodynamics and Suspense with Jo Penn Author of Blood Vintage
    Oct 2, 2024 – 42:08
  • 304: Rioja Wines Blend the Past and Present with Adam Lechmere
    Sep 25, 2024 – 38:19
  • 303: Rioja's Magical Wine, Medieval History and Modern Architecture with Adam Lechmere, The Smart Traveler's Wine Guide
    Sep 18, 2024 – 40:28
  • 302: The Rise of Southwestern Ontario Wines with Martin Janz, Winemaker at Pelee Island Winery
    Sep 11, 2024 – 50:40
  • 301: How Alcohol Fuels Innovation and Group Cohesion with Edward Slingerland
    Sep 4, 2024 – 42:23
  • 300: How Wine Fosters Creativity, Trust and Sociability with Edward Slingerland, Author of Drunk: How We Sipped, Danced, and Stumbled Our Way to Civilization
    Aug 28, 2024 – 44:24
  • 299: Beyond Eurocentric Wine and Food Pairings + Sonoma's Hidden Gems with Winemaker Theresa Heredia
    Aug 21, 2024 – 43:02
  • 298: Unrivaled Russian River Pinot Noir and Sonoma Wines with Theresa Heredia of Gary Farrell Winery
    Aug 14, 2024 – 42:57
  • 297: Glorious Ontario Wines and the Stubborn, Pathological Optimists Who Make Them with Matthew Gaughan
    Aug 7, 2024 – 39:11
  • 296: Riesling's Big Personality and Germany's Hidden Wine Gems with Anne Krebiehl
    Jul 31, 2024 – 01:12:12
  • 295: Untangling German Wine Styles, Laws and Mysteries with Anne Krebiehl, Author of The Wines of Germany
    Jul 24, 2024 – 59:46
  • 294: How Pigs, Sheep and Bats Help in the Vineyard with Wine Writer Sophie Menin
    Jul 17, 2024 – 01:03:49
  • 293: Why Wine Growing a Nail-Biter Experience with Sophie Menin, Co-Author of a Year in the Vineyard
    Jul 10, 2024 – 39:03
  • 292: Why Wildfire Smoke Taint in Wine Intensifies as it Ages with Dr. Wes Zandberg
    Jul 3, 2024 – 45:38
Recent Reviews
  • davidjoffe
    Enjoy learning about wine
    Natalie is a pleasure to listen to. Her podcasts are always entertaining and informative. I learn a lot without feeling overwhelmed. I like the way she summarizes the key points. Keep up the great work!
  • operavino
    Fun and Informative
    Natalie’s podcast is a wonderful combination of informative wine content in a fun and conversational style.
  • JBurger13
    Wonderful wine pod!
    Informative wine podcast that features insightful interviews with wine professionals about really interesting topics. Great podcast for wine professionals looking to learn more about wine regions, wineries, and trends in the wine world, while also accessible and engaging for people with less experience in the wine world. 5 stars!
  • Victoria Hanly
    Entertaining and full of golden nuggets
    Fantastic podcast that marries wine education and entertainment effortlessly! Natalie is an amazing interviewer and her guests provide a wealth of knowledge woven into interesting stories from the world of wine!
  • Nebbiolodaze
    Awesome Pod!
    This is a fabulous pod! I write as an amateur wine enthusiast who has never previously written a review. I felt compelled to jump in on this one because the coverage of a topic I love is no less than absolutely stellar. The breadth of topics investigated and the guests interviewed cover an immense range and are top notch. The tenor of discussion is approachable for beginning wine lovers, experts, and everyone in between. I have devoted way too much time and money to taking wine-related courses (CSW, CSWS, IWS, SWS, FWS) but Natalie’s pods always convey new information and context. Keep up the great work, Natalie.
  • Terrassa227
    Excellent Podcast For Exploring and Learning Wine
    This podcast is insightful and approachable for all levels of wine enthusiasts. As an avid wine reader and one who listens to many different podcasts, I found the discussions fun, stimulating and helpful. Keep up the great work!
  • Tfleigh
    Always learning something new
    I’m relatively new in my journey learning about and enjoying wine. Each podcast episode is engaging and provides different and unique perspectives other than what is just inside the bottle. From health to horror stories I always find something unexpected to savor with each one and Natalie’s breadth of experience in the industry shines through.
  • J_H75
    Improves my wine education
    I have been listening to Natalie’s podcasts for several years; sometimes I find the time to watch them on YouTube. I continue to learn a lot about wines from her and her guests. She has a variety of interesting guests, and it’s clear that she does a lot of preparation for each guest on her podcast. She asks thoughtful questions of her guests. She’s quite knowledgeable and personable. She has a good sense of humor. I really enjoy the bonus episodes she provides from time to time.
  • Triple H Moose
    Something for Everyone!
    The diversity of topics and guests is amazing. Natalie’s own knowledge of wine has depth, but she’s balanced and never overshadows her guests. She asks great, well thought out questions (from tannic to sweet), and extracts a ton of detail from her guests in an easy drinking manner. Each podcast packs a full bodied punch of information. I’m working my way backward finding vintage episodes that remain fresh and vibrant. Thanks Natalie for producing show that is professionally done, and hosted from a very genuine and authentic place.
  • MB2222
    Approachable and Intelligent
    The chief characteristics that make Unreserved Wine Talk one of my top two wine podcasts (the other deals with a specific region) are its approachability, breadth, depth, intelligence, and professionalism. Although I’ve been drinking wine for many years, I’m still a novice, and this podcast seems to hit all the things one would want to know about the topic.
  • Carter-64
    Great cast
    A must listen!
  • Owen Tweardy
    Love this Podcast
    So many Wine Podcasts out there but this one is the best. I love her approach in educating without exhibiting the snobbiness so prevalent in the wine world. Great guests and interesting topics.
  • MissT 21
    Informative and fun to listen to!
    I listen in from Bermuda and I’m always intrigued by the Information and the diversity of the guests that appear on this podcast. Perfect show for wine enthusiast like myself . I will definitely be referring others to listen in! Keep up the good work Natalie !
  • mbodk
    Great wine podcast
    Some really great episodes on many topics
  • JWW for real
    Solid show
    Recently found this and really enjoying it. Informative without being overly technical. Glad to have a lot of episodes to sift through. Update now that I’ve listened to more. Really appreciate her questions and then giving her guests plenty of room to answer. She has a great ability to ask the follow-up you are probably thinking of. Surprised how often I really appreciate the ones I didn’t think I would be interested in!
  • Nat Gurl
    Wine for all!
    I am newly into wine and trying to find the right podcast(s) that can help educate me, give me diverse topics to learn about, but also keep me engaged. I listened to a couple of other podcasts and while I’m sure the topics were of interest to many, they are a little bit beyond my knowledge level. I feel like this podcast is a great entry into the world and all the wonderful things you can learn about it. i’m very happy to have stumbled across this podcast recently!
  • RobRab
    Refreshing, informative and entertaining.
    Discovered this podcast several months ago and it is now on steady rotation of my go-to pods. If you enjoy learning about wine in a light and conversational format this show is for you.
  • BGK*
    Brava
    When I drive 40 miles to work as a cellar rat at a small winery, I enjoy the soothing voice and far-ranging topics of Natalie MacClean’s Unreserved Wine Talk. 
 A familiar topic can feature a new facet and an unfamiliar subject gets me really hooked, and I wish the podcast would last longer.
  • PV Dean
    Wine faults and flaws
    Keith Grainger podcast with Natalie was excellent. He is very knowledgeable in an area that very few people will talk or write about. Everyone will talk about TCA but few people will go into depth of flaws and faults and what causes them and how you can detect them and even in some cases how you can eliminate them.
  • Mel Eitel
    Wine podcast for everyone
    Not only is Natalie a great podcast host, she breaks down the wine barriers so that all your are listening to is relatable. In addition to the awesome content, she has amazing guests that are full of knowledge and simply entertaining! Definitely a podcast I’m excited to listen to with each new episode!
  • Eric_STL
    Wonderful interviews and insightful conversation!
    Natalie always has an interesting cross-section of wine industry folks on chatting about a plethora of wine-related topics! She’s very conversational, and her passion for all things wine comes through in each episode. A must listen for any wine lover!
  • laura392
    Learning about wine
    I love Natalie’s podcast I am a WSET 3 and I’m studying for the FWS Natalie’s podcasts help reinforce what I have learned plus learning things I never knew This podcast is for newbie’s and anyone wanting to learn more about wine
  • S. Lewis, Los Angeles
    Informative and entertaining!
    I very much enjoy UWT - always a treat! I’ve listened to the podcast for some time now and have never been disappointed. Natalie brings a fresh perspective and somehow manages to draw out consistently the best of her guests.
  • SUsB
    Enjoyable and informative!
    I have been listening to this podcast for a number of years. I have read all of Natalie Maclean’s books and when I saw she had a podcast, I knew it was a must-listen. The topics she covers, mostly relating to various aspects concerning wine, are always interesting. Her guests bring their own stories and perspectives, brought out by Natalie’s incisive questions. I have increased my knowledge about a lot of different wines, social issues, places, people, countries, regions by listening to Natalie’s Unreserved Wine Talk every week.
  • Cyd Walker
    Wine Talk for All
    I appreciate the personal perspective of this podcast. Building connections between growers, producers, writers, and us all who love wine. Helping us understand the beauty of wine and our connection to what earth provides us through another sensory pleasure.
  • LaPenne-Memphis
    A masters degree in wine!
    Most wine podcasts are very much of the Wine 101 varietal- Napa, Bordeaux, Burgundy etc. This show goes much deeper- Bandol, Gruner Veltiner etc. I always learn something new!
  • Asrianf126
    Informative and a Broad Range of Topics, Would Recommend
    Natalie is fantastic! This is a great podcast for anyone who wants to learn about or even just likes wine. The interviews are warm, get detailed and are illuminating. Give it a listen.
  • mvelasco07
    Highly recommend!
    Unreserved Wine Talk has quickly become a favorite in my feed! The conversations Natalie has with her guests are consistently insightful, engaging, and actionable. No matter the topic, I gain something from every episode.
  • The Rose Bush
    Love the Podcast!
    Enjoyed hearing stories & tips. Thanks!
  • Alexstrath1
    Natalie is the best!
    I love Natalie’s hosting style! She’s so much fun to listen to. I can’t believe she doesn’t have more reviews on here as she’s got a HUGE following
  • TheNue504
    Very Informative
    One of my favorite wine podcasts, it’s always a must listen. I’ve learned so much from Natalie and various guests.
  • mtqr700
    Great podcast
    Very informative!
  • @LOBOTOMY101
    Brew Driver OJ + Guinness Stout … OJ’s Dandy BUT Guinness is Quicker?
    Enchanté femme fatale McClean avec swa mon ami excuse em ua feministique AF au demme ua mademoiselle tre magnifique au demme ua
Disclaimer: The podcast and artwork on this page are property of the podcast owner, and not endorsed by UP.audio.