trader joe’s wine recommendations

// rose: la ferme julien //

This rose is a popular wine from TJ. It’s under $6 but tastes much more expensive. This is a fairly dry rose, so it’s tart and citrusy. Definitely a great rose to have on hand and pairs well with many foods! Love a good rose in the spring and summer!

// chardonnay: pacific grove //

At $5.99, this oaky Chardonnay is great for anyone loving a more rich white wine. The TJ’s marketing label says its key notes are tropical fruit and vaninillan toast with hints of caramel and creme brûlée. I don’t notice this being super sweet like moscato, but it is on the sweeter side for a chardonnay. It’s not my favorite out of the TJ’s Chardonnays, but it is notable for people who prefer a less dry chard.

// chardonnay: Napa valley Trader Joe’s reserve //

So this is the chardonnay I prefer! This chardonnay is a more light and fruit white wine compared to the Pacific Grove. And apparently the Trader Joe’s reserve wines are some of the best in the store! I read an article (cannot remember for the life of me where it was published) that explained that the reserve wines are generally better than the brand label wines. TJ’s jacks up the prices of the brand-labeled wines so they look better and fancier, but in reality the reserve wines are some of the better ones!

Let’s first talk about the bottle of this lovely pinot Grigio. I bought it solely because of the pretty bottle, and I actually really like the flavor! This is the only Pinot Grigio I’ve tried at Trader Joe’s so I can’t compare it to any others, but I really like it! It’s definitely cheap, but like I’ve said before I’m a college student that loves any type of white wine so I’m not picky. This is a drier and lighter Pinot Grigio than others I have tried at restaurants, and it has nice notes of lemon and apple. It still is a sweet wine but light enough for pairing with dinner or lunch!

// sauvignon blanc: petit reserve Sonoma valley //

This is the only Sauvignon blanc I’ve tried at TJ’s, but I really love it! It’s everything you expect from a sauvignon blanc: it’s fruity and crisp and goes down like water. It’s super refreshing so definitely one of my favorite summer-y wines!

// simpler wines cans //

One of the best kept (maybe?) secret of TJ’s are the Simpler Wine’s cans. These are packs of 4 sparkling wines (with a fairly high percentage of alcohol). These come in a variety of flavors, and my favorites are the Rose, Peach, and White Wine. Some of the best sparkling wine cans/spritzers I’ve tried and at a much cheaper price than most!

So there you have it- my TJ wine favorites! Hopefully I’ll be back to do another one of these in a few months after trying more wines. Do you have any favorite Trader Joe’s wines?

*DISCLAIMER: This post is not endorsed or sponsored. All opinions are my own.

xoxo,

Madison