Nicole MacKay
writer, editor, foodie,
and Globe Trotter
Writing Portfolio
Recent Highlights
YAHOO! STYLE
Think White Wine Is Just for Summer? Think Again. 5 Best White Wines for Fall — and What to Pair Them With
FULL POUR
Prosecco Grows Up (Fall 2025 Print Issue)
ICONIC LIFE
Temecula Valley’s Hidden Gem: A Luxury Vineyard Escape Without the Crowds
YAHOO! STYLE
Can You Find Good Canadian Wine Under $25? Sommeliers Say Yes — but It’s Tricky
TASTE
5 Budget-Friendly Wines for Fall
NATIONAL POST
Sip, Soak and Stay in Osoyoos This Fall
YAHOO! STYLE
These Are the Best Canadian Wines Under $40 — Plus How to Tell if a Bottle Is Worth Your Cash
ICONIC LIFE
Luxury Wine Country Escape in Texas: The Ritz-Carlton Las Colinas is Redefining Vineyard Retreats
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
