A Costco Sauvignon Blanc Smackdown!

2017 Kirkland Marlborough (New Zealand) Sauvignon Blanc & 2016 Matua Marlborough (New Zealand) Sauvignon Blanc

Fast facts: 2017 Kirkland Marlborough (New Zealand) Sauvignon Blanc $6.99 (@Costco; California) 2016 Matua Marlborough (New Zealand) Sauvignon Blanc $7.99 (@Costco; California) You may have deduced from my posts that I am a bigger fan of red wines. That said, when we are drinking white wines at our house, it is more often than not … Read moreA Costco Sauvignon Blanc Smackdown!

A Cal-Ital beauty – at a beautiful price!

2012 Buono Anni Santa Ynez Valley Sangiovese

Fast facts: 2012 Buono Anni Santa Ynez Valley Sangiovese ($13.99 @Costco, California) Let me start by alerting you to the fact that the $13.99 price tag above is not a typo.  While this blog is devoted – almost exclusively – to wine finds under $10, this wine was still screaming KILLER DEAL at its slightly … Read moreA Cal-Ital beauty – at a beautiful price!

Steal this Chard

2016 Kirkland Sonoma County Chardonnay

Fast facts: 2016 Kirkland Sonoma County Chardonnay ($6.99 @Costco, California) Let me address something right out of the gate… I recognize that we review no small number of Kirkland branded wines here. And I know that some of us, myself included, are reluctant to bring them out at social occasions for fear of appearing unsophisticated, … Read moreSteal this Chard

A Summer Sangria Hack

Sangria with Sanpellegrino Soda

In my prior post A BBQ Wine Battle Royale – Costco vs. Trader Joe’s Zinfandels I promised that I would share my secret recipe for making quick, easy and refreshing Sangria. The secrets shall be revealed here… When you research what it takes to witch up a batch of sangria from scratch, you are basically looking at … Read moreA Summer Sangria Hack

A BBQ Wine Battle Royale – Costco vs. Trader Joe’s Zinfandels

Bottles of 2015 Kirkland Signature Sonoma County Zinfandel and 2016 OZV Lodi Zinfandel

Fast facts: 2015 Kirkland Signature Sonoma County Zinfandel $9.99 (@Costco; California) 2016 OZV Lodi Zinfandel $9.99 (@Trader Joe’s; California) With summer just a few short weeks away (per the calendar anyway) we thought it was a good time to feature a grape variety that pairs especially well with all things barbecue. Old vine Zinfandel is … Read moreA BBQ Wine Battle Royale – Costco vs. Trader Joe’s Zinfandels

$5.99 Red Alert for Trader Joe’s Wine Shoppers

Jebediah Drinkwell's Meritage NV

Fast facts: Jebediah Drinkwell’s Meritage NV ($5.99 @Trader Joe’s,  California) I have to admit that I had pretty low expectations for this wine based solely on its price point of $5.99.  So it languished in my wine cellar for weeks. Maybe that was a good thing.  You see, when wine is jostled (during the processes … Read more$5.99 Red Alert for Trader Joe’s Wine Shoppers

Bargain French Champagne – no longer an oxymoron!

NV Kirkland Champagne Brut

Fast facts: NV Kirkland Champagne Brut ($19.99 @Costco, California) Let me start by alerting you to the fact that the $19.99 price tag above is not a typo.  While this blog is devoted – almost exclusively – to wine finds under $10, we couldn’t resist taking this $19.99 French champagne out for a test drive.  … Read moreBargain French Champagne – no longer an oxymoron!

A Summer Slurper for Seafood

2016 Blanka Vinho Verde & 2016 Aveleda Vinho Verde

Fast facts: 2016 Blanka Vinho Verde ($9.99 @Total Wines & More, California) 2016 Aveleda Vinho Verde ($8.99 @Total Wines & More, California) A few years ago, my wife and visited Portugal on a wine buying excursion. On our way to the wine regions of the Douro Valley, we meandered between the small towns that dot … Read moreA Summer Slurper for Seafood

TJ’s Battle of the Blush

2017 Moonlight and Roses from Coteaux d' Aix-en- Provence and 2017 La Coqueluche Vin d' Pays D'Oc

Fast facts: 2017 Moonlight and Roses Coteaux d’ Aix-en- Provence Rosé  $8.99 (@Trader Joe’s,  California) 2017 La Coqueluche Vin de Pays d’Oc Rosé  $5.99 (@Trader Joe’s, California) Something about the month of May, and (call me a sexist) Mothers Day signals the start of the rosé wine season to me, although here is California, there are … Read moreTJ’s Battle of the Blush

A Pair from Costco (Riffing on Burgundy)

2015 Castoro Cellars Paso Robles Chardonnay & 2016 Kirkland Signature Carneros Pinot Noir Napa Valley

Fast facts: 2015 Castoro Cellars Paso Robles Chardonnay $8.99 (@Costco; California) 2016 Kirkland Signature Carneros Pinot Noir Napa Valley $9.99 (@Costco; California) At first glance, these two wines from Costco may not appear to have much in common. The 2015 Castoro Chardonnay is from Paso Robles, on the Central Coast of California. It’s a blend … Read moreA Pair from Costco (Riffing on Burgundy)