I talk a lot about going to tasting events and wine boutiques a lot, but that’s assuming that money is no object. Am I right? I feel like I am leaving out the average Joe, where $15 can go a long way, especially in this tight economy.
Today, I am dedicating this segment to on how to finding a good cheap bottle of wine at your local stores, like Trader Joe's, Stater Bros., and Vons.
Trader Joe’s is a hot spot for fresh produce and organic foods. They also carry a selection of wines that are around $2 per bottle, also known as “Two Buck Chuck”. But the question is, “How does it taste?”
Two Buck Chuck is actually not the name of the wine. It is bottled by Bronco Winery and owned by Charles Shaw. The nick name came from the wine press, but the name has stuck ever since. This brand of wine comes in eight types of vintages including, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Shiraz, Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, White Zinfandel, and Valdiguie, and Pinot Grigio. Not all Trader Joe stores will carry all eight brands at one time, but they will always carry Cabernet, Merlot, and Chardonnay since these are the most popular.
As far as taste, it isn’t the best in the world, but enjoyable and the best quality for the price. The 2007 Chardonnay received a 98 point rating and voted Best of California and Best of Class, while the 2002 Shiraz bested over 2,300 wines and a double gold medal.
At Stater Bros. you can find the Douglass Hill’s wines for under $2 as well. And guess what? These wines are produced by Bronco Winery as well. There’s not much else I can add, because it literally is the same wine, just a different label.
Today, I am dedicating this segment to on how to finding a good cheap bottle of wine at your local stores, like Trader Joe's, Stater Bros., and Vons.
Trader Joe’s is a hot spot for fresh produce and organic foods. They also carry a selection of wines that are around $2 per bottle, also known as “Two Buck Chuck”. But the question is, “How does it taste?”
Two Buck Chuck is actually not the name of the wine. It is bottled by Bronco Winery and owned by Charles Shaw. The nick name came from the wine press, but the name has stuck ever since. This brand of wine comes in eight types of vintages including, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Shiraz, Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, White Zinfandel, and Valdiguie, and Pinot Grigio. Not all Trader Joe stores will carry all eight brands at one time, but they will always carry Cabernet, Merlot, and Chardonnay since these are the most popular.
As far as taste, it isn’t the best in the world, but enjoyable and the best quality for the price. The 2007 Chardonnay received a 98 point rating and voted Best of California and Best of Class, while the 2002 Shiraz bested over 2,300 wines and a double gold medal.
At Stater Bros. you can find the Douglass Hill’s wines for under $2 as well. And guess what? These wines are produced by Bronco Winery as well. There’s not much else I can add, because it literally is the same wine, just a different label.
Vons (Safeway), another popular southern California grocery chain carries other brands of wine that is below $4 per bottle starting with the Searidge, California Syrah for $3 per bottle. This vintage has a decent nose of berries. It finishes rather bitter, but it’s not too bad for the price.
Another bottle I discovered from Vons is the Bin 99, 2006 Lindemans, Pinot Noir priced at $3. This is a smoky, yet peppery wine with brown and deep red tones. It sounds good, but I recommend letting this breathe a bit. If you have a wine aerator, I recommend using it to speed the oxygenating process.
For more on wines under $10, go to my previous article: Smoking Loon - Best Wine Label under $10
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2 comments:
cool blog MYKE! lol.
i love wine. so i'll check this often to get the wine scoop.
that's definitely cheap and easy! i personally prefer spending an extra five or six bucks for a much higher quality wine, but if you're just looking for something to drink, two-buck chuck works (can't say i never have!)
i wrote a little article about finding good, cheap wine too that gives a few more hints. good stuff, cheers!
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