The Sterling Vintner’s Collection Meritage 2013 is a blend of Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Malbec and Petit Verdot sourced from Sterling’s Paris Valley Ranch Vineyard near Monterey Bay along with other vineyards in California’s Central Coast AVA. A Meritage wine (rhythms with heritage) is a Red Blend wine based on the wine-making tradition of…
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The Rabbit Ridge Allure de Robles 2013 is a Rhone inspired wine blend, available for $6.99 at Trader Joe’s, but it does not seem to be an exclusive wine, sourced from vineyards in Paso Robles inside the Central Coast AVA of California. Northern Rhone wines are Syrah based wines and Southern Rhone Reds are Syrah…
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The Cycles Gladiator Chardonnay 2013 is sourced from vineyards in the Arroyo Seco AVA (inside the Monterey AVA) and the Livermore Valley AVA (near the San Francisco Bay), both inside the Central Coast AVA of California. The Cycles Gladiator brand was started in 2005 by Hahn Family Wines, Hahn recently decided to overhaul their wine…
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The Sargent Canyon Cabernet Sauvignon 2013 is a $6.99 ALDI’s wine sourced from vineyards in the Central Coast AVA of California. The Sargent Canyon Cabernet is Estate grown and sustainably farmed. So who or what is Sargent Canyon? A quick check with Google shows that Sargent Canyon is a trademark owned by Scheid Vineyards, vineyards and winery…
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The 2013 Woodwork Pinot Noir is sourced from vineyards in coastal regions of the Central Coast AVA of California. Woodwork is one of The Wine Bars brands of wine that include Snap Dragon, Ensemble, Uppercut and many others. The key to the Woodwork line of wines is their use of oak staves, instead of oak…
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The 2012 Lander Jenkins Chardonnay is one of Rutherford Wine Companies brands of wine, they also produce Rutherford Ranch, Predator and Round Hill wines, among others. The grapes are sourced the Central Coast, the Central Valley and the North Coast, as well as Rutherford Wine Company estate vineyards (and long-term grower vineyards) in Napa, Monterey…
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The 2013 Wente Louis Mel Sauvignon Blanc is sourced from Wente’s estate-grown “Louis Mel” vineyard in California’s Central Coast (for you specific folks, that’s the southern part of Livermore Valley). Who the hell’s Louis Mel? Well he was this French dude with two first names that came to the U.S. in the 1870’s. Instead of becoming…
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The Lazy Bones Paso Robles Cabernet Franc 2013 is a $6.99 Trader Joe’s exclusive, vinted for them by the Central Coast Wine Warehouse. They are a custom label facility and own or control some of the finest vineyards in the Central Coast AVA. Central Coast Wine Warehouse has a long history of producing wines for…
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The Josh Cellars Legacy Red 2012 is a blend of Merlot, Zinfandel, Syrah and Petite Sirah sourced from vineyards thru-out California, but mainly in the Central Coast, Lodi, Sonoma and Napa. Josh Cellars is the second line of wines from Joseph Carr Wines and is named in tribute to Joseph Carr’s dad, also a Joseph,…
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The Four Vines Paso Robles Zinfandel 2011 is 82% Zinfandel, 10% Petite Sirah, 4% Grenache and 4 % Primitivo (Primitivo is a twin of the Zinfandel grape) sourced from two vineyards in the westside of the Paso Robles AVA inside the larger Central Coast AVA of California. This Zin was aged in oak barrels and has an…
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The 2012 Four Vines Naked Chardonnay is sourced from vineyards in the Santa Barbara County AVA on the southern end of California’s Central Coast AVA. Santa Barbara is about 1 1/2 hours north of Los Angeles in Southern California, but it gets cooling fog in the morning and while the days can be hot, the…
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The 2012 Belle Ambiance Pinot Noir is sourced from grapes grown in more than one California grape growing AVA. Belle Ambiance is a new label, suggested list price $9.99, from Delicato Family Vineyards, who have been in business for over 80 years. DFV also produce Gnarly Head, Brazin, HandCraft and Bota Box, along with…
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The 2012 Magnolia Court Pinot Noir is sourced from vineyards located inside several Central Coast grape growing AVA’s. Magnolia Court is part of the Thornhill Company who own some of the best vineyards in the Central Coast AVA, though they do not say if any of those vineyards are used for the Magnolia Court. This…
Read MoreSend us Fan Mail Andre Goichot Saint-Véran Chardonnay 2024 Check out http://www.cheapwinefinder.com for a quick introduction into what a French negotiant is. This is a Burgundian Chardonnay at value prices. It is an impressive sip, that will rest your California wine palate. Costco has it for $12.99, but it drinks more expensive. This is a…
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The Shortbread Buttery Chardonnay 2023 is a wine I discovered at a local wine shop, priced at $11.99. This was a brand from Wine Hooligans, which would sell the controlling interest in their company to Bronco Wines. The Story This Chardonnay is sourced from coastal vineyards in both the Central and North Coast AVAs. The…
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Send us Fan Mail Josh Lodi Cabernet Sauvignon 2022 This is a special edition wine; the current Josh Cabernet Sauvignon is a California wine. Lodi is a unique AVA in California, not a coastal or a mountain AVA bur a Mediterranean AVA that has more in common with Italy than California. Well, if Italy got…
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The Josh Lodi Cabernet Sauvignon 2022 is $10.89 at Costco. The .89 price indicates this is a special discount wine from the manufacturer, and this wine once typically sold for between $15 and $20. The Story The Josh line of wines is part of Joseph Carr Wines (started in 2007) as a tribute to his…
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The Villa Borghetti OTTO Pinot Grigio 2024 is a wine from Trader Joe’s that sells for $7.99. It has been cheaper in past vintages. This wine is produced by Pasqua Wines. The Story Pasqua Wines is a family-owned winery operating in the Veneto region of Northeast Italy. They have been in business since 1925. Villa…
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Send us Fan Mail Looking for a wine that punches well above its price tag? The Compass Bridge Sonoma Pinot Noir from Trader Joe’s might be your new favorite affordable discovery. This limited-edition $9.99 Pinot Noir comes from the powerhouse Delicato Family Vineyards, which recently acquired Coppola’s Sonoma operations. Between these two wine giants, they’ve…
Read MoreSend us Fan Mail Discovering exceptional value in the wine world feels increasingly rare, but Compass Bridge Sonoma County Chardonnay 2023 proves quality affordable wine still exists. At just $8.99 from Trader Joe’s, this newcomer delivers surprising complexity and balance that would satisfy even at twice the price. Behind this bottle stands an intriguing partnership….
Read MoreSend us Fan Mail Bargain wine lovers, rejoice! We’ve unearthed an incredible find that proves exceptional wine doesn’t require emptying your wallet. The Kirkland Signature Sonoma Cabernet Sauvignon 2023 from Costco breaks all the rules of wine pricing, offering genuine Sonoma County quality at a jaw-dropping $6.99. What makes this bottle truly special is its…
Read MoreSend us Fan Mail Discover the Bear Bros California Sauvignon Blanc 2023, a surprisingly balanced and flavorful white wine available at Aldi for just $7.99. This family-owned Trinchero production delivers impressive quality with balanced acidity, abundant fruit notes, and a slightly fuller body than typical Sauvignon Blancs. • Bear Brors Sauvignon Blanc is produced by…
Read MoreSend us Fan Mail Ever wondered if you could find a legitimate Napa Valley wine for $20? The Trader Joe’s Diamond Reserve Rutherford Meritage 2022 might just be that unicorn. This isn’t your typical grocery store wine – it’s a serious Bordeaux-style blend from one of Napa’s most prestigious growing regions. The Rutherford AVA sits…
Read MoreSend us Fan Mail Wine lovers know that finding exceptional value isn’t just about price—it’s about discovering hidden gems that deliver quality far beyond their price tag. The Trader Joe’s Growers Reserve Organic Sauvignon Blanc 2024 is precisely that kind of discovery, and at just $5.99, it’s a revelation worth sharing. This California-sourced white wine…
Read MoreSend us Fan Mail Discovered at Trader Joe’s for $10.99, the Lapis Luna Lodi Cabernet Sauvignon 2022 delivers impressive quality at a value price point with its beautiful 400-year-old engraving label. The wine comes from War Room Cellars with connections to Randall Graham’s Bonnie Dune, made by his longtime assistant winemaker Nicole Walsh. • Jammy…
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