Celebrity wines can be a minefield. This week the crew kicks off a new challenge to find the best celebrity wine under $30, starting with The Dreaming Tree Crush Red Blend (2023) from Dreaming Tree Wines, a collaboration between Dave Matthews and winemaker Steve Reeder.

The wine comes from California, costs about $15, and sits at 14.5% ABV. The hosts discuss what celebrity wines get right and wrong, why California red blends often surprise drinkers, and who these easy drinking wines are actually made for.

They also break down common misconceptions about “jammy” wines and how warm climate fruit and modern winemaking shape approachable red blends.

Plus a Dave Matthews Band lyric game and the first score in the celebrity wine challenge.

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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 – New Celebrity Wine Challenge Begins
00:21 – Rules: Finding the Best Celebrity Wine Under $30
03:31 – Upcoming Celebrity Wines (Mary J. Blige & John Legend Picks)
04:10 – Today’s Wine: The Dreaming Tree Crush Red Blend (Dave Matthews)
08:17 – First Impressions and Discussion
17:05 – Learning Segment: What California Red Blends Actually Are
23:26 – Who California Red Blends Are Actually For
25:37 – Review System Explained
26:43 – Review and Final Thoughts
31:39 – Dave Matthews Lyrics Game
37:01 – Wrap Up and Where to Find the Show

From cleaning kennels to crafting Sonoma Cabernet, Chris Louton’s path to winemaking wasn’t planned. A UC Davis class changed everything. Now at St. Francis Winery & Vineyards, he’s shaping wines that stay balanced, affordable, and true to place.

Chris shares how he went from veterinary ambitions to overseeing Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and Bordeaux varietals in Sonoma County. We talk vintage differences, protecting quality at scale, and why he refuses to “make wine for trends.”

We taste the 2023 St. Francis Merlot and 2023 Cabernet Sauvignon (both around $15–$16, 14.8% and 14.5% ABV). Chris breaks down vineyard strategy, blending across Sonoma County, and how they maintain control from vine to bottle.

If you care about value wine done right, this one’s for you.

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Learn More About the St. Francis

https://www.stfranciswinery.com/

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

00:00 – Welcome & Guest Introduction

00:55 – From Veterinary Medicine to Winemaking

05:14 – Luxury Cabernet & Early Career

07:42 – Joining St. Francis & Carrying the Legacy

10:08 – Making Wine for a Wide Audience

15:07 – What St. Francis Wines Aim to Deliver

18:15 – Protecting Quality at Scale

22:06 – 2023 Merlot Breakdown

34:36 – 2023 Cabernet Sauvignon Breakdown

42:45 – Review & Ratings

47:25 – Pinot or Chardonnay Game

50:13 – Final Thoughts + Where to Find St. Francis

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.

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

The Stop Wasting Your Wine Website

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://stopwastingyourwine.com/⁠⁠⁠

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