Nicole MacKay
writer, editor, foodie,
and Globe Trotter
Writing Portfolio
Recent Highlights
ICONIC LIFE
Luxury Wine Country Escape in Texas: The Ritz-Carlton Las Colinas is Redefining Vineyard Retreats
TASTE
BC Wine & Barbecue Playbook
TASTE
Spritz Up Your Patio Party
VANCOUVER SUN
Celebrate Your Beloved Mom or Mom Figure at Metropolis at Metrotown’s Immersive Glampsite
TORONTO SUN
Explore the Desert Greens and Vineyard Scenes in Osoyoos
GUILDSOMM
Exploring BC’s Geographical Indications: A Guide for Wine Professionals
TASTE
Sip Into The Future
FULL POUR
Rethinking Hybrids in Canada (Fall Print Issue)
Social Sips
Gorgona Island Wines Prove Second Chances Can Create Something Beautiful
As I sit to write this, it's been exactly one year since I stood at the highest point of the...
Low-Alcohol, High Flavour: The Smart Shift Toward Wine Cocktails
You don't expect a Chardonnay from Napa Valley to end up in a cocktail shaker. But that's exactly...
What’s at the Top of Hermitage Hill?
Some places in the wine world feel like myth until you stand on them. Hermitage Hill, perched...
Is The Dorian Hotel in Calgary Worth the Hype?
It's probably been a decade since my husband and I celebrated Valentine's Day. The contrived,...
A Groundbreaking Chapter for Livermore Valley Begins
Livermore Valley represent one of California's earliest viticultural traditions, with roots...
15 Most Memorable Hotel Stays of 2024
As a wine writer, I’m incredibly fortunate to call the world my office. Press trips take me to...
Recent Reviews
Meet Nicole
Nicole MacKay (she/her) brings two dynamic decades of wine industry experience to the table. From marketing and sales to imports and journalism, she’s done it all — and written about it, too. With hundreds of articles for local and international publications under her belt, Nicole is the managing editor for Wine Folly, crafting approachable, engaging content about all things wine. She also continues to freelance for wine, food, and travel publications, spinning vivid tales and sharing unforgettable insights with enthusiasts around the globe.
Nicole’s career highlights are the stuff of every oenophile’s dream. She’s chatted with legends like Paul Hobbs, Steve Matthiasson, and Karen MacNeil (author of The Wine Bible). On assignment, she’s surfed Chilean waves, toured vineyards on horseback, explored Pol Roger’s Champagne caves, and braved the fierce Mistral winds atop Rhône mountains — all in the name of great storytelling.
Based in Calgary, Alberta, Nicole doesn’t just write about wine; she’s deeply credentialed in it. She’s a Spanish Wine Scholar through the Wine Scholar Guild and holds a Level 3 certification from the Wine & Spirit Education Trust.
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Featured Work
