Put a Little (Aperol) Spritz in your Step

Trader Joe's store display of 2020 Cecilia Beretta Prosecco Rosé

Fast facts: 2020 Cecilia Beretta Prosecco Rosé ($10.99 @Trader Joe’s, California)   Seems like summer has arrived with a vengeance, and it is time for sipping poolside, lakeside or seaside.  However you stay cool is cool with us. Prosecco might help… Prosecco is a deliciously dry sparkling wine with crisp acidity, low sugar and plenty … Read morePut a Little (Aperol) Spritz in your Step

Got ‘cue? Then get your hands on this Zin!

Store display of 2020 Trader Joe's Reserve Zinfandel, Lot #233, Dry Creek Valley, Sonoma County

Fast 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! … Read moreGot ‘cue? Then get your hands on this Zin!

A Costco CabSauv that Checks All the Boxes – Well, Almost All

Bottle of the 2019 Kirkland Signature Cabernet Sauvignon, Suscol Vineyard, Napa Valley, California, decanted.

Fast Facts: 2019 Kirkland Signature Cabernet Sauvignon, Suscol Vineyard, Napa Valley, California ($16.99 @Costco in California – Item #1491800)   The march of Kirkland Signature wines continues unabated.  The flood gates have opened and we are not complaining.  This is one of our favorites and we were delighted to see this just show up in … Read moreA Costco CabSauv that Checks All the Boxes – Well, Almost All

Bargain Barolo from Costco

Front label of Kirkland Signature 2017 Barolo

Fast facts: 2017 Kirkland Signature Barolo, Italy ($19.99 @ Costco, California – Item #1355183)   Most of us have been asked the question: “if you could only eat one country’s food for the rest of your life, which would it be?”  I never hesitate to quickly answer: “Italian!”  And the same goes for the wines … Read moreBargain Barolo from Costco

Yep, Red Wine with Fish

Bottle and glass of 2020 Trader Joe's Reserve Merlot Lot #236, Oak Knoll District, Napa Valley, California

Fast facts: 2020 Trader Joe’s Reserve Merlot Lot #236, Oak Knoll District, Napa Valley, California ($9.99 @ Trader Joe’s, California)   Even though we recently reviewed another $9.99 Merlot bottled under the Trader Joe’s Reserve moniker, that one was from Sonoma Valley.  This one hails from the other watershed of the Mayacamas Mountains, they one … Read moreYep, Red Wine with Fish

Trader Joe’s has Good Sake for Goodness’ Sake

Bottle and glass of Sho Chiku Bai Sake from Trader Joe's

Fast facts: Sho Chiku Bai Sake, Berkeley, Californa ($3.99 @ Trader Joe’s, California)   How good is the QPR on this (rice) wine? Well, a local high-end supermarket (which shall remain nameless) sells it for twice the price.  It’s less than a mile away from our local Trader Joe’s, so yeah, it is worth the … Read moreTrader Joe’s has Good Sake for Goodness’ Sake

The Secret’s Out About these Great Chilean Wines from Costco

Glass and bottle of 2018 Santa Rita Secret Reserve Red Blend

Fast facts: 2018 Santa Rita Secret Reserve Red Blend, Maipo Valley, Chile ($10.99 @ Costco, California – Item #623337)   While technically a new world blend, I would have pegged this red wine (a blend of 55% Cabernet Sauvignon, 20% Syrah, 15% Carignan and 10% Grenache) as an old world wine, possibly French if tasted … Read moreThe Secret’s Out About these Great Chilean Wines from Costco

Great Mmmerlot for Just $50 per Gallon!

Store display for Trader Joe's Reserve 2020 Sonoma County Merlot

Fast facts: 2020 Trader Joe’s Reserve Merlot Lot #227, Sonoma Valley, Sonoma County, California ($9.99 @ Trader Joe’s, California)   We hope our subject line extrapolating the price per gallon (there are five standard 750ml bottles in a gallon FWIW) for this wine makes you feel better about the last time you filled up your … Read moreGreat Mmmerlot for Just $50 per Gallon!

Costco has the Wine to Kick Off Rosé Season – Now 1/3rd Off!

Bottle and glass of 2020 Le Charmel Cotes de Provence Rosé

Fast facts: 2020 Le Charmel Cotes de Provence Rosé, France ($6.89* @ Costco, California – Item #1401944) *price after $3 discount   NEWS FLASH: This has become our favorite pink wine, so it was a nice surprise to find it at Costco discounted by $3 – making a really good value a super, duper high … Read moreCostco has the Wine to Kick Off Rosé Season – Now 1/3rd Off!

A Whole Lot of Red Wine Goodness for $5.99 from Trader Joe’s

Trader Joe's store display of 2019 The Originals Syrah, Columbia Valley, Washington

Fast facts: 2019 Syrah, Columbia Valley, Washington ($5.99 @ Trader Joe’s, California)   Before we start waxing about the grape, the vinification, the history…let’s say this: this is a great bottle of wine for $5.99!     I entered the wine business – at least as a professional, hehe – in the early nineties.  It … Read moreA Whole Lot of Red Wine Goodness for $5.99 from Trader Joe’s