The Arizona Republic has a review of some of the wines available at Trader Joe's (Treasure Trove Awaits Inside Trader Joe's).
Trader Joe's made its wine-selling name with "Two-Buck Chuck," the $2.99 wines from the Charles Shaw Winery in California, and the stores carry cases and cases of these wines in every grape variety. But a little farther down the aisle, greater values abound.
My local (Connecticut) Trader Joe's is not allowed to sell wine, so I'll have to pick some up at the Manhattan store to "review."
don't buy/drink the Two Buck... I know a wine merchant and he said you would not be drinking it if you knew where it had been prior to getting a TJ label slapped on it.
They do, however, have some very decent imports. Try the Chauteau Neuf-du-Pape Bordeaux if you can find it. Around $15, quite decent. Approved by my French husband, to boot!
Posted by: coloratura | June 06, 2006 at 02:10 PM
After drinking it for over 5 years I heartily recommend the Charles Shaw wine; most especially the Shiraz. Having come from a family of vintners, you would also be surprised where the $30.00 bottles of wine have been. For a causal dinner, minus the occasional wine snob, Charles Shaw is great. Place it in a crystal decanter and I bet the greatest of them will have trouble realizing the bottle cost about $2.00. I espcially love it for wine sangrias and citrus punch.
Posted by: Diana | June 06, 2006 at 06:51 PM
I just got done serving 30 cases of Charles Shaw Merlot and Chardonnary to a fundraising dinner with 500 guests. Granted, the wine was served on a complimentary basis but everyone loved it. More than one guest, recognizing the label from Trader Joe's, told me afterward that they were shocked at the high quality. Thank you Trader Joe's. Thank you Charles Shaw.
Posted by: Eric | September 11, 2006 at 04:14 PM
Charles Shaw is my house brand. I've tried all types of wine from every region in the world and 2 buck chuck stacks up every time. I would recommend keeping a case on hand at home. It makes excellent white and red sangria too.
Posted by: Lise Richards | December 28, 2006 at 10:48 PM
Two buck chuck is a low quality wine, and most people who know a little bit about wine agree with this sentiment.
To the people that serve this for guests and banquets, of course nobody "complained" that would be rude -- it doesn't mean they enjoyed the wine.
Posted by: Juancho | March 02, 2007 at 12:59 PM
how can I buy two buck chuck wine
Posted by: Sally Pockman | July 12, 2007 at 07:02 PM
When we were flying back from a nice retreat in Desert Hot Springs, California, we were carrying 3 cases of Two buck chuck. It is really that good. We didn't have a trader joes near Atlanta at that time. Now that Atlanta has a trader joes, we don't have to go to california anymore for really drinkable day to day wine. Whether it's a great grilled open pit new york strip, barbequed chicken, or smoked pork, any of the reds are really good. I like the Cab or Shiraz, my wife prefers the merlot.
Posted by: mike taylor | July 31, 2007 at 04:14 PM
Where do I find Trader Joe's in Atlanta?
Posted by: Will | August 17, 2007 at 09:59 AM
I think it is not the best wine in the world for sure, but it is a quite decent wine compared to its price. For best wine you always have to pay a lot. There is no option. But when it comes to cheap wines it is not true. You can pay many dollars for a bottle if wine which sucks or you can find a wine like Charles Shaw which you know how much it costs and how much it tastes. I strongly agree Charles Shaw wines to anyone who likes to drink wine on a casual basis, minus a wine snob around.
Posted by: ULAS CAMSARI | December 06, 2007 at 10:26 PM
I'm no oenophile and I'm certainly no expert, but I've this stuff tasted like it could strip the paint off my car. I recently attended a wedding where the wine was free and two kinds of two-buck-chuck were served, almost all of the 150 guests opted to pay $3.50 for a bottle of Bud Light to avoid drinking the wine. The Bride's family still had most of it left after the reception.
Posted by: Lynn | February 01, 2008 at 04:07 PM
I LOVE my "two-buck" chuck wines! I have to travel over an hour and a half to get to the nearest Trader Joes but it is definetly worth it to be able to bring home my cases of wine. I can't wait until the end of the day when I know my "two-buck" chuck and I will be "chillin out" together....
Posted by: Robin | March 29, 2008 at 09:26 AM
how can I order charles shaw wine on line.
Posted by: connie ursich | May 19, 2008 at 12:37 PM
The "two buck chuck" Shiraz is decent. In New Mexico, "two buck chuck" costs three bucks, but it is still worth it. Its far superior to wines like Beringer, Sutter Home, Woodbridge, and anything that comes in a box.
Posted by: Kristine | July 22, 2008 at 05:02 PM
My daughter purchased some of Trader Joe's Charles Shaw blend wines....not bad at all...I keep it in stock for everyday wine and for large and small charity parties...I also enjoy sipping on it myself.
I heard you were opening a store in Florida----I would like to know what city....thanks so much,...B.
Posted by: Barbara | August 04, 2008 at 07:04 PM
I get a chuckle (no pun intended) out of those who try to dissuade others from buying Two Buck Chuck. From what do they feel they need to warn people of? Not becoming a wine snob?
The Shiraz is a good wine for when I don't feel like opening up a bottle of my $16 stuff. It does just fine.
I think a PP was saying that people were actually complementing the wine, not "not complaining" as another PP suggested.
And the other PP re the people not drinking the wine when they saw the label, and preferred, what... "Bud Light.?" I would rather have a goiter the size of a baseball on my neck than drink Bud Light. Just goes to show that egos can spread like wildfire.
Posted by: Amy | August 05, 2008 at 02:30 AM
I get a chuckle (no pun intended) out of those who try to dissuade others from buying Two Buck Chuck. From what do they feel they need to warn people of? Not becoming a wine snob?
The Shiraz is a good wine for when I don't feel like opening up a bottle of my $16 stuff. It does just fine.
I think a PP was saying that people were actually complementing the wine, not "not complaining" as another PP suggested.
And the other PP re the people not drinking the wine when they saw the label, and preferred, what... "Bud Light.?" I would rather have a goiter the size of a baseball on my neck than drink Bud Light. Just goes to show that egos can spread like wildfire.
Posted by: Amy | August 05, 2008 at 02:36 AM
We tried Charles Shaw wines for the first time, 3 years ago and we loved it from the beginning. Everyone that we gave a bottle to also love it. I have friends that ask me to pick up a case or two, each time we go to Trader Joe's store that sell it. You have people that think they know alot about wines, but they think that if the bottle of wine is expensive, that make it a great wine. Yeah right!
Posted by: Joe Nievess | October 24, 2008 at 08:44 AM
does charles shaw carry a blackberry merlot wine?
Posted by: j dellecese | November 09, 2008 at 11:00 PM
Since Charles Shaw is a blend of grapes from around California in any given year, the quality of the wine depends on how any given grape has faired that year. Just an FYI...
Posted by: Chuck Shaw | December 23, 2008 at 01:37 AM
"don't buy/drink the Two Buck... I know a wine merchant and he said you would not be drinking it if you knew where it had been prior to getting a TJ label slapped on it.
They do, however, have some very decent imports. Try the Chauteau Neuf-du-Pape Bordeaux if you can find it. Around $15, quite decent. Approved by my French husband, to boot!"
Charles Shaw is made by Bronco wines, owned by Dennis Franzia (yes, of the box-wine family). Say what you will about the bulk-crushed-overstock-stainless fermentation quality of this wine, but to suggest that it is unsanitary or in some other way "dirty" is ridiculous.
By the way, Chateaneuf Du Pape is not a Bordeaux wine. Chateaneuf Du Pape is in southeastern France, whereas Bordeaux is in western France. Please at least Google some info before lying about wine, please? I assume you work at Dorothy Lane or some other 'competitor'.
Posted by: billy@cincinnatienquirer.com | February 08, 2009 at 11:01 PM
Two Buck Chuck ...OR... "Two Buck Muck"
Really though. I have tried a number of the two buck chuck wines, and some have been suitable to "strip the paint off a car" as another poster stated, but some were decent. The bottle variation with this is huge! They purchase grapes (probably already pressed juice in some cases as well) from all over the state, bottle it, label it, and put it on the shelf quick. There is no careful blending or deliberate sourcing to maintain consistency or quality. One 'trick' to mask flaws in the wine and appeal to the american palate is that they leave quite a bit of residual sugar in the wines. People think "this is a little sweet..... i like it." It may not be conscious, but it happens.
Ok, all that being said, people still say that it is a "great buy" or "awesome QPR". To each his own, but I don't care about how much it costs, if it goes down the drain it is still a terrible "buy". I must be fair to point out that I have poured $20 bottles down the drain before as well. If it is bad, it is bad.
Let's look at it for what it is: cheap, sweet, mass-produced wine designed for people that want "cherry coke wine" or just don't care what they drink. What gets me is that there are so many out there (and on here) that label those who don't like it as "snobs".
I encourage everyone to open their eyes and expand their palates (myself included, I continue to sample the occasional bottle of 2 Buck Chuck). Try new things, drink varietals that you have never heard of from regions that you never knew made wine! There will be disappointments along the way, but remember that there are truly great things out there! (and sometimes at awesome prices too!). Look for the subtleties and complexities (and BALANCE!) that makes wine truly great, and learn to appreciate it! Realize that your palate will grow with time. It is like a pre-teen being forced to listen to classical music. Some will enjoy it, but most will run away! That is the same as your palate, it too needs time to mature; and some never do.
I hope someone is reading and getting something out of this. Seriously though, drink what you like and don't let anyone tell you that is wrong.
Posted by: Chris Lopez | March 01, 2009 at 05:13 AM
I went to an event at which free Chuck was being served. I didn't know this until someone made an announcement. Up to that point though, every one I talked to smelled like rotten bananas. I was thinking, should I tell this girl to check her purse for a rotten banana?
Not one to turn down free wine, once I found out it was being served, I got some. The aroma from the bottle was the same aroma I had just smelled. Knowing this, I tried it anyway, liking it enough to have two glasses and take a bottle home.
I'm not an expert, but I would place the quality of this wine at the top of the boxed wine rank, meaning I don't think it's as good as other bottled wines, but definitely beats all but a very few of the boxed wines.
I recommend it. Even with the risk of smelling rotten bananas all night.
Posted by: C Frank Boyd | July 21, 2009 at 05:08 PM
Shaw is a great "starter wine," for introducing folks to the wonderful world of wine. I've personally witnessed wine snobs sampling it and exclaiming "that's really not bad..." For a few bucks more there are much better wines available at Trader Joe's, but if I'm having more than one bottle a night, the second one will always be Shaw.
Posted by: Marvin Gardens | November 11, 2009 at 02:40 AM
I live in Michigan, where wine is sold in supermarkets. As a result, there is strong price competition, with wines on sale all the time. Plus, we have many Costo and Sams locations (in Detroit area).
One can buy Chuck at $2.99 at Trader Joe's, or one can look to a supermarket, and hope there's a $7 wine on sale for $4.99... or 2 for $10... or 3L bottles for $10 (on sale). All of these choices offer a step up on Chuck, and for only $1 or $2 more.
Beware of any California red wine that is on the store shelf by summer following its vintage year.
Posted by: Russ139 | February 24, 2010 at 01:05 PM