7 Best Wines from Trader Joe's, According to a Sommelier

Trader Joe’s is known for its top-quality products at affordable prices, and the store's wine section delivers on that promise, too. Shelves lined with wines from $4.99 to $39.99 boast popular grape varietals, such as chardonnay and cabernet sauvignon, but also pepper in lesser-known—but arguably more interesting wines such as grüner veltliner and barbera d’Asti. You're sure to find a wine that fits your budget and delivers on flavor at a fraction of what it would cost in other places. 

Related: The 6 Best Wines to Buy at the Grocery Store for Entertaining, According to a Sommelier

The chain's wine selection may have gained notoriety with the Charles Shaw line of “Two Buck Chuck” wines at Trader Joe’s, but they also have private-label reserve wines sold under the Trader Joe’s name. TJ’s also carries top brands you’ll see at grocery stores, such as Cloudy Bay Sauvignon Blanc, at discounted prices. Plus Trader Joe’s partners with winemakers and distributors directly to produce wines exclusive to Trader Joe’s. These tend to come from well-known wine regions, such as Barolo (Italy) and Bourgogne (France).

In general, I found that the bottles of well-known grape varietals—pinot noir, chardonnay and cabernet sauvignon—at the lower prices left a lot to be desired in the glass. They tended to be overly fruity, not acidic enough, and generally taste like alcoholic juice (not in a good way), except for one outlier: The cabernet-syrah blend recommended below. Bottom line: If you’re looking for a decent bottle of red wine, or you’re bringing it to a wine-loving friend’s house, you’re going to need to spend at least $10. However, the lesser-known grape varietals, especially the white wines, were impressive at the sub-$10 price range. These wines included vinho verde, muscadet and Soave, just to name a few.

As a trained sommelier who has been popping corks (legally) for almost 20 years, I set out to find the best wines at Trader Joe’s. Exact wines from store to store might vary, but here’s a list of my favorites.

1. Cecilia Beretta Conegliano Valdobbiadene Prosecco Superiore, Italy ($11.99)

While most people know that proper Champagne—i.e., sparkling wine from the region of Champagne in France—will cost you a minimum of $50 a bottle, it’s untrue that other types of sparkling wine should be cheap. For example, prosecco is an Italian sparkling wine that comes in many different levels of quality. Amazingly, Trader Joe’s carries a higher-quality prosecco, aptly named Superiore, from the Conegliano Valdobbiadene region in Northeast Italy. Keep a bottle (or two) of this on hand for anytime you need to celebrate or bring a festive gift to a friend.

2. Espiral Vinho Verde, Gaia, Portugal ($4.99)

"Vinho verde" literally translates to "green wine" in Portuguese, as it’s young wine made from native Portuguese grapes. This table wine is generally slightly effervescent, lower in alcohol, fruity and incredibly easy-drinking, making it a favorite for sipping on the beach, next to a pool or on the porch, or adding to your sangria. Yes, you can spend more for vinho verde and get a wine that’s age-worthy but the Espiral is for drinking now, and isn’t that what most are looking for? 

3. 2022 Villa Molino Soave Classico, Veneto, Italy ($5.99)

Soave wines are made in the Veneto region of Italy, and are predominantly made from the garganega grape. With flavors of melon, peach and lemon zest, Soave wines are often compared to sauvignon blanc and pinot gris, but they have an added hint of saltiness that makes them perfect for serving with shellfish or cheese. Like Superiore prosecco, the Classico designation given to Soave means it’s a higher-quality wine, though you’d never know by the incredibly affordable price from Trader Joe’s.     

4. 2022 Vignobles Lacheteau Muscadet Sevre et Maine, Loire, France ($7.99) 

If you’re serving shellfish or spicy Asian-style food, or you’re looking for an easy-drinking wine for a hot day, look no further than muscadet. Not to be confused with sweet muscadine wine, this muscadet is a dry, floral, medium-bodied wine with great acidity for standing up to salty food. "Sur lie" means “aged on the lees” and translates to the wine being aged with the yeast for a longer period of time. This adds depth and complexity to the wine, giving it a richer mouthfeel and a slightly toasty and nutty flavor.   

5. 2022 De Mont Rosé Provence, France ($10.99) 

Many people think rosé is for summer, but I’m here to tell you that it’s truly a year-round wine. Dry and medium-bodied with aromas of strawberry and melon, this rosé is made from syrah grapes and hits all the hallmarks of a good rosé. It’s an easy pour for pairing with anything, one of the main reasons rosé is always my wine of choice to bring to a party.  

6. 2022 Tilia Malbec, Mendoza, Argentina ($9.99) 

When it comes to budget-friendly red wines that almost everyone enjoys, I always reach for dolcetto d’Alba or malbec. Both of these grapes tend to produce wines that are equally enjoyable as a glass of wine with or without food. Since my local Trader Joe’s doesn’t sell a dolcetto d’Alba, this malbec from Tilia is my go-to pick. Flavors of blackberries, plum jam, violet and vanilla are just a few of the notes you’ll get when you take a sip from the glass. Pair this wine with your next friends' get-together or food hot off the grill. 

7. 2022 Maison Barboulot Cabernet-Syrah, Languedoc, France ($6.49)

For the price, this blend of equal parts cabernet sauvignon and syrah from Maison Barboulot rivals many $20 bottles from the regular grocery store. Notes of ripe red berries, chocolate and black pepper all swirl in the glass and into your nose as you take a sip of this wine. Now don’t get me wrong, this isn’t winning awards but it’s 100% reminiscent of the table wine you’d have at an outdoor café in France, which I consider winning enough.