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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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.

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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

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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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 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