Trader Joe’s Sez: “Let’s Be Franc”

Trader Joe's store display of the 2022 Cabernet Franc, Petit Reserve, Paso Robles, California   - a great deal at $7.99

Fast Facts: 2022 Cabernet Franc, Trader Joe’s Petit Reserve, Paso Robles, California   ($7.99 @Trader Joe’s in California)   …and let’s be frank: you just don’t see many bottlings of straight up Cabernet Franc – unless you are standing in a Winery Tasting Room.  Cab Sauv?  Sure.  Cab Franc. Not so much… So that is what … Read moreTrader Joe’s Sez: “Let’s Be Franc”

Think You Can’t Find High QPR Pinot Noir Under $10? Think again…

Bottle and glass of the 2021 Pinot Noir, Trader Joe's Reserve Lot #241, Santa Barbara County, California

Fast Facts: 2021 Pinot Noir, Trader Joe’s Reserve Lot #241, Santa Barbara County, California   ($9.99 @Trader Joe’s in California)   Pinot Noir has a problem. It’s being loved to death. Its precise rank varies by which list you consult, but it remains securely in the top 5 of all wine grapes, and second only to … Read moreThink You Can’t Find High QPR Pinot Noir Under $10? Think again…

If You Love BBQ, Get to Know this Grape, and this Wine

Trader Joe's store display of 2021 Cline Ancient Vines Zinfandel, Contra Costa County, California

Fast Facts: 2021 Cline Ancient Vines Zinfandel, Contra Costa County, California   ($13.99 @Trader Joe’s in California) Today’s online edition of Decanter reported that veraison (that celebrated harbinger of harvest when wine grapes begin to blush and change color) has begun in the vineyards of northern California. They talked with winemakers from Napa, from Sonoma – … Read moreIf You Love BBQ, Get to Know this Grape, and this Wine

A Great TJ’s Cab Sauv, Just Don’t Call it Napa

Front label of 2020  Trader Joe's Grand Reserve Alexander Valley Cabernet Sauvignon Lot #95, Sonoma County, California

Fast 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 … Read moreA Great TJ’s Cab Sauv, Just Don’t Call it Napa

A Delicious Summer Weight Spanish Red Wine – Just $9.99 at TJs

Front label of 2019  Vallobera Crianza, Rioja, Spain ($9.99 @Trader Joe's in California)

Fast Facts: 2019  Vallobera Crianza, Rioja, Spain ($9.99 @Trader Joe’s in California)   Rioja is one Spain’s most famous wine regions and is one of only two regions classified under the Denominación de Origen Calificada (DOCa) system. Its two most important red grapes are Tempranillo and Garnacha.  This particular wine is 100% Tempranillo, one of … Read moreA Delicious Summer Weight Spanish Red Wine – Just $9.99 at TJs

Fire Up the Barbee, Pour this Wine

Store display of 2021 Trader Joe's Petit Reserve Shiraz, Barossa Valley, Australia ($7.99 @ Trader Joe's, California)

Fast facts: 2021 Trader Joe’s Petit Reserve Shiraz, Barossa Valley, Australia ($7.99 @ Trader Joe’s, California)   While we felt compelled to give a nod to the Aussie origin of this wine in this subject line, perhaps we should have said “fire up the barbee, Barbie” given all the hype the latter is creating in … Read moreFire Up the Barbee, Pour this Wine

Pet Nat Wines are Having a Moment – Wait, What?

2022 Amuse Bouche, Pétillant Naturel, Sparkling White Wine, France ($11.99@ Trader Joe's, California) pictured with Trader Joe's Sea Salted Saddle Potato Crisps ($1.99). Yummy pairing!

Fast facts: 2022 Amuse Bouche, Pétillant Naturel, Sparkling White Wine, France ($11.99 @ Trader Joe’s, California) Sometimes it seems like there is very little new in the wine market. Then something like this comes along.  But it’s actually not very new, after all. Read on… Let’s assume you have never even heard of a Pét-nat … Read morePet Nat Wines are Having a Moment – Wait, What?

Fire Up the BBQ and Pull the Cork on this TJ’s Red Wine

Bottle and glass of the 2021 Trader Joe's Reserve Meritage, Lot #239, Paso Robles, CA

Fast facts: 2021 Trader Joe’s Reserve Meritage, Lot #239, Paso Robles, CA ($9.99 @ Trader Joe’s, California)   So this red caught my eye at Trader Joe’s recently.  There were two things that first attracted me to this wine: the magical word Meritage (rhymes with “heritage” but is also pronounced “mehr-it-taj”) which promises good things … Read moreFire Up the BBQ and Pull the Cork on this TJ’s Red Wine

French Lessons from Trader Joe’s

Trader Joe's store display of the 2021  Vignobles Lacheteau Muscadet Sèvre-et-Maine, Loire Valley, France

Fast facts: 2021  Vignobles Lacheteau Muscadet Sèvre-et-Maine, Loire Valley, France ($7.99 @ Trader Joe’s, California)   European wine producers have a long standing tradition of using labels that are, in a word, confusing.  At least to the average wine consumer.  This is such a label. But we are here with some “French Lessons” to help … Read moreFrench Lessons from Trader Joe’s

Trader Joe’s is Your Puerta to High QPR

Front label of 2015 Puerta de Plata red blend wine from Trader Joe's

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