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 Fields

Saffron Fields Website

https://saffronfields.com/

Follow Saffron Fields on Instagram

https://www.instagram.com/saffronfieldsvineyard/

Connect With Adam on Instagram

https://www.instagram.com/wineaboutmusic/

Check Out Adam's New Column, 100 Point Wines, on Substack!

100 Point Wines

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 - Introduction to the Podcast and Guests
02:39 - Adam's Transition to Oregon Wine Country
05:25 - Roles and Responsibilities at Saffron Fields
08:04 - Comparing Wine Scenes: LA vs. Oregon
10:51 - Exploring Saffron Fields and Its Unique Offerings
15:23 - The Vibe of Wine Tasting
18:39 - Creating Memorable Experiences
19:09 - The Culinary Scene in Willamette
22:39 - Community and Connection in Wine Country
27:47 - Living the Wine Life
28:20 - Exciting Wine Adventures
28:50 - Exploring Pinot Noir: A Journey Through Flavor
30:47 - Understanding Clones in Winemaking
34:26 - The Spectrum Pinot Noir: A Closer Look
35:59 - Navigating Wine Pricing and Accessibility
37:56 - Tasting Notes: Unpacking the Spectrum Pinot Noir
42:14 - The Structure of Pinot Noir: Tannins and Acidity
45:45 - Willamette Valley: Community and Wine Culture
46:38 - Wine Tasting Tips: Maximizing Your Experience
48:44 - Review
54:49 - Expert Insights: The Future of Willamette Valley Wines
56:13 - Game: Viterations
59:44 - 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 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/

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/

Chapters

00:00 - Intro

04:24 - Exploring the Castello de Titignano Turlo

07:20 - Understanding Super Umbrian Wines

14:37 - The Unique Characteristics of Umbria

17:22 - Exploring Italian Wine Regions

18:17 - The Impact of Man-Made Structures on Terroir

20:49 - Wine Reviews and Personal Insights

27:10 - The Secret Life of Wine Game

28:47 - Creative Wine Personifications

30:23 - Decadent Indulgences and Wine Pairings

30:49 - Final Thoughts on the Wine

31:29 - Outro

This week the crew kicks off a new Table Wine mini-series with a surprise twist. Joel, Aaron, and Colin open not one but two bottles from Bollini: a 2024 Pinot Grigio and a 2023 Merlot. The goal is simple. Find affordable, crowd friendly wines you can set on the holiday table without overthinking a thing.

The trio talks through what makes a true table wine, why ABV matters more than you think, and how the 20-20 rule keeps both reds and whites tasting their best. They dig into Bollini’s story, the Dolomites, and why this producer leans on clean, stainless steel winemaking to let their fruit speak for itself.

From pear and green apple freshness in the Pinot Grigio to cherry, strawberry, and a touch of spice in the Merlot, the team breaks down both bottles with their usual blend of curiosity and chaos. Expect friendly debates, plenty of quaffable energy, and a few unexpected detours involving weddings, grocery store wines, and silent haircuts.

If you’re figuring out what to bring to Thanksgiving or just want a couple of budget friendly options that won’t derail dinner, this episode has you covered.

Learn more about Bollini Wine

Bollini Website

http://bollini.wine/

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 - Introduction to the Episode

01:54 - Exploring Table Wines

04:13 Understanding the Concept of Table Wine

06:53 - Wine Reviews: Bollini Pinot Grigio and Merlot

08:45 - Tasting the Bollini Pinot Grigio

13:27 - Tasting the Bollini Merlot

19:08 - Introduction to the 2020 Rule

19:08 - Exploring Bellini Wines

19:10 - Wine Drops

20:39 - Understanding Terroir and Winemaking Styles

24:54 - Wine Reviews

27:34 - Exploring the Pinot Grigio

29:59 - Merlot Review and Comparisons

33:25 - Thanksgiving Wine Recommendations

36:32 - Wrap-Up and Future Episodes

41:00 - Outro

This week we sat down with Antonin Bonnet from Pierre and Antonin in the south of France for an eye opening episode. Antonin is a natural winemaker and he pulled back the curtain on how he and his partner Pierre think about and make wine without all the scary stuff people usually associate with natural bottles.

We got into his wild start in New York, how he and Pierre built their winery from scratch, and why resistant grape varieties might be the future. Colin finally owned his natural wine skepticism, Joel showed up mid-diaper-chaos, and Antonin kept dropping gems while pouring wines that shook up our expectations.

If you’ve ever been curious about natural wine or flat out opposed to it, this episode might flip your perspective. Grab a glass, hit play, and get ready to think about wine in a new way.

Check out Pierre and Antonin

Pierre and Antonin Website

https://pierre-antonin.com/en/

Pierre and Antonin on Instagram

https://www.instagram.com/pierreetantonin/

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/⁠

00:00 Intro and Welcome
01:02 Meet Antonin Bonnet from Pierre and Antonin
02:42 First Natural Wine on the Show
04:10 How Antonin and Pierre Met in NYC
07:15 Discovering Natural Wine in Brooklyn
09:55 Colin Admits His Natural Wine Fears
11:40 Avoiding Funk and Flaws in Natural Wine
14:15 Fermentation, Acidity, and Staying Clean
17:40 Resistant Grapes Explained
21:30 Sustainable Viticulture and No Chemicals
24:10 Packaging and Carbon Footprint Choices
27:05 Why Take the Hard Road in Winemaking
30:20 Making Natural Wine That Still Tastes Great
34:05 Growing a Winery From Scratch
37:20 Selling Wine in the US Market
40:30 Tradition vs Innovation
44:00 Lessons from Early Vintages
46:55 Future of Resistant Varieties
49:20 Final Thoughts and Takeaways
52:35 Sips, Laughs, and Goodbyes

This week on Stop Wasting Your Wine, we bring an exciting close to our Nebbiolo journey. We are diving into Barolo, the king of wines, and pouring the Priore Barolo 2021 from Cantine Povero. We look back at the bottles that led us here, compare Barolo with Barbaresco, and talk through what makes Nebbiolo so special. Expect honest thoughts on tannin, age, and why patience is part of the Barolo experience.

On this episode, we share our tasting notes, explore how this wine evolves in the glass, and give appreciation to the producers behind it. Then the mood shifts as we roll out a new game called Merlot or Malarkey, where we try to separate real wine facts from pure fiction.

We wrap by talking about the value of wine community and the joy of learning together.

If you are curious about Nebbiolo or want a deeper feel for Barolo, this episode brings you right into the conversation.

Learn More About Cantine Povero

⁠https://cantinepovero.com/en/⁠

Connect with Cantine Povero on Instagram

⁠https://www.instagram.com/cantinepovero/⁠

⁠⁠

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 Introduction to Barolo Week
02:12 Our Journey of Nebbiolo Wines
05:09 Exploring the Priore Barolo 2021
06:39 Tasting Notes and First Impressions
08:47 Comparative Analysis of Nebbiolo Wines
10:55 Deep Dive into Flavor Profiles
13:28 Final Thoughts and Wine Drops
16:27 Exploring Barolo and Barbaresco
21:36 The Impact of Terroir on Wine
26:09 Aging and Its Influence on Flavor
28:39 Tasting Notes and Flavor Profiles
33:41 Final Thoughts and Reflections
35:08 Introduction to the Game: Merlot or Malarkey
35:57 Exploring Barolo: Fun Facts and Trivia
39:23 The Race for Knowledge: Barolo Trivia Challenge
42:07 Conclusion: Reflections on Barolo and the Game

The Nebbiolo journey continues in Barbaresco as your Wine Guides pour Cantine Povero’s take on this iconic grape and explore what sets the region apart from Langhe and Barolo. The crew dives into how the Tanaro River shapes the wine’s character, the strict aging laws that define Barbaresco, and the legacy of Domizio Cavazza, the man who helped put the region on the map. Things wrap up with a round of their new trivia game, Great Minds Drink Alike, and plenty of laughs about who actually paid attention during the learning segment.

Learn More About Cantine Povero

⁠https://cantinepovero.com/en/⁠

Connect with Cantine Povero on Instagram

⁠https://www.instagram.com/cantinepovero/

⁠

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 – Episode Intro

02:20 – Comparing Langhe and Barbaresco

06:21 – Intro to the Wine

08:15 – First Pour Reactions

10:45 – Smooth but Structured

16:28 – Wine Drops: The Barbaresco Story

19:10 – Aging Rules That Shape Style

23:00 – Tasting Notes in Focus

27:13 – Final Review: Must Share Moments

29:55 – A Wine Worth Hunting Down

31:19 – Great Minds Drink Alike

36:30 – Wrap-Up and Barolo Teaser

This week, your Wine Guides head back to Piedmont for the start of a new mini-series on Nebbiolo. The journey kicks off with the 2022 Langhe Nebbiolo from Cantine Povero. A $20 bottle that proves great wine doesn’t have to be expensive.

Colin, Joel, and Aaron dig into what makes Langhe the “value heart” of Piedmont, explore the difference between DOC and DOCG wines, and share their first impressions of this honest, fruit-forward red. Expect fresh cherry, pomegranate, and Italian herbs with the right balance of tannin and acidity.

Plus, stay tuned for their conversation with Lucrezia Povero, who shares her family’s 200-year winemaking story, their organic approach, and how she’s bringing new energy to a historic estate.

Learn More About Cantine Povero

https://cantinepovero.com/en/

Connect with Cantine Povero on Instagram

https://www.instagram.com/cantinepovero/

Connect With Lucrezia on Instagram

https://www.instagram.com/lucreziapovero/

Check Out Lucrezia's Project with Her Sisters Cascina Vengore!

https://www.cascinavengore.it/

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/

This week, your wine guides flock to the 2022 Decoy Cabernet Sauvignon to find out if Duckhorn’s value label is truly worth the hype. The guys dig into what makes a “second label” wine, compare it to a TV dinner in the best possible way, and fire up a new round of their game “Viterations.”

Expect a lighthearted look at flavor, structure, and value with a few good laughs along the way. Watch or listen, then tell us your favorite backup wine.

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/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠