Stop Wasting Your Wine

Is Crémant just “cheap Champagne”… or are you being sold the wrong story?

In the final round of our Best Bang for Your Buck Bubbles Challenge, we put a Crémant de Bourgogne to the test and things get controversial fast. A surprise price jump turns this bottle into a debate about value, expectations, and what actually makes sparkling wine worth buying.

Here’s what you’ll learn in this episode:
• Why Crémant is not trying to be Champagne and why that matters when you’re buying
• The real difference between price vs. value in sparkling wine
• How region like Burgundy vs. Champagne completely changes what’s in your glass
• The exact moment a “good” wine becomes a waste of your money
• Which bottle actually wins the Best Bang for Your Buck challenge

We also break down tasting notes including apple, citrus, minerality, and a surprisingly strong finish, debate whether this bottle is worth $40, and reveal the one sparkling wine style that consistently overdelivers for the price.

If you’ve ever stood in the wine aisle wondering what sparkling wine is actually worth it, this episode will save you money.

Bottom line: Not all bubbles are created equal. And some are absolutely not worth what you’re paying.

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Stop Wasting Your Wine on YouTube
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Chapters
00:00 - Crémant Isn’t Trying to Be Champagne
02:17 - Bottle Reveal: Henri Champlieu Crémant de Bourgogne
04:14 - First Sips and Initial Reactions
08:27 - Nose and Palate Breakdown
15:16 - Why Crémant Is Not Just Cheap Champagne
21:11 - Final Review: Casual Sipper or Waste of Your Wine?
33:22 - Best Bang for Your Buck Bubbles Challenge Winner
35:53 - Next Challenge: Drink This, Not That
37:20 - Pick Your Poison
40:29 - Outro and Where to Follow the Show

A Spanish sparkling wine producer walked away from Cava on purpose. They wanted more control.

In this episode, we break down:
• Why Raventós left the Cava designation
• What stricter farming and lower yields are aiming to do
• And whether this Spanish sparkling wine is just “better Cava”… or something different

We’re reviewing Raventós Blanc de Blancs (2023), a traditional method sparkling wine from Conca del Río Anoia, Spain. At 12% ABV and $20–$25, it’s positioned as a high-value alternative to Cava.

What stood out:
• Extremely drinkable
• Balanced and refined
• Strong value for the price
If you’re looking for a great Spanish sparkling wine or a Cava alternative, this episode will give you a better sense of what to look for.

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Stop Wasting Your Wine on YouTube
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Chapters00:00 - Why This Producer Stepped Away from Cava
00:15 - Best Value Bubbles Challenge Continues
01:40 - Raventós Blanc de Blancs Breakdown
03:30 - Not Labeled Cava… Here’s Why
04:10 - First Sip Reactions
05:30 - Why Joel Picked This Bottle
08:00 - Tiny Bubbles and What They Signal
09:30 - Nose: Citrus, Bread, Minerality
11:30 - Palate: Vibrant and Easy Drinking
14:30 - The Finish Stands Out
16:10 - Wine Drops: The Cava Decision Explained
19:50 - Traditional Method and What It Adds
21:30 - What to Expect From This Style
24:30 - Final Verdict: Close Call
29:40 - “Classy Porch Pounder” Debate
30:20 - $800K Wine vs 100 Bottles
36:40 - Final Thoughts

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.

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Stop Wasting Your Wine on YouTube
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The Stop Wasting Your Wine Website
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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

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.

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Learn More About Cantina Buglioni
https://www.buglioni.it/

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Buy us a glass!
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Connect with the show. We would love to hear from you!
Stop Wasting Your Wine on Instagram
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Stop Wasting Your Wine on YouTube
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The Stop Wasting Your Wine Website
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Chapters
00:00 – Show Intro and Guest Welcome
00:30 – Todays Wine
01:30 – Mariano Buglioni’s Background and Winery Story
03:00 – A New Style of Amarone
05:30 – How the Wine Evolves in the Glass
08:30 – The ‘Accidental Winemaker’ Story
11:30 – Using Hospitality as a Real-Time Wine Lab
14:00 – Winemaking Changes: Drying Grapes and Sugar Levels
19:00 – Organic vs Sustainable Farming Decisions
22:00 – Engaging the Next Generation of Wine Drinkers
28:45 – Review and Final Thoughts
35:15 – PiNope or ChardonnYay (Game)
39:00 – Outro

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
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Stop Wasting Your Wine on YouTube
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The Stop Wasting Your Wine Website
⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://stopwastingyourwine.com/⁠⁠⁠

Chapters:
00:00 - Intro and Celebrity Wine Challenge Setup
00:40 - Todays Wine
02:30 - First Sip Reactions
05:10 - Why This Wine Was Chosen
07:08 - Initial Impressions
13:24 - What is Ramato Wine? (Learning Segment)
19:53 - Wine Style Takeaways
20:13 - Review and Final Thoughts
28:56 - Ranking the Celebrity Wines
33:43 - Wine-Themed Lyric Game
39:28 - April Challenge Announcement
40:32 - Where to Follow the Show