Stop Wasting Your Wine

Barefoot Moscato vs. Rivata Moscato d'Asti - Does a jump in price mean a jump in quality?

Week two of the Drink This, Not That challenge, and Colin steps up as the sacrificial lamb. The Barefoot Moscato gets a fast, ugly, unanimous verdict. Think thick Sprite with a side of nickels. But the substitute, a DOCG-certified Moscato d'Asti from Italy, opens up a real conversation about what this grape can actually be. The quality gap is massive. The final rating? Closer than you'd expect.

This week:
Why Barefoot Moscato smells like nickels and tastes like thick Sprite
What Moscato d'Asti actually is and why it's a completely different experience
A close, heated debate over whether any Moscato can earn "casual sipper" status
Joel tries ice. It doesn't help.

Wines reviewed:
Barefoot Moscato (California) $6 to $9
Ravada Moscato d'Asti (Piedmont, Italy, 2025) ~$14

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Chapters
0:00 Introduction and Challenge Recap
3:38 Introducing Tonight's Wines
6:45 Barefoot Moscato Tasting
13:17 Barefoot Verdict and the Ice Test
16:10 Ravada Moscato d'Asti Tasting
24:00 Sweet Wine Misconceptions
25:36 Piedmont, the Region, and What Makes This Wine Different
33:00 Final Ratings and Verdict
40:48 Where to Find the Show

Some of the most popular wines in America are also some of the cheapest and most criticized. So the guys decided to put that reputation to the test. This week launches the brand new “Drink This, Not That” challenge, where each host tries to replace a widely available bottom shelf wine with something noticeably better without asking people to spend much more money. First up: Yellow Tail Shiraz vs Penfolds Koonunga Hill Shiraz Cabernet.

The episode explores:

Why bulk wine gets such a bad reputation
What “bulk wine” actually means behind the scenes
How consistency often matters more than craftsmanship at scale
Whether spending just a few extra dollars can dramatically improve the experience
Why inexpensive red wines can become so aggressive and unbalanced

Featured wines include Yellow Tail Shiraz and Penfolds Koonunga Hill Shiraz Cabernet Sauvignon, as the team searches for a bottle that can escape the “waste of your wine” category without escaping the budget aisle.

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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 - Intro + The “Drink This, Not That” Challenge Begins
1:38 - The Rules of the Challenge
3:35 - Aaron’s Pick: Yellow Tail vs Penfolds
6:33 - First Impressions of Yellow Tail Shiraz
8:13 - Why Cheap Wine Gives Wine a Bad Reputation
12:01 - First Sip of the Penfolds Koonunga Hill
15:51 - Breaking Down the Penfolds Flavor Profile
18:19 - Wine Drops: What Is Bulk Wine?
25:00 - Why Bulk Wine Tastes the Same Every Year
28:45 - Review and Final Thoughts
35:50 - Can You Actually Upgrade Cheap Wine for Just a Few Dollars?

A winemaker with 90+ scores and even a perfect 100 set out to solve a simple problem: how to enjoy one great glass of wine without opening a whole bottle. Preston Thomas shares how Tirage brings premium wine into cans without sacrificing quality. The wines come from Lake and Sonoma counties and land at 12% ABV, built for real-life moments.

The episode explores:
His path from Tennessee to professional winemaking
Why canned wine still faces resistance
How Tirage prioritizes quality before packaging
Building wine for convenience, sustainability, and everyday use

Featured wines include White Cap (sparkling white blend) and Still Chill (chillable red blend), both designed to fit into real life without overthinking it.

Learn More About Tirage Wine
Website
https://www.tiragewine.com/
Instagram
https://www.instagram.com/tiragewine/

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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 Meet Preston Thomas
02:00 - Canned Wine Reputation and First Impressions
03:30 - Preston’s Wine Journey and Origin Story
11:30 - The Idea Behind Tirage Wines
13:30 - Breaking the Stigma of Canned Wine
15:00 - Wine for the Life You Actually Live
25:00 - White Cap Tasting and Review
39:30 - Still Chill Red Tasting and Review
48:30 - Review and Final Thoughts
52:30 - Pick Your Poison Game

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

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