This week, we're kicking off our Australian wine challenge with a bottle recommended by you, our listeners.

After our infamous Yellow Tail review stirred up plenty of passionate responses from Australia, we knew we had to come back with an open mind. Enter the 2022 Penfolds Max's Cabernet Sauvignon from South Australia (14.5% ABV, $18-22).

Along the way, we explore why it's a mistake to judge an entire wine region by a single bottle, why Cabernet and Shiraz can taste dramatically different even when they're grown in the same country, and how understanding the grape can be just as important as understanding where it came from.

Most importantly, we ask a bigger question: are we finally discovering the sweet spot for value wines, or is finding great wine under $17 still just a game of chance?

Support the show and help keep the wine flowing!

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Stop Wasting Your Wine on Instagram

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Stop Wasting Your Wine on YouTube

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Chapters

00:00 Australia Wants Redemption

03:18 Todays Wine

13:42 Wine Drops

14:40 Cabernet vs. Shiraz: Same Country, Different Wines

18:35 Buying Wine by Region vs. Grape

21:14 Review and Final Thoughts

27:37 Is Great Wine Under $17 Still a Gamble?

32:30 Australian Challenge Week One Wrap-Up

What happens when two Midwesterners fall in love, start making wine in a Los Angeles apartment bathroom, and eventually plant their own vineyard in Oregon? John and Megan Adams of Wildsound Wine share their journey from home winemakers to farming and producing wine in the Willamette Valley.

The conversation explores vineyard life, organic farming, whole-cluster fermentation, amphora aging, and why they believe great wine starts in the vineyard. The team also tastes and reviews the 2023 Gamay Noir from Wildsound Wine, discussing the winemaking choices that shape the wine and what makes Oregon such a unique wine region.

Wine: 2023 Gamay Noir
Producer: Wildsound Wine
Region: McMinnville, Willamette Valley, Oregon
Price: $35

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Check out Wildsound Wine and buy a case...or two!

Wildsound Wine Website

https://www.wildsoundwine.com/

Wild Sound Wine on Instagram

https://www.instagram.com/wildsoundwine

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Buy us a glass!

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Stop Wasting Your Wine on Instagram

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Stop Wasting Your Wine on YouTube

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Chapters:

00:00 - Introduction and Meet John & Megan Adams

02:25 - Falling in Love With Wine

04:00 - From Apartment Winemaking to Oregon Vineyard Owners

07:20 - The Reality of Farming and Growing Grapes

11:30 - Why Vintage Variation Matters

14:40 - Farming First, Make It Delicious

17:30 - Whole Cluster Fermentation and Traditional Winemaking

24:00 - Learning the Craft of Wine

28:30 - Why the Willamette Valley Is So Special

31:20 - What Wildsound Wants People to Remember

33:30 - Todays Wine

44:45 - Review and Final Thoughts

Can a Bordeaux-style Napa blend close out the Napa Wine Company series on a high note?

In this episode, we review the Oakville Winery Napa Valley Red Wine, an estate-grown blend from Oakville, Napa Valley. The conversation explores how the wine evolves with air, why decanting may make a difference, and what stood out to each host after spending more time with the bottle.

We also take a closer look at what "estate grown" actually means, why it matters, and why it isn't necessarily a guarantee of quality. Plus, the debut of a new game, Grape Guesses, leads to some surprising facts about Napa Valley vineyards and wineries.

Today's Wine

• Producer: Oakville Winery
• Region: Oakville, Napa Valley, California
• Blend: 54% Cabernet Sauvignon, 20% Merlot, 13% Cabernet Franc, 12% Malbec, 2% Petit Verdot
• ABV: 14.1%
• Price: Approximately $50

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

Chapters

00:00 Introduction & Final Napa Wine Company Stop

00:53 Wrapping Up the Napa Wine Company Series

02:51 Todays Wine

04:13 First Impressions

06:33 Tasting Discussion

11:23 Wine Drops

11:46 What Does Estate Grown Mean?

17:15 Why Estate Grown Doesn't Guarantee Quality

18:44 Review and Final Thoughts

23:43 Introducing Grape Guesses

25:22 Napa Valley Trivia Challenge

30:42 Series Wrap-Up & Thanks to Napa Wine Company

31:22 Where to Find and Follow the Show