My WSET exam is this weekend, and I’ve been immersing myself in all things wine lately. One thing that I personally love about wine? You don’t need to spend a ton of money to find a high-quality wine. Some of my favorite bottles of wine that I drink every week are under $10!
When I was living in New York as a college intern nine years ago, I was introduced to the Trader Joe’s Wines Shop. Yes, there’s a standalone wine shop in Union Square! I walked in and was overwhelmed, yet delighted. There were hundreds of budget-friendly wines to choose from, and it was the perfect place for a broke, 21-year-old unpaid fashion. Heck, it’s still a magical place for a 30-year-old with disposable income, as well!
Today, I’m rounding up my seven favorite wines under $10 that you can get at Trader Joe’s.
The Best Trader Joe’s Wines Under $10
Just a note: prices might slightly vary for each location (taxes, etc.). These are the most up to date prices for Trader Joe’s wines in the state of Virginia. Also, my condolences to my friends in certain states (ex. Pennsylvania) who cannot take advantage of these deals. Happy shopping, friends!
La Finca Tempranillo – $4.49
No, that’s not a typo. This wine is less than $5, guys!
After Tom and I visited Mendoza, Argentina last year, we threw a “Taste of Argentina” party for our friends. We served some of the wines we purchased on the trip and grilled up a ton of Argentinian-style steaks. We threw in this bottle of La Finca Tempranillo to throw off our friends and had them guess which wine was the TJ’s wine at the end. Surprisingly, it blended right in with the other wines we picked up on our trip!
I love this wine because it’s inexpensive, ready to drink now, and pairs perfectly with beef dishes. This wine is perfect for your summer cookouts! It’s fruity on the nose and has a tart, cherry flavor with hints of vanilla.
Trader Joe’s Blanc de Blancs – $5.99
Who else loves a good glass of bubbly? As much as I love my Veuve Cliquot and Tattinger, sometimes your girl doesn’t want to drop $50 on a bottle of Champagne. Here’s where the Trader Joe’s Blanc de Blancs comes in.
This is a bone dry, sparkling wine made in France. Technically, it cannot be called Champagne because it was not produced in the Champagne region, and it is made from only red grapes (not Chardonnay and Pinot Noir), but it is pretty delicious for the price point. I like to pick up as many bottles of this as possible before holidays or special occasions, and I love using this for mimosas and other brunch beverages.
La Ferme Julien Rosé – $5.99
If you’re going to pick up any rosé at TJ’s this summer, this is your best bet. La Ferme Julien Rosé is made in France and Is exclusively sold at Trader Joe’s. It’s a blend of Cinsault, Grenache, and Syrah, and is one of the most refreshing wines for the summer.
This is a dry rosé that is balanced, with a good amount of acidity and a tart, fruity taste. This rosé is wonderful either on its own or paired with melons and/or seafood dishes.
MoonX Black Pinot Noir – $6.99
The MoonX Black Pinot Noir is produced in California and is sold exclusively at Trader Joe’s. This wine is a great inexpensive option to bring to a dinner party: it pairs well with pork, chicken, and beef, but it is also great to enjoy on its own. It’s fruit-forward on the nose and has jammy fruit flavors with a hint of spice.
I don’t think this is your typical Pinot Noir — it’s a lot easier to drink and incredibly smooth. It’s really incredible considering the price point!
Cecilia B Spumante Rosé – $7.99
Trader Joe’s is surprisingly a great place to buy some bubbly. The next time you’re celebrating a special occasion, or simply hosting a brunch at home, pick up a sparkling wine from TJ’s to celebrate!
The Cecilia B Spumante Rosé is a dry Italian sparkling wine that is crisp, elegant and is a steal for the price point. It has a great balance of acidity and has notes of apple and grapefruit. I would serve this at your next weekend brunch!
Bodegas Adalina Verdejo – $3.99
Looking for a light-bodied white wine? Look no further! The Bodegas Adalina Verdejo is produced in Spain and is a clean, bright white wine that is perfect for Pinot Grigio lovers.
This wine is tart, has tropical fruit notes, and will pair perfectly with any of your pasta dishes.
Phigment Red Blend – $5.99
Hands down, this is probably my favorite red wine that Trader Joe’s sells. The label doesn’t say what grapes are used in this red blend, but this wine is exclusively sold at Trader Joe’s, and it has a lot of berry fruit flavors and a good amount of spice to it!
This wine is very dry and is ready to drink now. This would be the perfect wine to pair with a beef dish!
What are your favorite Trader Joe’s wines? Let me know in a comment below!
Photos by Tom McGovern
This is my fav post by far – because pandemic would not be possible without TJ’s wine! We actually did a huge TJs wine tasting and ended up serving several varieties at our wedding. Our jam right now is the Espirol. We buy a case at a time because it’s so inexpensive and refreshing!
Villa Borghetti Pinot Grigio Rosé Is amazing and only $6.99. When I first had it, I was convinced it was like $20 a bottle. Add it to your list the next time you’re there! 🙂
Trader Joe’s is my fave place to buy wine! While i appreciate some more expensive wines, I’m not expert and I find that my enjoyment of cheap TJ’s wine is the same as a moderately priced bottle from most other places, and cheap bottles from other stores are more of a gamble.
My fave cheap wine there is the Blue Fin Pinot Noir – it’s like $4 or $5!
Wow that was unusual. I just wrote an very long comment but after I
clicked submit my comment didn’t appear. Grrrr…
well I’m not writing all that over again. Anyway,
just wanted to say great blog!
I just wanted to say thank you for this list! I always get overwhelmed with TJ’s wine selection, and this helped me quickly grab a few bottles (speed at the store is the name of the game right now with covid!) in preparation for stricter quarantine grocery runs. You are such a wonderful person to follow, and I just want to tell you how much I love and appreciate your content.