Unreserved Wine Talk

Why are podcasts one of the best ways to learn about wine? How do English sparkling wines compare to Champagne, and should you seek them out? Why is the Master of Wine qualification valuable beyond the studies? What’s behind the low pass rate for the Master of Wine qualification?

In this episode of the Unreserved Wine Talk podcast, I'm chatting with Susie Barrie and Peter Richards, Masters of Wine for part two of our two-part conversation.

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

 

Highlights

• Why does Winchester make a great location for a wine festival?
• How did Susie and Peter adapt their Wine Festival Winchester during the pandemic?
• How can you get a taste of 2020’s Wine Festival Winchester masterclasses?
• What beautiful experience did Susie have when judging the 2020 WineGB awards?
• When did Susie and Peter launch their podcast, Wine Blast?
• What was it like launching their podcast during the pandemic?
• Why are podcasts such a good match for wine?
• Which aspects of podcasting are we most interested in?
• Why are Susie and Peter so excited about English wine?
• Can you find English wines in North America?
• What taste profile can you expect from English sparkling wine?
• Which types of English wine should you look out for?
• How are climate extremes impacting wine?
• How do English sparkling wines compare with Champagne?
• Why is the Master of Wine qualification valuable beyond the studies?
• What’s behind the low pass rate for the Master of Wine qualification?

 

Key Takeaways

• I love how Susie and Peter pivoted with Covid and hosted their popular wine festival online. You can watch the video recordings of the sessions they hosted.
• I so agree with them that podcasts are one of the best ways to learn about wine. I’m biased, of course, but it’s such an intimate medium that lends itself to more in-depth learning.
• I found their discussion about English sparkling wines helpful, and I’m determined to taste them when I can find them going forward.
• Susie and Peter made some excellent points on why the Master of Wine qualification is valuable beyond the studies to achieve the credential. Love that probative skill of asking the question beyond the question and challenging received wisdom.

 

Watch Party

Join me for the debut Watch Party of the video of this conversation that I’ll be live-streaming for the very first time on Instagram Live Video, Facebook Live Video or YouTube Live Video on Wednesday, February 24th at 7 pm eastern.

Click on the "Interested" or "Going" buttons below so that you'll be notified when we go live:

https://www.facebook.com/events/216760110179261

I’ll be jumping into the comments on all three platforms as we watch it together so that I can answer your questions in real-time.

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?

 

Giveaway

You could win a prize pack that includes a personally signed copy of their book on English wine, a lovely linen polishing cloth for your wine stemware and a cheeky chef’s apron that says on the front “Like it Fresh and Racy?”

 

How to Win

All you have to do is just pick your favourite social media channel -- Instagram, Facebook, Twitter or LinkedIn -- tag us and post a wine you love before March 10th... bonus points if you tag three wine-loving friends and you tell me why you picked that wine, how it tastes and suggested food pairings.

• Instagram @susieandpeter @nataliemacleanwine
• Facebook @natdecants
• Twitter @wineschools @susiebarrie @nataliemaclean
• LinkedIn @nataliemaclean

Hashtags for all platforms:

#wineblast #natdecants

 

I’ll also reshare your stories and posts with my followers whether you win or not so that you connect with more wine lovers.

Good luck, and I can't wait to see (and share) what you post!

 

About Susie Barrie and Peter Richards Susie and Peter are Masters of Wine who happen to be married to each other. It’s a strange old household, with a constant soundtrack of clinking bottles and glasses. As TV and radio presenters, event hosts, writers, podcasters, authors and consultants, the pair are renowned for their enthusiastic, thoughtful and articulate style, having been described as, ‘Legends: best in the business’ and ‘What a double act: two stars making a killer constellation.’

 

To learn more about the resources mentioned in this episode, visit https://www.nataliemaclean.com/118.