Reverse Wine Snob®

Wine doesn't have to be expensive to be good

  • About
    • What is a Reverse Wine Snob?
    • The Rating System
    • Ten Tenets of Reverse Wine Snobbery
    • Best of Lists by Category
  • Aldi®
  • Costco®
  • Trader Joe’s®
  • FREE GUIDE
  • Insider Deals
  • Contact
    • Submit Samples
    • Contact Info

The Best Wines at Trader Joe's

Trader Joe's is renowned for their selection of cheap, private label wines. Unfortunately, some of it is just plain bad. There are; however, gems to be found in this sea of cheap wine and we unveil our absolute favorite picks in this giant list of the best wines at Trader Joe's. Read on for our Complete Guide to Trader Joe's wine.

The Best Wines at Trader Joe's - The Reverse Wine Snob Picks
From Chianti and a basic Cotes du Rhone to even Barolo, Amarone and Napa Valley Cabernet TJ's offers a little bit of everything often at prices that boggle the mind. If you've been wondering if some of those wines can possibly be good, you've come to the right place because we've tasted just about all of them. (We've also dumped a heck of a lot of them down the drain!)

The wines reviewed here are mostly private label ones, simply because these offer the best value. Cutting out the middle man with private labels is TJ's strength, both in terms of wine and their grocery products.

Because the wine names don’t always include "Trader Joe's" look for the "Trader Joe's Exclusive" sign on the shelves to identify these. The reason this is important is simply that the mass market wines sold at TJ's are usually not priced very competitively and many are just there to make the private label wines seem like a better deal. (The folks at TJ's are master marketers, pulling just about every trick in the book.)

For the wines that actually do include Trader Joe's on the label there a number of different "Reserve" levels to look for. From highest to lowest quality they are:

Platinum Reserve - there are not a lot of these and they don't last long, so buy them if you see them!

Grand Reserve - generally very good quality.

Reserve - quality can vary but we have a lot of good picks on our list.

Petit Reserve - can be hit or miss but we have a few recommended ones on our list below.

To make sure you always get your money's worth, keep reading for the best wines at Trader Joe's!

You may also want to check out our Guides to Costco Wine and Aldi Wine.

Photo Credit: Andriy Blokhin/Shutterstock.com


Looking for a Printable Shopping List? Subscribe to our emails using the form below and we'll email you a link to get access!

Trader Joe’s Platinum Reserve Rutherford Napa Cabernet – Pretty Darn Nice

By: Jon Thorsen Last Updated: January 19, 2021

Trader Joe's Platinum Reserve Rutherford Napa Cabernet - Pretty Darn Nice

Rutherford for $15! Can such an inexpensive Cab from such a renowned region really taste good? We find out in our review of the Trader Joe's … [Read more...]

Published: January 19, 2021 Filed Under: Cabernet Sauvignon, California, Highly Recommended, Trader Joe's

Fallen Bridge Petite Sirah – A Lucky Break

By: Jon Thorsen Last Updated: January 5, 2021

Fallen Bridge Petite Sirah – A Lucky Break

Highly recommended Petite Sirah for just $5.99 at Trader Joe's! The Fallen Bridge Petite Sirah. Petite Sirah from Lodi, California. … [Read more...]

Published: January 5, 2021 Filed Under: California - Lodi, Highly Recommended, Petite Sirah, Trader Joe's

Ile De Conas Rouge Souplesse – Super Smooth

By: Jon Thorsen Last Updated: December 11, 2020

Ile De Conas Rouge Souplesse – Super Smooth

An Italian-style find from France via Trader Joe's, the Ile De Conas Rouge Souplesse. A blend of 70% Marselan (a cross of Cabernet … [Read more...]

Published: December 11, 2020 Filed Under: France, Red Blends, Trader Joe's

Butler Pond Pinot Noir – Party Pinot!

By: Jon Thorsen Last Updated: January 5, 2021

Butler Pond Pinot Noir - Party Pinot!

Surprisingly solid for $6. Respectable Pinot under $10 is quite a feat but Trader Joe's delivers with the Butler Pond Pinot … [Read more...]

Published: November 22, 2020 Filed Under: California, Highly Recommended, Pinot Noir, Thanksgiving, Trader Joe's

Roustabout Meritage – Easy-Going

By: Jon Thorsen Last Updated: December 12, 2020

Roustabout Meritage - Easy-Going

An easy to drink red blend with a blue collar price, the Roustabout Meritage from Trader Joe's. A Meritage blend of 63% Cabernet … [Read more...]

Published: November 3, 2020 Filed Under: California, Meritage, Red Blends, Trader Joe's

Elevation 1250 Paso Robles Red Wine – Highly Tasty

By: Jon Thorsen Last Updated: October 21, 2020

Elevation 1250 Paso Robles Red Wine – Highly Tasty

Wouldn't you like to be a pepper too? The Elevation 1250 Red Wine, an oaky, peppery find from Trader Joe's. A red blend of … [Read more...]

Published: October 21, 2020 Filed Under: California, Red Blends, Trader Joe's

  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • …
  • 24
  • Next Page »
Reverse Wine Snob Insider Deals
Limited Time Offers. Amazing Discounts. Don't Miss Out!
Twitter 224,976Followers
Facebook 86,336Fans
Instagram 19,350Followers

Best Of Lists!

The Best Garnacha Under $20 - The Reverse Wine Snob Picks!

The Best Garnacha Under $20

The Best Wines at Trader Joe's - The Reverse Wine Snob Picks

The Best Wines at Trader Joe’s

2020 Best Red Wines Under $20

The 2020 Best Red Wines Under $20

The Best Box Wine - The Reverse Wine Snob Picks!

The Best Box Wines

The Best White and Rosé Wines Under $20

The 2020 Best White and Rosé Wines Under $20

The Best Cabernet Sauvignon Under $20 - The Reverse Wine Snob Picks!

The Best Cabernet Sauvignon Under $20

Read All Of Our Best Of Lists Here!

Featured Articles

Tenet #4 - Wine Under $20 Is Not A Compromise

Tenet #4 – Wine Under $20 Is Not A Compromise

Where Does The Buttery Flavor in Some Chardonnay Come From? Ask The Expert!

Where Does The Buttery Flavor in Some Chardonnay Come From? Ask The Expert!

Kirkland Signature Champagne Brut - An Affordable Luxury

Kirkland Signature Champagne Brut – An Affordable Luxury

Silkbush Viognier and Lime Chicken with Avocado Caprese Salad - Summer Lovin'

Silkbush Viognier Plus Lime Chicken with Avocado Caprese Salad – Summer Lovin’

Water and Wine - Irrigation Versus Dry Farming? Ask The Expert!

Water and Wine – Irrigation And Dry Farming. Ask The Expert!

Argentinian Adventures Part 2: Malbec

Argentinian Adventures Part 2: Malbec

Order The Book on Amazon!

.

How To Drink Great Wine…Without Breaking The Bank

Tired of wasting money on crappy wine? Sign up for our free guide!

About Me

Maximizing your wine dollars since 2011! Independent wine consumer helping millions of people (2.7 million visitors in 2020 alone) find great wines without breaking the bank including through our exclusive Insider Deals. If you're new to Reverse Wine Snob don't forget to sign up for our free guide! Want to chat about wine? Join our Facebook Group!

Reverse Wine Snob®: Wine doesn't have to be expensive to be good.

Copyright © 2011–2021 · Reverse Wine Snob, LLC. | Privacy, Editorial & Advertising Policy