Stop Wasting Your Wine

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.
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The Stop Wasting Your Wine Website
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Chapters
00:00 – Welcome and Introducing Katie Madigan
02:02 – From Chemistry to Winemaking
03:14 – UC Davis Enology Program
04:34 – Early Days at St. Francis
08:28 – Sustainability at St. Francis Winery
12:19 – How Katie Knows a Wine Is Ready
14:16 – Aromatics, Texture, and Wine Accessibility
18:32 – Making Quality Wine at Scale
20:11 – Todays Wine
20:13 – 2023 Sonoma County Chardonnay
26:52 –2023 Old Vine Zinfandel
36:01 – Review and Final Thoughts

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.
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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 – 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

The Sexy Bottle Challenge rolls on with Colin's Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc, the latest contender in the search for the best intersection of great wine and great presentation.

Colin's pick faces off against last week's bottle as the competition tightens and early favorites begin to emerge. The conversation then shifts to Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc as a style: why the region has earned its reputation, and how climate and winemaking choices create a wine that feels instantly recognizable.

With ratings locked in and stakes rising heading into the final week, each pick carries more weight as the leaderboard takes shape.

The episode closes with a fast-paced Spellmelier game built around New Zealand wine terms, adding a competitive jolt before the challenge moves one step closer to crowning a winner.
Pour a glass, listen along, and see where this bottle lands.

Support the show and help keep the wine flowing!
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
⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@StopWastingYourWine⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
The Stop Wasting Your Wine Website
⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://stopwastingyourwine.com/⁠⁠

Chapters
0:00 Welcome and Sexy Bottle Challenge Recap
1:47 Colin’s Wine Pick Revealed
2:10 The Little Black Dress Bottle Theory
3:50 Is the Bottle Actually Sexy?
5:03 Let’s Talk About the Wine
6:35 First Smells and Expectations
7:50 Tasting Notes and Flavor Breakdown
9:42 Acidity and Finish Discussion
11:50 Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc Explained
14:44 How This Wine Is Made
17:55 Food Pairings That Make Sense
21:25 Final Ratings and Verdicts
25:31 Sexy Bottle Debate Continues
27:19 Rapid Spellmelier Game
34:25 Final Thoughts and Outro

Big changes are coming to Stop Wasting Your Wine! In this episode, Colin, Joel, and Aaron unveil an exciting new format: monthly wine challenges. Each month, the hosts will pick wines based on a specific theme, with three weeks of competitive tastings followed by a wildcard week featuring interviews with wine industry pros or special features.

For February's inaugural challenge, the crew tackles finding the sexiest bottle of wine under $30. A task that proves more difficult than expected. Aaron shares his hour-long odyssey through Total Wine, searching Italian and French sections before settling on a romantic Rioja with "sexy trees." Joel takes a more literal interpretation of "sexy," while the hosts debate what makes a bottle truly appealing beyond the liquid inside.

The episode also features a lively discussion about wine cocktails, specifically whether it's acceptable to use good Rioja for sangria. The hosts explore the difference between honoring a wine's craftsmanship and enjoying it in creative ways, leading to the question: is a better base wine the key to a better cocktail?

Wine Details
Producer: Viña Alberdi
Region: Rioja
Varietal or Blend: 100 percent Tempranillo
Vintage: 2020
Price Range: About $22
ABV: 14 percent

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Stop Wasting Your Wine on Instagram
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Stop Wasting Your Wine on YouTube
⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@StopWastingYourWine⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
The Stop Wasting Your Wine Website
⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://stopwastingyourwine.com/⁠⁠

Chapters
0:00 – Welcome to Stop Wasting Your Wine
0:17 – New Monthly Challenge Format Explained
1:24 – February Challenge: Sexiest Bottle Under $30
3:46 – The Reality of Shopping for a “Sexy” Wine
4:57 – Aaron’s Pick: Viña Alberdi Rioja Reserva
7:55 – First Impressions and Bottle Expectations
8:24 – Nosing the Wine
9:59 – Tasting Notes and Palate Breakdown
12:53 – Learning Segment: Tempranillo and Rioja
15:29 – What Reserva Aging Really Means
18:04 – Introducing the New Rating Tier: Solid Pour
22:46 – Final Ratings and Verdict
26:53 – Did Aaron Nail the Challenge
29:16 – I’m Wine With That: Should You Make Sangria With Rioja
34:06 – Feedback and Where to Find Us
34:49 – Outro

Rosé does not usually top the list when it comes to gift wines. This week, that assumption gets challenged.

In this episode of Stop Wasting Your Wine, the crew wraps up their Gift Wine Series with a deep dive into a Provençal rosé that aims to stand out in a crowded category. They explore what makes rosé a smart and often overlooked choice for gifting, especially when the weather heats up and expectations are high.

The conversation moves beyond the glass into Provence itself. Why elevation matters. How wind and climate shape freshness. What separates intentional rosé from mass produced bottles lining the shelves. Along the way, the hosts break down classic Provence blending, winemaking choices that preserve aroma and precision, and what defines the region’s signature style.

The episode closes with the return of Viterations, a fan favorite game where the wine gets reimagined as a vacation destination, blending insight with pure chaos.

If you’ve ever wondered when rosé makes sense, what quality actually looks like in the category, or how to gift wine without playing it safe, this one’s for you.

And as always, stop wasting your wine.

Wine Details
Producer: Mason Saint AIX

Name: AIX

Region: Provence

Appellation: Coteaux D’ Aix Provence

Varietal: Grenache (60%), Syrah (20%), Cinsault (20%)

Vintage: 2024

COST - $20

ABV 12.5%

Support the Show!
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
⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠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 to Stop Wasting Your Wine and Gift Wine Finale
01:53 – Wrapping Up the Gift Wine Series
03:30 – Introducing the Masson Saint Ex 2024 Rosé
04:27 – Wine Question of the Week. Cleaning Wine Glasses
06:23 – First Impressions. Aroma and Palate
10:50 – Why This Winery and Rosé Style Matter
11:36 – Supporting the Show
11:47 – Provence Rosé. Style and Expectations
14:31 – Provence Terroir. Elevation Climate and Wind
16:13 – How This Rosé Is Made
18:27 – Revisiting the Glass. What Stands Out
23:06 – Finding the Sweet Spot in Rosé
24:26 – Is Rosé a Great Gift Wine
25:17 – Viterations. If This Wine Were a Vacation