Trader Joe’s is known for cheap, high-quality products hailing from innovative locations. You may be on the search for some wine and cheese, but does Trader Joe’s sell wine?
Yes, in states that allow the sale of alcohol in grocery stores, Trader Joe’s will have a large supply of wine available for purchase. Many of these wines are imported, and difficult to find anywhere else. In my experience, you can never go wrong with Trader Joe’s platinum reserve.
Meeting expectations, you can find just as wide of a variety of wines at Trader Joe’s as you can at some liquor stores.
Wine at Trader Joe’s
Trader Joe’s carries several kinds of wine in qualifying locations. You can find wine in bottles, and boxed wine too. In states where grocery stores are prohibited from selling wine (like Utah), Trader Joe’s will not carry it.
See our full list of what states sell wine at grocery stores here.
Price
Wine at Trader Joe’s is much cheaper than wine in other stores. You can get a wine of comparable quality to liquor store wines for a quarter of the price at Trader Joe’s. For even lower prices, consider Trader Joe’s boxed wine, which doesn’t have as pretty of a package but still tastes amazing.
Quality
Rarely am I disappointed with one of Trader Joe’s imported wines, or their Platinum Reserve. Their red wine is spicy and full-bodied, and their white wine has a pleasant kick. They carry storied wines like Prosecco and Champagne too for special occasions.
Types of Wine Available at Trader Joe’s:
There are many types of wine on the market that are organized by taste and appearance. To remove the mysticism around wine varieties here is your simple guide.
Red Wine
Red wine is named because of its color, which is caused by tannins. Tannins are naturally occurring in grape skin, which is left on red the grapes during the fermenting process. Tannins have a bitter taste. Red wine is best enjoyed with hearty food such as red meat.
Red Wine Options at Trader Joe’s:
- Josephine Cabernet Sauvignon
- Block Red Wine Dark Red Blend
- Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon Alexander Valley 2020
- Ghost Vine Red Blend with Spices
- Villa Cerrina Montepulciano D’Abruzzo
White Wine
White wine is made from white grapes. The tannin content of white wine is much smaller, so it is not as bitter. Instead, it is an acidic or tart taste. White wines typically smell fruity and are designed to go with food such as fish.
White Wine Options at Trader Joe’s:
- Espiral Vinho Verde
- Rebuttel Chardonnay
- Picton Bay Sauvignon Blanc
- Blue Shell Sauvignon Blanc
- High Guard Chardonnay
- Honey Moon Viognier
Rosé
This wine is pink in color and falls somewhere between white and red in taste. The skins of red grapes are allowed to ferment for only part of the time, which causes the color.
Rosé Options at Trader Joe’s:
- Platinum Reserve Brut Rosé Sonoma County
- Opaline Pinot Noir Brut Rosé
- Giardino Pinot Grigio Rosé Vivace
- La Ferme Julien Rosé
Dessert Wine
Dessert wines are red and white wines that are fortified to preserve their higher sugar content. You usually drink this wine after a meal, or alongside a sugary treat.
Dessert Wine Options at Trader Joe’s:
Sparkling Wine
Sparkling wine is any bubbly wine. Carbonated wines are popular for celebrations and are made with either red or white grapes. To achieve the bubbles, they are either fermented specially or injected with carbon dioxide.
Sparkling Wine Options at Trader Joe’s:
- Cecilia Beretta Prosecco
- Cecilia Beretta Prosecco Rosé
Final Thoughts
Many kinds of wine can taste sour, sweet, tart, and anywhere in between. Trader Joe’s carries a big selection of cheap wine, so you can experience them all. For red meat, choose red wine. Pair white wine with fish.
Enjoy the best of both worlds with a Rose, feed your sweet tooth with a dessert wine, or celebrate with sparkling wine.
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