Unquenchable by Natalie MacLean: A Tipsy Quest for the World’s Best Bargain Wines
Over the next couple of weeks I will be posting numerous holiday dessert recipes and a multitude of fabulous entertaining tips and gift ideas for the food and wine lovers in your life. Today’s top culinary gift pick is Natalie MacLean’s most recent book Unquenchable which takes readers on “A Tipsy Quest for the World’s Best Bargain Wines”.
For me, there is nothing sweeter during the holidays or if I am really honest year round, than sharing a divine meal and a glass of wine with my amazing friends and family. In today’s economy being able to do this on a budget is a true gift.
Natalie takes us along with her on a sublime and tasteful journey to a variety of regions where she visits a myriad of wineries in each area, highlighting those wines that are affordable and consistently worthy of note in regards to taste. A few wines were instantly recognizable to me, others I had never heard of but am now eager to try. Natalie writes in the first person, and with such a refreshingly straight forward manner that she makes the reader feel as though they are being transported into each environment and tasting room right along with her. Her conversations and the food and wine experiences she shares with the winery owners are educational and enlightening. Some are laugh out loud funny, her visit with Wolf Blass springs to mind immediately. She opens a window into the personalities of those she speaks with and shows us that each one is as diverse as the wines they produce. The discussions pertaining to the history of the wineries and the geography of each area as well as how the wine is developed, from grape to bottle are understandable and easy to follow. Natalie also embarks on several legendary meals where food and wine pairings are discussed in mouthwatering detail. The menus for each of these are printed on the last page of the chapter and the recipes for the dishes can be found on Natalie's website.
Pick this book up for the wine lover on your list. They will definitely thank you, hopefully by inviting you to share a bottle of wine!
At the end of each chapter Natalie offers:
- Insider Tips
- Wineries visited
- Best value wines
- Top value producers
- Dinner suggestions for each day of the week for the wine cheapskate
- Terrific pairings
- Resources and related reading
Natalie receives up approximately 200 emails per day. This is proof that the desire for a memorable wine experience at a bargain price is high. Visit this link for Natalie's informative wine picks and pairings, recipes and a fantastic mobile app that allows you to take her along with you while perusing the wine aisles.
You must believe in something. I believe I’ll have another drink.
– W.C. Fields
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See Lisa's dessert demo and holiday entertaining discussion this Thursday, December 15th on Kare 11 Today at 11:00 AM.
Wine and liquor stores in the Twin Cities area:
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