The Aldi Specially Selected Douro Doc Reserva Red 2022 is a $9.99 Aldi exclusive. The Specially Selected line of Aldi wines is a curated line that features affordable wines from the world’s greatest growing regions. The Story This red blend is produced and bottled by Van Zeller and Company, the oldest Port wine producer in…
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The Sonoma-Cutrer Sonoma Coast Chardonnay 2023 is a wine I found on sale for $15.99; it typically sells for $20 or more. The Sonoma-Cutrer winery is part of the Duckhorn family of wines. The Story The Sonoma-Cutrer Sonoma Coast Chardonnay 2023 is their “entry-level” Chardonnay. It is 100% Chardonnay sourced from 4 sustainably farmed estate…
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The Freakshow Lodi Chardonnay 2021 is a wine I found at a local grocery store for $15. This wine is from Michael David Winery of Lodi, California. The Story Michael and David are brothers, and Phillips is the family name. They are fifth-generation grape growers. The family has farmed the land since the 1860s and…
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The Lapis Luna North Coast Sauvignon Blanc 2024 s a wine I found at Trader Joe’s selling for $10.99. It is not a Trader Joe’s exclusive and a quick check of the internet found it selling in the $10 to $14 range. The Story Lapis Luna is Latin for the Stone and Moon. It is…
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Send us a text A $12.99 Chardonnay from Willamette Valley that actually overdelivers? We pop the cork on Willa Creek 2023 and trace the bigger story behind Oregon’s quiet Chardonnay comeback. For years the region leaned on California clones that struggled to ripen in cooler sites, yielding lean, austere wines. The switch to Dijon clones—and…
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The Willia Creek Willamette Chardonnay 2023 is a $12.99 Trader Joe’s wine. The Willia Creek Cellars trademark is held by Precept Wine & Spirits. The Story The back label shows this Chardonnay was ” produced and bottled by” Willia Creek Cellars of Dundee, Oregon. Produced and bottled by indicates the aforementioned winery may not have…
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Send us a text A single sip of Wente Morning Fog Central Coast Chardonnay 2023 tells a bigger story—one about a 140-year family legacy, a game-changing clone, and the craft behind a clean, vanilla-tinged style that wins without the heavy butter. We open the bottle and trace Wente’s roots in Livermore, where the family helped…
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The Wente Morning Fog Central Coast Chardonnay 2023 is a wine I found at a local grocery store, selling for $11.99. This is the entry Chardonnay for Wente Family Vineyards, who have a unique history with the Chardonnay grape. The Story Wente was founded in 1883 and is the oldest continuously operated family-owned vineyard and…
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Send us a text Ever had a wine that stops you mid-sip and makes you think, “Wait, what’s happening here?” That’s exactly what Seek to Find Central Coast Sauvignon Blanc 2023 did to me. Found at Trader Joe’s for just $7.99, this isn’t your typical budget Sauvignon Blanc – it’s a thoughtful departure from the…
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The Seek to Find Central Coast Sauvignon Blanc 2023 is sold at Trader Joe’s for $7.99. It was made for Trader Joe’s by a branch of Treana wines, which is a brand owned by Hope Family Wines from Paso Robles in California’s Central Coast. The Story Hope Family Wines is an excellent family-owned winery that…
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The Pine Ridge Chenin Blanc Viognier 2024 is a wine I found selling for $10.99 at a local wine shop. Pine Ridge Vineyards is a Napa Valley winery in the Stags Leap district. They typically produce Bordeaux-inspired wines, so this White wine is not typical of their wine program. The Story Pine Ridge Vineyards is…
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The Seaglass Central Coast Pinot Grigio 2024 is a wine that should be found for around $10. It was one of the 50+ brands of wines and spirits from Trinchero Family Vineyards. The Story Trinchero Family Vineyards is the 4th family-owned winery. They were founded in Napa Valley in 1948 and are still going strong….
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The Justin Central Coast Sauvignon Blanc 2023 is a wine I found selling for $12.99; the list price is $18. This is a wine that is widely available from supermarkets to wine shops. The Story There was a Justin (Justin Baldwin), but he sold the winery to The Wonderful Company in 2010. The Wonderful Company…
Read MoreSend us a text Have you ever discovered a wine that completely redefines what you can expect at its price point? That’s exactly what happened when I uncorked the Decoy Chardonnay 2023, a remarkable white wine that offers complexity and craftsmanship typically reserved for bottles costing twice as much. This surprisingly sophisticated Chardonnay showcases the…
Read MoreSend us a text What happens when traditional French winemaking techniques meet California innovation at a price point we can all afford? Pure magic in a glass. Ferrari Carano’s North Coast Fumé Blanc 2023 represents the pinnacle of value white wine, scoring 92 points from top critics while remaining accessible at just $10.99. Most casual…
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The Ferrari-Carano North Coast Fume Blanc 2023 is a wine I found for $10.99, and it received 92 points from a major wine critic. The Story Ferrari-Carano was founded in 1981 by Don and Rhonda Carano. It is a beautiful estate in Northern Sonoma, and they produced consistently excellent wines. After Don Carano passed away…
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The Bear Bros. The California Sauvignon Blanc 2023 is an Aldi exclusive, priced at $7.99. I checked the California Wine Club Registry and found that an entity of Sutter Home was involved in the production. The Story Sutter Home wines are part of the Trinchero Family of Wine and Spirits. Sutter Home typically sells non-vintage…
Read MoreSend us a text Wine lovers, take note! While the alcohol industry faces declining sales across all categories, we’ve discovered a stunning bright spot in Oregon’s Willamette Valley. The Stoller Estate Chardonnay 2023 represents everything we look for in a quality wine that won’t break the bank. Officially priced at $25 but occasionally available for…
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The Stoller Estate Willamette Valley Chardonnay 2023 is a wine I found at a local shop selling for $14.99; the list price is $25. The Stoller Family Estate started as a turkey farm and transitioned to wine production in the late 1980s—the current winery and vineyards were established in 2001. The Story The Stoller Winery…
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The Markham Napa Valley Sauvignon Blanc 2022 is a wine I found on sale, priced at $13.99; it is typically priced above $20. Markham Vineyards is a historic wine property dating back to the 1800s. The Story Bruce Markham founded the current winery in 1977, and it quickly became known as a premier producer of…
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The Trader Joe’s Grower’s Reserve Organic Sauvignon Blanc 2024 is a $5.99 exclusive to Trader Joe’s. This certified organic wine is produced by ASV Vines on the Central Coast of California. The Story There is a wine truism: nobody goes through the time, effort, and expense to certify a less-than-top vineyard to organic specification. Young…
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Send us a text The fascinating world of wine often hides gems in plain sight. Meet the Bacchus Ginger’s Cuvée Pinot Noir 2023, a $12.99 bottle that breaks the assumption that quality must come with a hefty price tag. What makes this wine remarkable isn’t just its approachable price point, but the pedigree behind it….
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The Bacchus Ginger’s Cuvee Pinot Noir 2023 is a wine I found at a local wine retailer selling for $12.99. It is a wine label from David Gordon, the Sommelier at Tribeca Grill (owned by Robert De Niro) since 1990. The Story David Gordon has had an outstanding career, he is one of 3 Americans…
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Send us a text We taste and review Trader Joe’s Super Happy Sauvignon Blanc 2023, a $9.99 exclusive made by acclaimed Paso Robles winemaker Field Recordings from Happy Canyon of Santa Barbara grapes. • Field Recordings proprietor Andrew Jones specializes in finding forgotten vineyards and transforming them into unique wines• Happy Canyon is the easternmost…
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The Super Happy Sauvignon Blanc 2023 appears to be a Trader Joe’s exclusive, priced at $9.99. This wine is made from grapes grown in the Happy Canyon of Santa Barbara. The Story The Super Happy Sauvignon Blanc 2023 is produced by Field Recordings, a well-regarded winery from Paso Robles. Field Recordings is Andrew Jones, who…
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