Fast facts: 2015 Puerta de Plata, Catalunya, Spain ($7.99 @Trader Joe’s, California) If memory serves, this was one of the first wines we reviewed on this blog. I recall hyperventilating when I first tasted it, especially given its $7.99 price point and uber classy packaging. It’s a bit of a Trader Joe’s staple, so … Read moreTrader Joe’s is Your Puerta to High QPR
Fast facts: 2021 La Granja 360 Verdejo Viura $5.49 (@Trader Joe’s; California) Where does the time go? We last reviewed the 2016 vintage of this wine in 2018. Like everything else, the price has gone up quite a bit since them. Back then it was priced at a rather ridiculous (in retrospect) $3.49. But … Read moreA “Cheap and Cheery” White Wine from Traders Joe’s – Bring on Spring!
Fast facts: Kirkland Signature Classic Red Sangria, Vino de España, Spain (Product #1025679) $6.99 @ Costco, California This bonus sized bottle of Kirkland Signature Spanish Sangria (still just $6.99 for a double bottle!) is everything you need to chill with this summer. Well, almost everything… I’m a big fan of Sangria when … Read moreCostco KS Sangria – An Inflation-Fighting Super Hero!
Fast facts: 2018 Juan Gil Monastrell, Jumilla, Spain ($11.99 @ Costco, California – Item #967359) There is a lot to like about this wine. For starters, it is made of 100% Certified Organic Monastrell (Mourvèdre) grapes. Then there is the 93 point rating bestowed by none other than Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate. All this … Read more93 Points for $11.99 Makes it a Good Time Get to Know Monastrell
Fast facts: 2018 Las Margas Garnacha, Cariñena, Spain ($12.99 @Trader Joe’s, California) Garnacha is the Spanish (and therefore original) name for the grape known in France and elsewhere (like California) as Grenache. There was a time when it was the dominant grape in Spain. Now, despite ripping up almost half of its Garnacha vineyards, … Read moreA Summer Weight Spanish Garnacha from Trader Joe’s
Fast Facts: 2014 Campo Arriba, Yecla, Spain ($8.99 @Costco in California – Item #1104416) One of our unofficial slogans here is: “we taste a lot of inferior wines so our readers don’t have to.” A few words about frogs, and princes… Because we are especially excited when we find great values under $10, we … Read moreAn Incredible $8.99 Red Wine Value from Costco – 93 Points!
Fast facts: M. Chevallier Brut Cava, Spain ($5.99 @Trader Joe’s, California) Trader Joe’s Organic Cold Pressed Orange Juice ($1.99, California) We’ll keep this short, since you’re undoubtedly busy even in the build up to this quieter and smaller Christmas holiday season. But maybe you have discovered that being forced to shrink your holiday “footprint” brings … Read moreYour Holiday Mimosa Kit from Trader Joe’s – Everything you Need for Under $10
Fast facts: 2017 Las Resas Monastrell, Bullas, Spain ($4.99@Trader Joe’s, California) Summer is a good time to talk about serving temperatures for wine. Especially since if you’re like me, reds at room temperature don’t cut it when it’s hot outside. In my house, we use the refrigerator for white wines and a dedicated wine fridge … Read moreA Tasty $4.99 Red Wine from Trader Joe’s – and a Handy Sangria Hack from Us.
Fast facts: 2015 La Gitana Gold, Reserva, Rioja, Spain $11.99 (@Costco, California, Item# 1362093) 2015 Kirkland Signature, Reserva, Rioja, Spain $7.99 (@Costco, California, Item#917056) Americans tend to be less familiar with Rioja than European wine drinkers. No surprise there. It is arguably Spain’s top wine region and their wines are stratified into three designations, Reservas … Read moreTwo Spaniards Duke it Out in the Wine Section at Costco!