Category: Sonoma County
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Chardonnay Lovers Take Note!
Fast facts: 2023 Lustrous Chardonnay, Russian River Valley, Sonoma County, California ($8.99 @Trader Joe’s, California) I spent enough years – heck, decades – in the wine trade to say with some certainty that you shouldn’t go looking for the Lustrous Winery should you be so lucky to find yourself in the Sonoma Valley. That…
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A Cal-Ital Wine Gem from Costco for Under $20 – Get on It
Fast facts: 2022 Ferrari Carano Siena (Red Blend) Sonoma County, California $16.99 (@Costco, California, Item# 135936) Ferrari-Carano has been a leading producer of world-class, nationally acclaimed wines since 1985. From a small, 30-acre plot of grapes to the present 20 estate vineyards, their success is based on their commitment to quality as well as…
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Another WoW in our BBQ Series
Fast facts: 2021 Pedroncelli Mother Clone Zinfandel, Dry Creek Valley, Sonoma California ($16.99 @Trader Joe’s, California) For years we American’s proclaimed Zinfandel to be uniquely ours. Then DNA testing arrived in the wine world and we discovered that the grape’s genetic roots can be traced to modern-day Croatia, where it’s known as Crljenak or…
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A TJ’s Chard to Toast the Arrival of Spring
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in 2022, best trader joes wine deals, best trader joes wines, best wines at Trader Joes, best wines under $20, California Wines, Chardonnay, costco wine blog, food and wine, reverse wine snob, Russian River Valley, russian river valley, Sonoma County, Sonoma County, Trader Joe’s Grand Reserve, Trader Joe’s wine, Trader Joe’s Wine, White Wine, Wine, wine blog, wine reviews, Wines Under $15, Wines Under $20, wines under $25Fast facts: 2022 Trader Joe’s Grand Reserve Chardonnay Lot #128, Russian River Valley, Sonoma County, California ($12.99 @Trader Joe’s, California) You have heard us say many times that Sonoma’s cool Russian River Valley excels at producing world class Pinot Noir and the same goes for Chardonnay. Chardonnay remains its most planted wine grape, although…
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RRV PN from TJs
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in 2021, best wines under $20, California Wines, costco wine blog, food and wine, Lot #122, Pinot Noir, Pinot Noir, Red Wine, reverse wine snob, Russian River Valley, russian river valley, russian river valley, Sonoma County, Sonoma County, Trader Joe’s Grand Reserve, Trader Joe’s Wine, Trader Joe’s wine, Wine, wine blog, wine reviews, Wines Under $15, Wines Under $20, wines under $25Fast facts: 2021 Trader Joe’s Grand Reserve Lot #122 Pinot Noir, Russian River Valley, Sonoma County, California ($12.99 @Trader Joe’s, California) Let’s start by unpacking the alphabet soup in our subject line, shall we? The Russian River Valley (RRV) is an important part of Sonoma, and Pinot Noir (PN) is an important part of …
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Kirkland Signature RRV Chardonnay – Bingo!
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in 2021, best costco wine deals, best costco wines, best wines at Costco, best wines under $20, California Wines, Chardonnay, Costco, costco wine blog, Costco Wines, Kirkland Signature, Kirkland Signature Series, reverse wine snob, Russian River Valley, russian river valley, russian river valley, Sonoma County, Sonoma County, White Wine, Wine, wine reviews, Wines Under $15, wines under $25Fast Facts: 2021 Kirkland Signature Chardonnay, Russian River Valley, Sonoma County, California ($12.99 @Costco in California – Item #789895) In her encyclopedic The Oxford Companion to Wine, author Jancis Robinson refers to Sonoma’s Russian River Valley as a “high quality California wine region and AVA west of Healdsburg along that portion of river that meanders through…
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A Great TJ’s Cab Sauv, Just Don’t Call it Napa
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in 2020, alexander valley, Alexander Valley Cabernet Sauvignon, best wines at Trader Joes, best wines under $20, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Sauvignon, California Wines, costco wine blog, Lot #95, Red Wine, reverse wine snob, Sonoma County, Sonoma Valley, Wine, wine blog, wine reviews, Wines Under $15, Wines Under $20, wines under $25Fast Facts: 2020 Trader Joe’s Grand Reserve Alexander Valley Cabernet Sauvignon Lot #95, Sonoma County, California ($12.99 @Trader Joe’s in California) I am a self-professed insufferable wine snob, but I just have to say that it really bugs me when my California (!) friends say they are going to visit Napa and I discover…
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An $11.99 Russian River Pinot Noir – Costco for the Win!
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in 2021, best costco wine deals, best costco wines, best wines at Costco, best wines under $20, California Wines, Costco, costco wine blog, Costco Wines, food and wine, Kirkland Signature, Pinot Noir, Red Wine, Russian River Valley, russian river valley, Sonoma County, Wine, wine blog, wine reviews, Wines Under $15, Wines Under $20, wines under $252021 Kirkland Signature Pinot Noir, Russian River Valley, Sonoma County, California ($11.99@Costco, California – Item #555512) Yogi Berra was once quoted as saying that “It’s not boasting if it’s true.” And the truth is, the Russian River Valley is one of the best places in the world to grow Pinot Noir grapes. Ditto Chardonnay.…
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A Whole Lotta Sonoma Chardonnay Goodness – for Just $6.99?!
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in 2021, best costco wine deals, best costco wines, best wines at Costco, best wines under $20, California Wines, Chardonnay, Costco, costco wine blog, Costco Wines, food and wine, Kirkland Signature, reverse wine snob, Sonoma County, Sonoma County, White Wine, Wine, wine blog, wine reviews, wines under $10, Wines Under $15Fast facts: 2021 Kirkland Signature Chardonnay, Sonoma County, California ($6.99 @ Costco, California – Item #514007) Rules are made for breaking, but here is one I tend to subscribe to: avoid wines labeled “merely” California. I know it sounds like heresy, but hear me out. As a general rule, a wine that is not sub-appelated…
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Got ‘cue? Then get your hands on this Zin!
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in 2020, best trader joes wine deals, best trader joes wines, best wines at Trader Joes, best wines under $20, Dry Creek Valley, Lot #233, Old Vine Zinfandel, Red Wine, Sonoma County, Trader Joe’s & Costco wines, Trader Joe’s Reserve, Trader Joe’s Wine, Trader Joe’s wine, Wine, wine blog, wine reviews, wines under $10, Wines Under $15, Wines Under $20, Zinfandel, zinfandelFast facts: 2020 Trader Joe’s Reserve Zinfandel, Lot #233, Dry Creek Valley, Sonoma County ($9.99 @Trader Joe’s, California) Just in time for barbecue season and the first days of summer. There are few red wine varietals that are as good a match for grilled food as Zinfandel is. It was born for the role!…