Mo Bubbles, Mo Troubles (1.1)

January 21, 2025·32 min·3 clips

Keith shares the secret time of year when champagne is cheaper and more abundant in the US.

This episode features wine experts Keith Wallace and Alana Zerbe discussing sparkling wines, specifically comparing an affordable Cava to a premium Champagne. Wallace is the founder and Zerbe the director of wine education at the Wine School of Philadelphia. The hosts plan to sample two wines: the Charles Ellner Carte Blanche Brut Champagne and the Wamsara Cristalino Cava. They discuss classic sparkling wine pairings, ranging from tenderloin and pork chops to potato chips, with a particular debate between Utz and Cape Cod brands. Zerbe recalls the book "French Women Don't Get Fat" and its advice to drink Champagne daily. Wallace shares a story about turning down a lucrative Champagne ambassador role decades ago because he felt guilty about being overpaid for minimal work. The hosts critique common practices like adding orange juice to sparkling wine or aging bottles at home, warning that bubbles dissipate and flavors can become funky over time. They identify key sparkling wine regions, praising grower Champagnes, Cavas, and Crémants while expressing strong criticism for most Prosecco. A surprising insight is that the best time to buy Champagne in the U.S. is before Christmas due to economies of scale in shipping, with prices rising after New Year's. Wallace vehemently opposes sabering bottles due to the risk of microscopic glass fragments contaminating the drink. The hosts taste the Cristalino Cava, noting its almond, marzipan, and lemongrass notes, and deem it a perfect, affordable option for parties. They then taste the Charles Ellner Champagne, highlighting its blend of Pinot Meunier, Pinot Noir, and Chardonnay, and its complex flavors of tangerine, wild strawberry, and earthy almond. Wallace explains that flavor in sparkling wine is carried on the outside of the bubbles, with smaller bubbles creating more intensity. The episode concludes with a reminder to check review dates for non-vintage wines and an encouragement to enjoy wine without snobbery. The tone is highly conversational, informal, and filled with personal anecdotes and humorous banter. The style is educational but relaxed, aiming to demystify wine with practical tips and direct comparisons. Wine enthusiasts seeking accessible education and entertaining stories about sparkling wines will love this episode. Listeners preferring highly structured, formal wine commentary or those sensitive to strong opinions about specific wine regions might choose to skip it.

As heard by us

Sparkling wine gets treated like a real buying decision, not a snooty ritual.

Afterwine School treats sparkling wine like something people actually buy, not a status symbol to be decoded. Keith Wallace and Alana Zerbe keep the conversation loose and unsnooty as they move through Champagne, Cava, and British bubbles, with advice that stays concrete enough…

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Want the straight talk on bubbles without the wine-snob fog?

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