Hi, it’s me (Kara). I’m the wine expert. After passing my WSET 2 exams this year, it’s high time I make a blog post for you rounding up the best Trader Joe’s wines.
While I have plenty of fancy $75+ dollar wine bottles in my cabinet, those aren’t for every day drinking (well, they would be if I had the budget for that but I don’t – ha!) Trader Joe’s is my go-to place to shop for affordable wines, especially during the holiday season when I love to show up with wine to my friend’s house for Christmas movie nights.
I’ve tried a LOT wines from Trader Joe’s while studying for my wine exam, and these are the best 19 Trader Joe’s wine that won’t break the bank.
Best Trader Joes Red Wines
Bonterra Cabernet Sauvignon
Price: $12
Tasting Notes: This Cabernet Sauvignon is organic. With rich layers of blackcurrant, cherries, tobacco, leather, and graphite for a refined taste, it is a great wine to take to a party or when having friends over.
Corvelia Cabernet Sauvignon
Price: $9.99
Tasting Notes: Described as a “Gateway Cabernet,” this Cabernet Sauvignon is not as woodsy as other Cabernet Sauvignons. It has softer notes of cedar and a bit of jammy cherry. This wine pairs well with book club, pasta night, or a cookout.
Corvelia Zinfandel
Price: $10
Tasting Notes: This Zinfandel has a robust flavor with subtle fruit flavors. Perfect if you want a red, but not as bold as a Cab.
Epicuro Nero d’Avola
Price: $4.99
Tasting Notes: This Sicilian Nero d’Avola is a bold, fruity, ultra-smooth red wine. It is jammy, bold, and pairs well with meat-lovers’ pizza. And at that price point, we love it!
La Garenne Red Blend
Price: $9
Tasting Notes: A blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, and Merlot grapes, this dry, oak-forward red blend pairs well with heavier dinners and steak or red meat. Good for winter when all you are craving is heavy, cozy things!
Lodole Rosso di Toscana
Price: $7.99
Tasting Notes: This Super Tuscan has red-berry, licorice, spices and vanilla scents. It’s insanely good and pairs well with food or drinkable on its own. I like this reach for this one during the holidays.
Masca del Tacco Susumaniello
Price: $10
Tasting Notes: This Susumaniello comes from the ‘heel’ of Italy and has a very good medium body flavor. It is comparable to a Cabernet, but even more fruit-forward.
This Susumaniello has a concentrated cherry flavor and light tobacco smokiness with notes of spice, vanilla, and leather notes. It pairs well with BBQ ribs and can also be enjoyed as a nightcap, especially in autumn.
Nero Grande Appassimento
Price: $7
Tasting Notes: This lighter-bodied red wine pairs well with pasta or fish. Appassimento refers to a wine making process where you dry out the grapes, usually in the sunshine, before making wine. This causes wines to have dark fruit flavors, and usually a slightly raisin flavor. It’s very unique!
Porta 6 Tinto
Price: $4.99
Tasting Notes: Look, normally I don’t do red wine from Portugal, but this red blend makes a dang good homemade sangria base.
Rosa Dell Olmo Barolo
Price: $15
Tasting Notes: Made with the Nebbiolo grape (my personal favorite right now) this Barolo is comparable to a Pinot Noir because it is lighter and more fruit-forward. But, you’ll find more notes of violet and leather in these kinds of wine. If you’re looking to switch up your Pinot or Zin drinking, try this!
Cline Zinfandel Old Vine
Price: $7.99
Tasting Notes: This is my go-to affordable bottle when I have girls nights and want to bring something smooth with dark berries and a bit of minerality. It pairs well with cheese and is very drinkable.
Best Trader Joes White Wines
Espiral Vinho Verde
Price: $4.99
Tasting Notes: I had the pleasure of attending a press trip to Portugal with Vinho Verde a few years ago and that’s where I fell in love with this style of wine. Vinho Verde is slightly bubbly, crisp, and dry.
It’s a young wine that is lower in alcohol and incredibly easy to drink. It tastes like you’ve bitten into a cold green apple or a slice of chilled honeydew – and it’s so perfect for a hot day or mix as a spritz. Plus, at $5 you can’t beat that price.
Foncastel Picpoul de Pinet
Price: $8.99
Tasting Notes: Light-bodied, subtly saline wine that’s crisp, limey, and pairs well with fish tacos. And I know that salinity is a weird thing to hear about when it comes to wine but it’s so good.
It’s not a salty wine, more like just a hint of minerals and salt at the finish. Kind of like when you put salt on watermelon, it helps bring the fruit flavors forward in the best way possible.
Honeymoon Viognier
Price: $5.49
Tasting Notes: Viognier will usually always have a notable floral note to it which makes it a unique white grape. This one is ultra-smooth, fruity without being cloyingly sweet, peachy and slightly floral.
It pairs well with spicy, rich Indian food or Thai.
Kono Sauvignon Blanc
Price: $8.99
Tasting Notes: This Sauvignon Blanc is refreshingly crisp and a bit herbal, which I adore. There’s also hints of melona and grapefruit which makes this a zippy, easy drinking summer wine for me.
Soave Classico 2021
Price: $5.99
Tasting Notes: Are you an oyster girlie? Me to! This Italian wine is bright, dry, clean and a little floral and pairs so well with seafood, especially a big ole plate of oysters.
Vignobles Lacheteau Vouvray
Price: $9.99
Tasting Notes: This Vouvray falls in the middle of the sweet-dry spectrum. It has a bracing lemony acidity that balances out its creamy density which I love. All that acidity holds up with salty food well, so pair this with chips, salty fries or other seasoned dishes.
Best Trade Joes Rosé Wines
J.L. Quinson Côtes de Provence Rosé
Price: $8.99
Tasting Notes: Light watermelon and strawberry with a bit of minerality, this is everything you want in a Rosé wine and one of my go-to bottles on nights with the girls.
Cecelia Beretta Prosecco Rosé
Price: $10.99
Tasting Notes: This is a higher-quality Prosecco at a great price point. You’ll want to grab this if you’re doing a charcuterie board.
Opaline Pinot Noir Brut Rosé
Price: $7.99
Tasting Notes: This brut rosé has notes of strawberry, raspberry and black currant with a slightly creamy finish. If you’re tired of standard Rosé and want to switch it up to not only a sparkling wine, but something with a little more personality, try this.
I hope this helps you find a great new wine to try at Trader Joes!! Drop a comment if I didn’t feature your favorite wine so everyone can see.
