Are you curious about the untold stories of the legendary women who helped create the Ontario wine industry and who also shaped its future? Wine might lead people to work in the wine industry, but what sustains a lifetime career beyond that? Why don’t we celebrate people while they’re alive, but instead wait to express those heartfelt thoughts in a eulogy, post-mortem biography or other memorials?

In this episode of the Unreserved Wine Talk podcast, I'm chatting with author Jennifer Wilhelm.

You can find the wines we discussed at https://www.nataliemaclean.com/winepicks

Giveaway

Three of you will win a copy of Jennifer Wilhelm's terrific new book Sharing a Glass: Inspirational Memoirs & Memories of the Women Who Shaped Ontario's Grape & Wine Industry. Three of you in Canada will win a bottle of the full-bodied, buttery-rich Chloe Chardonnay. The latter restriction relates to the cross-border shipping of alcohol and all the fun that entails.

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 one person randomly from those who contact me. Good luck!

Highlights

How did two tables of broken wine glasses feature in Jennifer’s most memorable wine moment?

What was it like hosting a wine event during a hurricane?

How are camaraderie and support an integral part of working in the wine industry?

What was Jennifer’s inspiration for writing Sharing a Glass?

Why have women’s stories been historically underrepresented?

What was the most surprising insight that Jennifer discovered while writing Sharing a Glass?

Why did Jennifer start the book by profiling Debi Pratt?

What risk did Debi Pratt take in joining Inniskillin?

Which creative strategies did Debi Pratt use to educate people and promote Ontario wine?

How has Inniskillin honoured Debi Pratt's contributions?

Who is Dr. Helen Fisher, and why did Jennifer want to feature her in the book?

How did Donna Lailey’s advocacy for new growing methods help to move the Ontario wine industry forward?

Why was Donna Lailey named Niagara Grape King?

Where did Jennifer’s co-collaborator, Elena Galey-Pride, redirect her proceeds from the book?

How did Dr. Linda Bramble overcome several obstacles to become a leader in the Canadian wine industry?

About Jennifer Wilhelm

Jennifer Wilhelm has dedicated her career to Ontario’s hospitality industry. She is a certified Sommelier, and holds credentials from WSET, Prud’homme, Hospitality Management, and Human Resources with a focus on training and development. She taught at Niagara College for 17 years and was named 2010 Ontario Wine Educator through the VQA Promoters Awards. She received a Lieutenant Governor’s Community Volunteer Award for her contributions to the Ontario wine industry.

Bonus Interview - Andrea Brambila

How did Andrea realize she wanted to become a winemaker?

Which type of glass does Andrea recommend with full-bodied Chardonnay?

Why shouldn’t you judge a wine based on the first sip?

Which foods pair well with the Chloe Chardonnay?

To learn more, visit https://www.nataliemaclean.com/289.

What is a heroic wine? Which emerging trends will shape the taste of Italian wine in the next decade? How has Italian art and architecture directly influenced its wines?

In this episode of the Unreserved Wine Talk podcast, I'm chatting with author Marc Millon.

You can find the wines we discussed at https://www.nataliemaclean.com/winepicks

Giveaway

Three of you will win a copy of Marc Millon's terrific new book Italy in a Wineglass: The Story of Italy Through Its Wines.

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 one person randomly from those who contact me. Good luck!

Highlights

What made Marchesi Antinori the wine producer who’s made the biggest impact on wine today?

How did a wine of the lowest classification revolutionize Italian winemaking in the 1970s?

How did Venetian merchants influence wine production standards in Italy?

What impact did the royal fascination with Barolo have on its global perception?

What defines a heroic wine?

How did World War II reshape Italian vineyard landscapes?

Why do the cultural practices surrounding wine in Italy enhance wine tourism more than in neighbouring countries?

What is the link between art and wine?

What might surprise you about the mafia’s influence on the Italian wine industry?

Which emerging trends in Italian wine will shape the next decade?

How has climate change affected the English wine industry?

What does Marc love about Lympstone Manor Estate Isabeau Rosé 2023?

What makes San Felice Poggio Rosso Chianti Classico Gran Selezione a great example of Chianti’s evolution?

Why would Marc choose Pliny the Elder to share a bottle of wine with?

What’s Marc’s top wine tip to make us more wine-savvy?

Key Takeaways

What is a heroic wine?
Marc defines them as wines made with immense effort from difficult terrains like sea cliffs or high mountain vineyards so they require heroic effort to make them and yet they’re not often well known.

Which emerging trends will shape the taste of Italian wine in the next decade?
Marc sees a greater focus on organic and sustainable viticulture due to climate change.

How has Italian art and architecture directly influenced its wines?
There are styles of wine that reflect architectural styles. Even the bottles and labels that producers create reflect architecture.

About Marc Millon

Marc Millon is a food, wine and travel writer and communicator and the author of numerous books as well as magazine articles published on both sides of the Atlantic. Marc has been travelling, eating, drinking, learning and writing about food, wine and travel for more than 40 years.

To learn more, visit https://www.nataliemaclean.com/288.

Which almost-forgotten grape Italian varieties deserve more recognition? What might surprise you about the stories and wines from Campania? What makes wine such a great narrative vehicle throughout history?

In this episode of the Unreserved Wine Talk podcast, I'm chatting with author Marc Millon.

You can find the wines we discussed at https://www.nataliemaclean.com/winepicks

Giveaway

Three of you will win a copy of Marc Millon's terrific new book Italy in a Wineglass: The Story of Italy Through Its Wines.

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 one person randomly from those who contact me. Good luck!

Highlights

What was it like spending summers running up and down Mexican pyramids as a child?

How has Marc been influenced by his Korean heritage?

What does Marc remember most vividly about moving to England at 19?

What was it like being a writer and travelling the wine regions of multiple countries pre-internet?

Why was Marc motivated to write his latest book, Italy in a Wineglass?

What makes Italy in a Wineglass so different from other books about Italian wine?

How did the Italian pride in history and story stand out to Marc while researching the book?

What has been the most interesting feedback on the book so far?

Why did the stories from Campania surprise Marc the most?

What makes wine such a great narrative vehicle throughout history?

Which almost-forgotten grape varieties deserve more recognition?

How does the Ancient Greek symposium compare to modern Italian social wine-drinking customs?

Which wine story in the book is most reflective of Italian culture?

About Marc Millon

Marc Millon is a food, wine and travel writer and communicator and the author of numerous books as well as magazine articles published on both sides of the Atlantic. Marc has been travelling, eating, drinking, learning and writing about food, wine and travel for more than 40 years.

Bonus Interview - Bianca Marais

Why did I write “Wine Witch on Fire,” and how did I know when it was the right time?

What was the inciting incident that kicked off my no good, very terrible year?

How did my story and experiences with misogyny resonate with other women in various industries?

How do you balance telling your truth in a memoir and concerns about potential legal repercussions down the line?

Who was responsible for paying for the expensive legal reviews and edits of my manuscript?

Why did I choose the theme of witches as the connecting thread throughout my memoir?

How did I weave in references to deepen the witch metaphor throughout Wine Witch on Fire?

To learn more, visit https://www.nataliemaclean.com/287.