402: When Do Wine Tasting Notes Become So Over-The-Top That They Stop Meaning Anything? How To Sound Wine Smart with Marisol de la Fuente
Unreserved Wine TalkShow Notes
How do our personal memories shape the aromas we recognize in wine? What incredible Argentine wines are people missing when they focus only on Malbec? Why do food and wines from the same region often pair beautifully even when they break the usual rules? In this episode of the Unreserved Wine Talk podcast, I'm chatting with Marisol de la Fuente. You can find the wines we discussed at https://www.nataliemaclean.com/winepicks.
Highlights How did a student's memory of his grandmother help Marisol explain aroma in wine tasting? Why might an old wine remind someone of sushi? Why does Torrontés pair unexpectedly well with Argentine empanadas? How can molecular pairing create surprising matches like white chocolate with caviar? Why does Marisol say wine changes with age rather than automatically improving? What is the biggest misconception people have about aging wine? Why does Marisol believe Argentina is known too narrowly for Malbec? What does Argentina need to do better to show the world its full range of wines? How did winning Wine Communicator of the Year change Marisol's place in the global wine conversation? Why does Marisol believe wine communication should never feel too solemn? What childhood comfort food would Marisol pair with white wine today? Why does Marisol believe constant study and research matter most in wine communication?
About Marisol de la Fuente Marisol de la Fuente is an international sommelier, graduated from the Argentine School of Sommeliers, a bartender trained at the International Center of Cocktail Arts, and a journalist. She communicates about the world of wine and beverages to bring it closer to consumers. She is a columnist on Canal de la Ciudad, where she presents a different segment every week in a simple and entertaining manner. On Vinimos, her wine podcast, she answers the most common consumer questions alongside Ariel Torres, journalist at La Nación. She teaches her course "El vino, sin vueltas" in a live online format and also works as an instructor in the sommelier programs. Beyond her passion for wine, she has 25 years of experience in marketing, communication, and PR in multinational companies, and she is a Digital Marketing lecturer and consultant for companies in the wine and beverage industry.
To learn more, visit https://www.nataliemaclean.com/402.
More from Unreserved Wine Talk
Why does a Manhattan cocktail and a hamburger make an insanely great pairing? Can strongly brewed black tea really scratch the itch for whiskey in a non-alcoholic Old Fashioned? How did the arrival of drinking straws make new types of cocktails possible? In this episode of the Unreserved Wine Talk podcast, I'm chatting with Kara Newman, the author of eight cocktail books. You can find the wines we discussed at https://www.nataliemaclean.com/winepicks.
France has Champagne. Italy has Prosecco. Spain has Cava. So what's the new Canadian sparkling wine style that's just launched? Will Canadians remain loyal to domestic wines once American wines return to store shelves? Is the wine industry making a costly mistake by assuming young drinkers will turn to wine as their incomes grow? How could boxed wine change the way you think about buying and enjoying wine at home? In this episode of the Unreserved Wine Talk podcast, I'm chatting with John Boynton, CEO of Arterra Wines Canada. You can find the wines we discussed at https://www.nataliemaclean.com/winepicks.
How can a bottle of wine become the invitation, slow down the moment, and create space for real conversation? Why does the wine industry need to look beyond wine itself to win back consumers? How can wine become more relevant to younger consumers? In this episode of the Unreserved Wine Talk podcast, I'm chatting with John Boynton. You can find the wines we discussed at https://www.nataliemaclean.com/winepicks.
How can two rums taste completely different even though they're both made from sugar cane? What makes Jamaican rum so famously funky, and what does a dunder pit have to do with it? How does the type of ice you use change the strength, temperature, and texture of a cocktail? In this episode of the Unreserved Wine Talk podcast, I'm chatting with Kara Newman, the author of eight cocktail books. You can find the wines we discussed at https://www.nataliemaclean.com/winepicks.
How does smoking whisky grains with elephant dung translate into flavours like raspberry and sandalwood? What does the saying "you can't turn a donkey into a racehorse" reveal about making great whisky? How are modern whisky makers using blending to capture emotions and experiences? In this episode of the Unreserved Wine Talk podcast, I'm chatting with Kristiane Westray. You can find the wines we discussed at https://www.nataliemaclean.com/winepicks.