December 13, 2023

263: Tasting Bliss Points & Making Wines Memorable with Mandy Naglich, Author of How to Taste: A Guide to Discovering Flavor and Savoring Life

35 minutes

You love to eat, but do you know how to taste? What is a bliss point when it comes to food or tasting? What makes our most memorable meals and wines delicious? How can you make sure to bring home the best experiences from a wine trip?

In this episode of the Unreserved Wine Talk podcast, I'm chatting with author Mandy Naglich who has just published How to Taste: A Guide to Discovering Flavor and Savoring Life.

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

Giveaway

Two of you are going to win a personally signed copy of Mandy's new book, How to Taste: A Guide to Discovering Flavor and Savoring Life.

To qualify, all you have to do is email me at [email protected] and let me know that you've posted a review of the podcast. I'll choose three people randomly from those who contact me. Good luck!

Highlights

What did Mandy learn about hospitality through your first wine-pairing experience at a Michelin-starred restaurant in Belgium?

Why did Mandy write about Rick Bayless' blind tasting experience in her book?

What made San Diego wine country so memorable for Mandy?

How can you make sure to bring home the best experiences from a wine trip?

Why did Mandy decide to write How to Taste: A Guide to Discovering Flavor and Savoring Life?

What was the most unusual insight Mandy gained while writing her book?

Which feedback surprised Mandy the most from readers of her book?

How can we judge the acidity of anything from a cup of tea and wine to a square of dark chocolate?

Why does salt make foods taste less bitter?

How do our tastebuds respond to food temperature?

What might surprise you about your mouth's sensitivity to texture?

What is a bliss point when it comes to food or tasting?

How can you distinguish between pomme fruit and stone fruit?

What are the hallmarks of different categories of aromas?

Why would you not want to open an expensive bottle of wine while playing loud music?

Key Takeaways

I found Mandy's explanation of the difference between eating and tasting fascinating, as well as her discussion about the bliss point and how individual it is.

Her tips on how to make the most of your experiences in wine country were helpful.

I agree with her that your environment really affects your enjoyment of whatever you're drinking. It's the 360 degrees of flavour and contributes to our most memorable meals. It was interesting how losing your sense of sight can obscure what you're tasting.

Join me on Instagram, Facebook and YouTube Live

Join the live-stream video of this conversation on Wed at 7 pm ET on Instagram Live Video, Facebook Live Video or YouTube Live Video.

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?

Want to know when we go live? Add this to your calendar: https://www.addevent.com/calendar/CB262621

About Mandy Naglich

Mandy Naglich is one of fewer than 100 Advanced Cicerones in the world, one of the highest certifications in beer expertise. She's also a Certified Cider Professional and has her WSET in spirits. Mandy's writing has been published in Vice, Taste of Home, Vine Pair, and Wine Enthusiast. She started her career in journalism at the Schieffer College of Communication at Texas Christian University.

To learn more, visit https://www.nataliemaclean.com/263.

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By Natalie MacLean

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