Stop Wasting Your Wine

Stop Wasting Your Wine
  • 5.0 (9)
  • FOOD
  • UPDATED WEEKLY

Choosing wine should not feel like a gamble. Each week Colin, Joel, and Aaron put bottles to the test so you know which wines are actually worth buying. Every episode includes an honest wine review, practical wine tips, and real opinions about what is overrated, what is underrated, and what deserves a spot in your cart. No wine snobbery. No confusing jargon. Just straightforward help picking better bottles. If you have ever stood in the wine aisle wondering “Is this actually good?” you are in the right place. Pour a glass and listen in.

  1. 3D AGO

    $17 Bordeaux Bubbles...Hidden Gem or Total Waste? | Dulong Crémant de Bordeaux Brut Review

    A $17 sparkling wine from Bordeaux challenges the idea that bubbles need to be expensive to be worth it. This week kicks off a value-focused series with a surprising pick. The wine is the Dulong Crémant de Bordeaux Brut from Bordeaux, France, priced around $17 with 12% ABV. The hosts explore why a region known for red wine is producing sparkling wine and how value plays into buying decisions. They break down what “Brut” actually means, how region shapes style, and why traditional method sparkling wines matter when chasing quality at lower prices. The result: a unique, solid value bottle that sparks debate on what makes a wine memorable versus simply enjoyable. Subscribe for weekly wine conversations. Support the show and help keep the wine flowing! Buy us a glass! ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://buymeacoffee.com/cheers3⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Connect with the show. We would love to hear from you! Stop Wasting Your Wine on Instagram ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/stopwastingyourwine/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Stop Wasting Your Wine on YouTube ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@StopWastingYourWine⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ The Stop Wasting Your Wine Website ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://stopwastingyourwine.com/⁠⁠⁠ Chapters 00:00 - Bordeaux… But Sparkling? (Cold Open) 00:21 - Best Bang for Your Buck Bubbles 01:59 - $17 Crémant de Bordeaux (Wine Reveal) 04:29 - Why This Pick? 06:05 - First Taste Breakdown (Nose + Palate) 11:17 - What Makes This Wine Different 12:26 - Wine Drops: Brut, Bordeaux, and Sparkling Basics 20:37 - Final Thoughts 21:52 - Ratings: Is It Worth It? 29:56 - Game: Pick Your Poison 33:42 - Final Verdict & Outro

    37 min

  2. MAR 31

    Wine Interview: Mariano Buglioni of Cantina Buglioni | Big Barrels, Bold Ideas!

    A winemaker challenges Amarone tradition and flips the script. Mariano Buglioni shares how his Il Lussurioso Amarone from Buglioni in Valpolicella Classico (15.5% ABV) is intentionally made to be more drinkable, food-friendly, and approachable. Instead of heavy, overpowering styles, Buglioni shifted away from barrique aging to large casks and adjusted grape drying to reduce sugar and alcohol intensity. The result is an Amarone designed for a second glass, not just a single sip. The conversation explores challenging tradition, using hospitality as real-time feedback, and attracting younger drinkers through simpler messaging and experiences. This episode highlights how small production choices can reshape an entire wine style. Subscribe for weekly wine conversations. Learn More About Cantina Buglioni https://www.buglioni.it/ Support the show and help keep the wine flowing! Buy us a glass! ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://buymeacoffee.com/cheers3⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Connect with the show. We would love to hear from you! Stop Wasting Your Wine on Instagram ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/stopwastingyourwine/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Stop Wasting Your Wine on YouTube ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@StopWastingYourWine⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ The Stop Wasting Your Wine Website ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://stopwastingyourwine.com/⁠⁠⁠ Chapters 00:00 – Show Intro and Guest Welcome00:30 – Todays Wine01:30 – Mariano Buglioni’s Background and Winery Story03:00 – A New Style of Amarone05:30 – How the Wine Evolves in the Glass08:30 – The ‘Accidental Winemaker’ Story11:30 – Using Hospitality as a Real-Time Wine Lab14:00 – Winemaking Changes: Drying Grapes and Sugar Levels19:00 – Organic vs Sustainable Farming Decisions22:00 – Engaging the Next Generation of Wine Drinkers28:45 – Review and Final Thoughts35:15 – PiNope or ChardonnYay (Game)39:00 – Outro

    41 min

  3. MAR 24

    Does This Wine Bring Out Your Inner Sun Goddess? | Sun Goddess Pinot Grigio Ramato Orange Wine by Mary J Blige, 2021 Review

    A celebrity Pinot Grigio that doesn’t look like Pinot Grigio and might challenge what you expect from the category. This week, the crew digs into a unique bottle and debates whether it delivers where it counts. This episode features the Sun Goddess Pinot Grigio Ramato 2021 by Mary J. Blige from Friuli, Italy. It’s 12.5% ABV and priced around $20. They break down the Ramato style, why the wine has its copper color, and how it compares to typical Pinot Grigio. The conversation explores drinkability, style choices, and when a wine like this actually works best. Plus, the final round of the celebrity wine challenge brings some strong opinions and a close comparison. Subscribe for weekly wine conversations. Support the show and help keep the wine flowing! Buy us a glass! ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://buymeacoffee.com/cheers3⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Connect with the show. We would love to hear from you!Stop Wasting Your Wine on Instagram ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/stopwastingyourwine/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Stop Wasting Your Wine on YouTube ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@StopWastingYourWine⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ The Stop Wasting Your Wine Website ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://stopwastingyourwine.com/⁠⁠⁠ Chapters: 00:00 - Intro and Celebrity Wine Challenge Setup00:40 - Todays Wine02:30 - First Sip Reactions05:10 - Why This Wine Was Chosen07:08 - Initial Impressions13:24 - What is Ramato Wine? (Learning Segment)19:53 - Wine Style Takeaways20:13 - Review and Final Thoughts28:56 - Ranking the Celebrity Wines33:43 - Wine-Themed Lyric Game39:28 - April Challenge Announcement40:32 - Where to Follow the Show

    41 min

  4. MAR 17

    Does "All of Me" Love This Wine? | John Legend Signature Series Cabernet Sauvignon by LVE, 2021 Review

    Is John Legend’s wine actually worth buying, or are you just paying for the name? The crew tests the 2023 LVE Signature Series Cabernet Sauvignon from LVE Wines by John Legend, a North Coast, California bottle priced around $20 with 14.5% ABV, as part of their celebrity wine challenge under $30. Aaron explains why this bottle stood out among the many celebrity wine options and why the LVE lineup caught his attention. The hosts also discuss the partnership with producer Jean-Charles Boisset and whether that background should raise, or lower, expectations. Later, the episode shifts into a quick Cabernet Sauvignon lesson in the “Wine Drops” segment, focusing on how tannin shapes the texture and experience of the wine before the group delivers their final verdict. Subscribe for weekly wine conversations. Support the show and help keep the wine flowing! Buy us a glass! ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://buymeacoffee.com/cheers3⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Connect with the show. We would love to hear from you!Stop Wasting Your Wine on Instagram ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/stopwastingyourwine/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Stop Wasting Your Wine on YouTube ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@StopWastingYourWine⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ The Stop Wasting Your Wine Website ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://stopwastingyourwine.com/⁠⁠⁠ Chapters 00:00 — Celebrity Wine Challenge Returns00:14 — Show Intro00:31 — Today’s Wine02:35 — First Sip Reactions07:14 — Breaking Down the Wine15:30 — Wine Drops18:38 — Revisit After Wine Drops21:42 — Review and Final Thoughts25:30 — Pinot or Chardonnay Game32:30 — Where to Find the Show

    33 min

  5. MAR 10

    Dave Matthews’ $15 Wine… Is It Actually Good? | The Dreaming Tree Crush Red Blend Review

    Celebrity wines can be a minefield. This week the crew kicks off a new challenge to find the best celebrity wine under $30, starting with The Dreaming Tree Crush Red Blend (2023) from Dreaming Tree Wines, a collaboration between Dave Matthews and winemaker Steve Reeder. The wine comes from California, costs about $15, and sits at 14.5% ABV. The hosts discuss what celebrity wines get right and wrong, why California red blends often surprise drinkers, and who these easy drinking wines are actually made for. They also break down common misconceptions about “jammy” wines and how warm climate fruit and modern winemaking shape approachable red blends. Plus a Dave Matthews Band lyric game and the first score in the celebrity wine challenge. Subscribe for weekly wine conversations. Support the show and help keep the wine flowing! Buy us a glass! ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://buymeacoffee.com/cheers3⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Connect with the show. We would love to hear from you!Stop Wasting Your Wine on Instagram ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/stopwastingyourwine/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Stop Wasting Your Wine on YouTube ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@StopWastingYourWine⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ The Stop Wasting Your Wine Website ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://stopwastingyourwine.com/⁠⁠⁠ Chapters 00:00 – New Celebrity Wine Challenge Begins00:21 – Rules: Finding the Best Celebrity Wine Under $3003:31 – Upcoming Celebrity Wines (Mary J. Blige & John Legend Picks)04:10 – Today’s Wine: The Dreaming Tree Crush Red Blend (Dave Matthews)08:17 – First Impressions and Discussion17:05 – Learning Segment: What California Red Blends Actually Are23:26 – Who California Red Blends Are Actually For25:37 – Review System Explained26:43 – Review and Final Thoughts31:39 – Dave Matthews Lyrics Game37:01 – Wrap Up and Where to Find the Show

    38 min

  6. MAR 3

    Wine Interview: Chris Louton Winemaker at St. Francis Winery | Protecting the Soul of a Wine?!?

    From cleaning kennels to crafting Sonoma Cabernet, Chris Louton’s path to winemaking wasn’t planned. A UC Davis class changed everything. Now at St. Francis Winery & Vineyards, he’s shaping wines that stay balanced, affordable, and true to place. Chris shares how he went from veterinary ambitions to overseeing Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and Bordeaux varietals in Sonoma County. We talk vintage differences, protecting quality at scale, and why he refuses to “make wine for trends.” We taste the 2023 St. Francis Merlot and 2023 Cabernet Sauvignon (both around $15–$16, 14.8% and 14.5% ABV). Chris breaks down vineyard strategy, blending across Sonoma County, and how they maintain control from vine to bottle. If you care about value wine done right, this one’s for you. Subscribe for weekly wine conversations. Learn More About the St. Francis https://www.stfranciswinery.com/ Support the show and help keep the wine flowing! Buy us a glass! ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://buymeacoffee.com/cheers3⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Connect with the show. We would love to hear from you! Stop Wasting Your Wine on Instagram ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/stopwastingyourwine/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Stop Wasting Your Wine on YouTube ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@StopWastingYourWine⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ The Stop Wasting Your Wine Website ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://stopwastingyourwine.com/⁠⁠⁠ Chapters 00:00 – Welcome & Guest Introduction 00:55 – From Veterinary Medicine to Winemaking 05:14 – Luxury Cabernet & Early Career 07:42 – Joining St. Francis & Carrying the Legacy 10:08 – Making Wine for a Wide Audience 15:07 – What St. Francis Wines Aim to Deliver 18:15 – Protecting Quality at Scale 22:06 – 2023 Merlot Breakdown 34:36 – 2023 Cabernet Sauvignon Breakdown 42:45 – Review & Ratings 47:25 – Pinot or Chardonnay Game 50:13 – Final Thoughts + Where to Find St. Francis

    52 min

  7. FEB 24

    Wine Interview: Katie Madigan Winemaker at St. Frances Winery | Making Great Wine at Great Scale

    This week, a behind-the-scenes look at how great Sonoma wine actually gets made. Katie Madigan of St. Francis Winery shares how she went from chemistry student to winemaker, why sustainability is more than farming, and how to keep soul and quality in wines priced around $15–$18. Katie breaks down St. Francis Winery’s approach to balance, aromatics, and vintage expression, plus what it takes to produce accessible wines at scale without losing identity. We taste and discuss:• 2023 Sonoma County Chardonnay – St. Francis Winery – Sonoma County – $15–$18 – 14% ABV• 2023 Old Vine Zinfandel – St. Francis Winery – Sonoma County – $15–$18 If you care about sustainability, value-driven California wine, or how winemakers think during harvest, this one’s for you. Subscribe for weekly wine conversations. Support the show and help keep the wine flowing! Buy us a glass! ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://buymeacoffee.com/cheers3⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Connect with the show. We would love to hear from you! Stop Wasting Your Wine on Instagram ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/stopwastingyourwine/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Stop Wasting Your Wine on YouTube ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@StopWastingYourWine⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ The Stop Wasting Your Wine Website ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://stopwastingyourwine.com/⁠⁠⁠ Chapters 00:00 – Welcome and Introducing Katie Madigan 02:02 – From Chemistry to Winemaking03:14 – UC Davis Enology Program 04:34 – Early Days at St. Francis08:28 – Sustainability at St. Francis Winery12:19 – How Katie Knows a Wine Is Ready14:16 – Aromatics, Texture, and Wine Accessibility18:32 – Making Quality Wine at Scale20:11 – Todays Wine20:13 – 2023 Sonoma County Chardonnay26:52 –2023 Old Vine Zinfandel36:01 – Review and Final Thoughts

    41 min

  8. FEB 17

    Forbidden Kiss Sweet Red Sparkling Wine Review | Looks Can Be Deceiving!

    A $15 sparkling Gamay from Beaujolais with a sexy label and big wine family backing… and it became the first unanimous drain of 2026. This week, the guys crack open Forbidden Kiss Sparkling Red Wine from the Boisset Collection in Beaujolais. It’s 100% Gamay, made in the ancestral method, 7.5% ABV, and widely available at Total Wine. On paper, it checks the boxes for a fun, low-alcohol sparkling red. In the glass, things go sideways. They break down: What sparkling Gamay should taste like How the ancestral method works Why sugar and alcohol matter And how this bottle missed the mark Plus: sexy bottle challenge results and the first unanimous drain of the year. Subscribe for weekly wine conversations. Support the show and help keep the wine flowing! Buy us a glass! ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://buymeacoffee.com/cheers3⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Connect with the show. We would love to hear from you!Stop Wasting Your Wine on Instagram ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/stopwastingyourwine/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Stop Wasting Your Wine on YouTube ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@StopWastingYourWine⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ The Stop Wasting Your Wine Website ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://stopwastingyourwine.com/⁠⁠⁠ Chapters 00:00 – Sexy Bottle Challenge Finale 02:09 – Todays Wine 04:52 – First Impressions 11:02 – Understanding Sparkling Gamay 13:34 – How the Ancestral Method Works 15:00 – What This Wine Should Have Been 18:49 – Who Is Jean-Charles Boisset? 21:28 – Review and Final Thoughts 26:01 – Challenge Results and Winner 29:01 – PiNope or ChardonnYay 31:27 – Where to Find Us

    32 min
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Trailer

5
out of 5
9 Ratings

About

Choosing wine should not feel like a gamble. Each week Colin, Joel, and Aaron put bottles to the test so you know which wines are actually worth buying. Every episode includes an honest wine review, practical wine tips, and real opinions about what is overrated, what is underrated, and what deserves a spot in your cart. No wine snobbery. No confusing jargon. Just straightforward help picking better bottles. If you have ever stood in the wine aisle wondering “Is this actually good?” you are in the right place. Pour a glass and listen in.

Information

  • Creator
    Stop Wasting Your Wine
  • Years Active
    2023 - 2026
  • Episodes
    156
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Stop Wasting Your Wine
  • Show Website
    Stop Wasting Your Wine

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