Update: See our newest list of best Trader Joe’s wines in 2023 here
Is that $5 Trader Joe’s Chianti too good to be true? As long-time Trader Joe’s shoppers, we’ve had plenty of wines that punched well above their price — and quite a few disappointing bottles as well. Avoid wine aisle angst with this list of the best Trader Joe’s wines, all of which we’ve confirmed to be in stores as of June 2020.
To decide which wines would make the cut, we turned to the largest wine review site, Vivino. Here, thousands of customers have posted ratings for Trader Joe’s wines. We’ve also included photos of the actual wines on Trader Joe’s store shelves, to help save time while shopping.
To note: mass-market brands such as Korbel and Castle Rock are excluded from this list. If you’re reading this article, you’ve probably seen or had those brands before and don’t need us to tell you about them.
DAOU Pessimist Red Blend ($18.99)
With its lush dark fruit and smooth tannins, The Pessimist earns high marks for many drinkers. Its layered aromatics of ripe black cherry and blueberry are underscored by smoky tobacco, vanilla, and cocoa notes. This is a blend of 64% Petit Sirah, 23% Syrah, 10% Zinfandel, 2% Lagrein, and 1% Tannat.
Ruggero di Bardo Susumaniello ($9.99)
Don’t be intimidated by the name. This rare varietal hailing from the south of Italy is a steal at $9.99. Drinkers love its rich, dark fruit, vanilla, and oaky notes, which are balanced by good acidity and tannins. Many even went so far as to say this was their favorite wine from Trader Joe’s.
Fleurs de Prairie Côtes de Provence ($13.99)
If you like a completely dry rosé, you’ll enjoy this classic Provençal-style wine. It offers a silky texture and delicate strawberry and floral aromatics. Shoppers found its light, crisp body very refreshing.
Raeburn Russian River Valley Chardonnay ($16.99)
Raeburn Chardonnay deftly balances creamy, oaky aromatics with bright natural acidity. Drinkers love that the wine is rich without being overbearing. Expect lush apple, pear, and apricot notes. Raeburn is also a Certified California Sustainable Winery.
Badet Clement Pontificis (Viognier – Marsanne – Rousanne) ($6.99)
Elegant aromatics, Chardonnay-like roundness, and clean minerality make the Pontificis a favorite of Trader Joe’s shoppers. Tasting notes included stone fruit, honeysuckle, and a hint of creaminess due to lees aging.
Corvelia Cabernet Sauvignon (approximately $11)
Corvelia is one of the most affordable lines of red wines we could find at Trader Joe’s that is still approachable and delicious. Fans consistently felt both the Corvelia Cabernet Sauvignon and Corvelia Zinfandel overdelivered for its price tag. The Corvelia Cabernet Sauvignon appears to be the most popular, with rich aromatics of dark fruit, cocoa, and earth, rounded out by smooth tannins.
2014 Pasqua Amarone della Valpolicella ($19.99)
The first thing to know about this wine is that even though it’s $19.99, it’s usually $30-40 elsewhere. So the price is on the high end for Trader Joe’s, but it’s actually heavily discounted. Wine enthusiasts loved the depth of flavors, including black cherry, blackberry, raisin and vanilla, as well as its rich tannins and smooth finish.
La Coqueluche Rosé ($5.99)
With its unassuming label and price point, it’s easy to overlook La Coqueluche Rosé. However, drinkers consistently love its refreshing, crisp acidity and delicate aromatics of strawberry and rhubarb. This particular bottle was out of stock for awhile, but appears to be back in stores for the summer.
The selection of wines at Trader Joe’s is always evolving. We’ll continue to put update this list as the wines change.
Archive — Previous wines from the 2019 Trader Joe’s List that appear to no longer be available:
Schloss Biebrich Rosé Sekt ($5.99)
Schloss Biebrich might not be the most complex sparkling wine, but its price tag is hard to beat. Drinkers loved its refreshing crispness, light notes of strawberry, and dry finish. This wine appears to be created exclusively for Trader Joe’s.
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