Stop Wasting Your Wine

Sparkling wine season rolls on and this week we pop open the Alta Vista Brut Rosé from Mendoza, Argentina. It is a tank method sparkling wine made from an unexpected blend of Malbec and Pinot Noir, and it lands right in the middle of holiday drinking season.On this episode, we talk about why bubbles take over this time of year and how easy it is to lose track of what you are pouring between family dinners, guests dropping by, and that strange week between Christmas and New Year’s. This is the kind of bottle you keep cold and open without overthinking it.From there we break down what tank method really means and why this wine tastes fruit forward, bright, and more rosé driven than bready or yeasty. Cherry, raspberry, citrus, and a little funk on the finish lead to a bigger conversation about sparkling wine styles and how production methods shape texture and flavor.We also walk through traditional method, ancestral method, and carbonation to help you understand what you are actually buying when you reach for bubbles. Especially when holiday pricing starts to climb.We wrap with our verdict on value, where this wine lands on our scale, and whether it earns the not a waste stamp. Plus we bring back Wine With That for a holiday table scenario that gets a little too real.If you like casual sippers.If you like sparkling without the fuss.If you want to drink smarter during bubble season.This episode is for you.Connect with the show. We would love to hear from you!Stop Wasting Your Wine on Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/stopwastingyourwine/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Stop Wasting Your Wine on YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@StopWastingYourWine⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠The Stop Wasting Your Wine Website⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://stopwastingyourwine.com/Chapters 00:00 - Introduction 01:28 - Sparkling Wine Season04:18 - Exploring the Alta Vista Brute Rosé06:07 - Question of the Week06:59 - Tasting the Wine09:48 - Flavor Profiles and Production Methods13:09 - Exploring the Funk in Wine15:44 - Understanding Sparkling Wine Production19:40 - The Traditional Method of Sparkling Wine19:51 - Exploring the Tank Method of Sparkling Wine24:23 - Understanding the Ancestral Method of Sparkling Wine26:01 - The Carbonation Method: A Different Approach to Sparkling Wine27:55 - Wine Reviews: Casual Sippers vs. Premium Choices37:08 - Final Thoughts on Wine Quality and Pricing42:53 - Game: Wine with That

Sparkling wine season is here, and we are kicking it off with one of our favorite styles for everyday bubbles. This episode dives into Crémant and puts the focus on Bouvet Ladubay Crémant de Loire, a Loire Valley sparkling wine that delivers serious quality without the Champagne level price tag.This week, we talk about why Crémant is such a smart value play, how it compares to Champagne, and what makes traditional method sparkling wines stand out. The conversation explores what to look for when buying sparkling wine, why acidity matters, and how lees aging shapes texture and character. Along the way, we dig into  Bouvet Ladubay’s history in the Loire Valley and why they are considered one of the region’s top producers.This episode is all about understanding sparkling wine beyond the label and rethinking when and how you open a bottle of bubbles. If you love value driven wines and want better options for everyday drinking, this one is worth the listen.Chapters00:00 - Sparkling Wine Season Begins01:59 - Why Crémant Is a Value Alternative to Champagne04:23 - What to Look for in Quality Sparkling Wine05:33 - Introducing Bouvet Ladubay Crémant de Loire07:31 - First Impressions and Early Tasting Reactions12:16 - Traditional Method and Why It Matters14:43 - Wine Drops: Understanding Crémant15:07 - Crémant de Loire and the Role of Chenin Blanc17:16 - Bouvet Ladubay and Loire Valley Heritage19:18 - The 2023 Vintage in the Loire Valley21:23 - Why Crémant Shines at the Table24:17 - Final Tasting Reflections and Mouthfeel26:57 - Value, Quality, and Everyday Bubbles28:52 - Final Verdict: Is This a Must Share29:26 - PiNope or ChardonnYAY!36:06 - What’s Next in the Sparkling Series 

This week the Wine Guides step into the world of Port and discover how deep this style really goes. Colin, Aaron, and Joel taste Fonseca Bin 27 and Taylor Fladgate 20 Year Tawny side by side. The shift from bold fruit to warm caramel sparks real reactions and a few childhood flashbacks. They break down what makes Port a fortified wine from the Douro Valley, why the British shaped its history, and how aging transforms everything in the glass.You hear the crew pick apart structure, sweetness, and that signature warmth that sets Port apart from other dessert wines. They call out what to expect from a Ruby and a Tawny, when decanting actually matters, and why Port works for more than just dessert. They also dig into pairing ideas and talk about which bottle fits which moment.If you have ever been Port curious or wondered what the fuss is about, this tasting gives you a clear entry point. The conversation is fun, thoughtful, and full of small surprises that make Port feel a lot more approachable.Connect with the show. We would love to hear from you!Stop Wasting Your Wine on Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/stopwastingyourwine/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Stop Wasting Your Wine on YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@StopWastingYourWine⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠The Stop Wasting Your Wine Website⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://stopwastingyourwine.com/Chapters00:00 - Intro04:30 - What are we drinking today?08:00 - Wine question of the week10:00 - Wine Discussion Intro: Flavors & Smells10:40 - Fonseca Bin 27 Ruby Reserve Port16:57 - Taylor Fladgate 20 Year Tawny Port27:03 - Wine Drops: Learning Segment38:00 - Review of the Wines47:00 - Game: Spot the Lie54:56 - Outro

Adam Wolf is back, and he brings a whole new story with him. Since his last visit, he packed up his life in LA and moved to Oregon’s Willamette Valley to work at Saffron Fields. We talk about that jump, what pulled him into the region, and how different the wine world feels when you live inside it instead of tasting from a distance.Adam walks us through his new role, the tasting room culture, and why Oregon’s wine community feels so supportive. We get into the local food scene, the shift from LA’s global wine focus to Oregon’s drink-local mentality, and what it’s like to taste in a place with more than 800 wineries.He also sends us a bottle of the 2021 Spectrum Pinot Noir, an entry point into Saffron Fields’ lineup. We dig into what makes it approachable, how the winemaking works, and why clones matter so much in the Willamette Valley. The conversation takes us into tasting structure, flavor differences, and the challenge of keeping your palate alive after 15 Pinots in two days.It’s an easy, honest episode with a lot of energy. A friend of the pod comes back, brings great wine, and reminds us why the Willamette Valley is one of the most exciting wine regions in the country.Learn More About Saffron FieldsSaffron Fields Websitehttps://saffronfields.com/Follow Saffron Fields on Instagramhttps://www.instagram.com/saffronfieldsvineyard/Connect With Adam on Instagramhttps://www.instagram.com/wineaboutmusic/Check Out Adam's New Column, 100 Point Wines, on Substack!100 Point WinesConnect with the show. We would love to hear from you!Stop Wasting Your Wine on Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/stopwastingyourwine/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Stop Wasting Your Wine on YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@StopWastingYourWine⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠The Stop Wasting Your Wine Website⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://stopwastingyourwine.com/Chapters 00:00 - Introduction to the Podcast and Guests02:39 - Adam's Transition to Oregon Wine Country05:25 - Roles and Responsibilities at Saffron Fields08:04 - Comparing Wine Scenes: LA vs. Oregon10:51 - Exploring Saffron Fields and Its Unique Offerings15:23 - The Vibe of Wine Tasting18:39 - Creating Memorable Experiences19:09 - The Culinary Scene in Willamette22:39 - Community and Connection in Wine Country27:47 - Living the Wine Life28:20 - Exciting Wine Adventures28:50 - Exploring Pinot Noir: A Journey Through Flavor30:47 - Understanding Clones in Winemaking34:26 - The Spectrum Pinot Noir: A Closer Look35:59 - Navigating Wine Pricing and Accessibility37:56 - Tasting Notes: Unpacking the Spectrum Pinot Noir42:14 - The Structure of Pinot Noir: Tannins and Acidity45:45 - Willamette Valley: Community and Wine Culture46:38 - Wine Tasting Tips: Maximizing Your Experience48:44 - Review54:49 - Expert Insights: The Future of Willamette Valley Wines56:13 - Game: Viterations59:44 - Final Thoughts and Wine Recommendations

Thanksgiving sets the stage, but the wine drives the mood. This episode follows the shift from classic family dinner to Friendsgiving energy and asks a simple question. What bottle actually earns its spot on the table?The hosts spotlight Castello de Titignano Turlo, a blend of Sangiovese, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Merlot from Umbria. They break down why this lesser talked about region delivers steady quality, thanks to its stable climate and the surprising role of man made structures in shaping vineyard conditions. The wine opens up with air. Flavors stretch and settle. Structure softens. Each sip tells a clearer story.They focus on what matters most. Value. Approachability. Pairing power. This bottle works for seasoned drinkers and casual guests alike. It supports the meal without stealing the spotlight. The takeaway stays practical. Choose wines that breathe well, pair easily, and keep the table happy.What kind of bottle earns repeat invites to your holiday table?Connect with the show. We would love to hear from you!Stop Wasting Your Wine on Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/stopwastingyourwine/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Stop Wasting Your Wine on YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@StopWastingYourWine⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠The Stop Wasting Your Wine Website⁠⁠⁠⁠https://stopwastingyourwine.com/Learn More about Castello de Titignano https://www.titignano.it/en/Wine Spec Sheet https://www.kobrandwineandspirits.com/product/tenuta_di_salviano_turlo_lago_di_corbara_doc/Chapters00:00 - Intro 04:24 - Exploring the Castello de Titignano Turlo07:20 - Understanding Super Umbrian Wines14:37 - The Unique Characteristics of Umbria17:22 - Exploring Italian Wine Regions18:17 - The Impact of Man-Made Structures on Terroir20:49 - Wine Reviews and Personal Insights27:10 - The Secret Life of Wine Game28:47 - Creative Wine Personifications30:23 - Decadent Indulgences and Wine Pairings30:49 - Final Thoughts on the Wine31:29 - Outro