About this episode

Natalie MacLean discusses the complexities of wine perception and organic agriculture with guest Alan Ramey.

Is a fully organic future in agriculture possible or even affordable, or are there limits to how far we can go? Why has biodynamics thrived in wine when many of its founder's ideas were rejected in medicine and education? How much of what you enjoy in wine comes from what's in the glass versus your mental perception of what you're drinking? In this episode of the Unreserved Wine Talk podcast, I'm chatting with Alan Ramey, author of Pressing Matters: The Debates, Controversies and Mysteries that have Shaped the World of Wine . You can find the wines we discussed at https://www.nataliemaclean.com/winepicks . Giveaway Two of you are going to win a copy of Alan Ramey's terrific new book, Pressing Matters: The Debates, Controversies and Mysteries that have Shaped the World of Wine . 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 two people randomly from those who contact me. Good luck! Highlights What real-world vineyard challenges force growers to abandon organic practices despite their intentions? Can organic treatments like copper create unintended long-term harm? Why is it difficult…

People in this episode

Host: Natalie MacLean

Guest: Alan Ramey

Topics covered

• organic agriculture
• biodynamics in wine
• wine perception
• vineyard challenges
• consumer behavior
• organic farming standards

Keywords

• organic wine
• biodynamics
• vineyard challenges
• consumer perception
• agriculture
• Sri Lanka fertilizer ban

Mentioned in this episode

Books & works: Pressing Matters: The Debates, Controversies and Mysteries that have Shaped the World of Wine

More episodes of Unreserved Wine Talk

• 387: The Cheese Cure: How Comté and Camembert Fed My Soul With Michael Finnerty · April 28, 2026 · 1h 9m
• 386: How Did a World Memory Champion, a Theatre Director, a Voice Coach, a TV Actor, and a Professional Magician Help Gerard Basset Win the World's Best Sommelier Competition? · April 22, 2026 · 51 min
• 385: How Did Discovering Wine Lead Gérard Basset to Become the World's Best Sommelier? · April 15, 2026 · 1h 0m
• 383: The Debates, Controversies and Mysteries That Have Shaped the World of Wine Like Organics With Alan Ramey, Author of Pressing Matters · April 1, 2026 · 1h 11m
• 382: The Prison That Became a Distillery: Belfast's Most Unlikely Comeback Story with McConnell's Irish Whisky · March 25, 2026 · 46 min
• 381: From Hard Time to Happy Hour: The Remarkable Resurrection of McConnell's Irish Whisky · March 17, 2026 · 1h 6m

Explore listener stats, chart rankings, contacts and more on the Unreserved Wine Talk podcast page.