Bronco Wine Company

Villa Borghetti Pinot Grigio Rosé 2017

The Villa Borghetti Pinot Grigio Rosé 2017 is a $5.99 Trader Joe’s import exclusive, it is one of Bronco Wine Company (2 Buck Chuck) extensive line of wine brands, this one is sourced from vineyards near the town of Verona in the Veneto region of northeast Italy, Prosecco is in the same general area. This is…

Read More

Columbia River Landing Red 2014

The Columbia River Landing Red 2014 is a $6.99 Trader Joe’s exclusive, produced for them by Bronco Wines (of 2 Buck Chuck fame) from grapes grown in the Columbia Valley AVA of Washington. The grapes used in this Red blend are not specified, but Columbia Valley is well-known for Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and Syrah, but they also…

Read More

Shaw Organic Rose’ 2017

The Shaw Organic Rose’ 2017 is a $3.99 Trader Joe’s exclusive, the Shaw in the name is Charles Shaw better known as 2 Buck Chuck. The Shaw Rose’ is sourced from certified organic vineyards, they mention Cottonwood Creek vineyards, so this isn’t 2 Buck Chuck, it’s 4 Buck Chuck. If an organic $3.99 wine isn’t…

Read More

HACIENDA METHODE CHAMPENOISE BRUT CALIFORNIA

The Hacienda Methode Champenois Brut California Sparkling Wine is 100% Chardonnay sourced from vineyards in more than one California grape growing AVA. This is one of Bronco Wines (yes, the 2 Buck Chuck folks) over 100 wine brand labels, they have 18 different Sparkling wine labels. Bronco wines is a huge operation and virtually all…

Read More

Santa Barbara Landing Chardonnay 2014

The Santa Barbara Landing Chardonnay 2014 is a $4.99 Trader Joe’s exclusive sourced from grapes grown in Santa Barbara County, California. Santa Barbara is about a 1 1/2 hour drive (north) from Los Angeles and would be too warm a place to grow grapes for fine wine, except for a bit of luck of geography. The…

Read More

Green Fin Grenache Rose’ 2013

The Green Fin Grenache Rose’ 2013 is 76% Grenache, 20% mixed Red grapes and 4% mixed White grapes sourced from certified organic (the Green Fin is Vegan friendly, too) vineyards located in more than one California grape growing AVA. Green Fin is a $4.99 Trader Joe’s exclusive, produced by Bronco Wines (the makers of Two…

Read More

Blue Fin Riesling 2012

The 2012 Blue Fin Riesling is a Trader Joe’s ($4.49) exclusive sourced from grapes grown in more than one California grape growing AVA. Blu Fin is one of Bronco Wine Company’s (maker’s of Two Buck Chuck) 100+ wine brands worldwide. The 2011 Blue Fin Pinot Noir was $3.99, so the Blue Fin Riesling is 50…

Read More

Black Mountain Fat Cat Cabernet Sauvignon 2012

The 2012 Black Mountain Fat Cat Cabernet Sauvignon is a $6.99 Trader Joe’s exclusive produced for them (this is the 30th anniversary edition) by Bronco Wines (2 Buck Chuck). Trader Joe’s started in 1967 and Bronco in 1973. Black Mountain is one of Bronco Wines 60+ wine labels and the reason they can produce so…

Read More

Blue Fin Pinot Noir 2011

The 2011 Blue Fin Pinot Noir is a $3.99 Trader Joe’s exclusive made for them by Bronco Wines (2 Buck Chuck) at their Napa Valley facility. The Pinot Noir grapes are sourced from more than one California grape growing AVA. Pinot Noir grapes are very finicky and require very specific weather conditions, a long, cool growing…

Read More

2010 Santa Carolina Reserva Pinot Noir

The 2010 Santa Carolina Reserva Pinot Noir ($8.99) is sourced from vineyards in the Maule Valley of Chile’s Central Vally. Santa Carolina has been in business since 1875. The Central Valley is the largest of Chile’s wine regions and it is located directly on the other side of the Andes Mountains from the Mendoza growing region…

Read More

2011 Fat Cat Pinot Noir

The 2011 Fat Cat Pinot Noir is 88% Pinot Noir, 9% Segalin (a cross between a grape from the south of France and a grape grown in Germany, used to give the wine some added body) and 3% Dry Red grapes (they must be really obscure grapes, it Segalin made the list and these didn’t)…

Read More

2010 Picket Fence Russian River Pinot Noir

The 2010 Picket Fence Pinot Noir is sourced from 2 vineyards, the Green Valley vineyard and the Riverside Vineyard in the Russian River Valley AVA inside of Sonoma, California. The winemaker, Alison Crowe, worked at Chalone and Boony Doon before taking over the winemaking chores at Picket Fence. Picket Fence is owned by Bronco Wines…

Read More

2008 Masked Rider Cabernet Sauvignon

The 2008 Masked Rider Six Gun Cabernet Sauvignon is 76% Cabernet Sauvignon (in California a wine has to be a minimum of 75% of one grape to be labeled a single varietal), 14% Petit Verdot and 10% mixed red grapes sourced from more than one California grape growing AVA. Masked Rider is one of Bronco…

Read More

2011 J W Morris Gewurztraminer

The 2011 J W  Morris Gewurztraminer is a $3.99 Trader Joe’s exclusive. J W Morris is one of Bronco Wines (2 Buck Chuck) multitude of wine labels. Bronco Wines is very focused on keeping production costs down so there is rarely any promotional material available on the making of their wines. I will say this…

Read More

Hacienda Brut Sparkling Wine

The Hacienda Brut Sparkling Wine is a non vintage Bubbly sourced from more than one California grape growing AVA, and consists of 86% Chardonnay, 8% Colombard and 6% Mixed Whites (I don’t know why they say Mixed Whites rather than just listing the grapes). This Sparkling wine is made in the Methode Champenoise, which is…

Read More