Best (and Worst) Trader Joe’s White Wine to Buy

Shopping at Trader Joe’s can be a bit of a gamble—and the wine section is no exception. As is the case with so many TJ’s products, there are good bottles of Trader Joe’s white wine and there are okay bottles of Trader Joe’s white wine and there are also pretty bad bottles of Trader Joe’s white wine. 

How do I know? Not only have I been frequenting Trader Joe’s wine section for nearly two decades now in search of the best deals (preferably well under $10), but I also recently tasted every Trader Joe’s white wine sold under the Trader Joe’s label—that includes Charles Shaw (aka Two-Buck-Chuck). And I found some real gems. I won’t gatekeep. Read on to find out which are the best white wines at Trader Joe’s—and which should stay on the shelf. 

(And if you’re looking for the best Trader Joe’s red wine or the best Trader Joe’s box wine, we’ve got you covered, too.) 

Reserve Pinot Gris

Trader Joe’s Reserve Pinot Gris

I really wanted to like this wine. I generally enjoy Pinot Gris. It’s the same grape of Pinot Grigio, just the French name, but white wines sold as Pinot Gris often are a bit rounder and more tinged with peach and orchard fruit flavors than Italian-style Pinot Grigio wines, which are typically more zesty and citrusy. (It’s all about climate and when the grapes are picked.) This Trader Joe’s Pinot Gris from Oregon’s Willamette Valley certainly isn’t zesty like a Pinot Grigio. It’s big and round. But it needs more dimension. It comes off as flabby and tangy rather than fruity and crisp. It might be okay with food, but on its own it’s a thumbs down from me. 

Credit: Merc

Rating:

5/10

Sporks

Charles Shaw Chardonnay

Charles Shaw Chardonnay

Trader Joe’s

Do you want oak? I said, do you want OAK! This Trader Joe’s Chardonnay will body slam you with oak, brother. Luckily, there’s some acidity to balance out that vanilla-tinged woodsy flavor. But mostly, you’re licking a barrel.

Credit: Merc / Trader Joe’s

Rating:

5/10

Sporks

Coastal Chardonnay

Trader Joe’s Coastal Chardonnay

This is not the best Trader Joe’s Chardonnay but it’s also not the worst. It’s fine. It’s subtle. It’s very understated. On its own, I don’t think it’ll do much for you, but it has some nice twanginess that would be pretty good with food. Don’t run out and buy this, but go ahead and serve it with dinner if someone brings a bottle to your home.

Credit: Merc

Rating:

6.5/10

Sporks

Charles Shaw Sauv Blanc

Charles Shaw Sauvignon Blanc

Trader Joe’s

While this isn’t the best Trader Joe’s Sauvignon Blanc it’s certainly the cheapest and it’s really pretty decent for the price. It brings lots of bright apple and pear notes to the table. It’s easy drinking—the kind of white wine you drop some ice cubes into and really gulp down on a hot day. It doesn’t have a ton of grassiness or zestiness, like many Sauvignon Blancs do. So Sauv Blanc nerds will want to skip the number two spot. Instead, I’d say this is the best Trader Joe’s white wine for Pinot Grigio drinkers.

Credit: Merc / Trader Joe’s

Rating:

7.5/10

Sporks

Reserve Chardonnay (Napa Valley)

Trader Joe’s Reserve Chardonnay Huichica Hills Vineyard

Welcome to the top three. This is when we get into the best white wine at Trader Joe’s, for reals. If you like oaky Chardonnay but aren’t interested in liquified barrel, this is the best Trader Joe’s Chardonnay to buy. A real Napa Valley Chard, it smells buttery and oaky, but those flavors are easily balanced by some fruity notes of sugared lemons and apricots. It’s an easy drinking Chardonnay that’s great with food or alone.

Credit: Merc

Rating:

8/10

Sporks

Coastal Sauvignon Blanc

Trader Joe’s Coastal Sauvignon Blanc

Here’s the true best Sauvignon Blanc at Trader Joe’s. It’s bright and zesty with a wonderful tropical flavor. It’s grassy—but almost like pineapple can be grassy when it’s slightly underripe. I will be buying this bottle again. I think it’s interesting enough to stand up to food but fruity enough to sip on its own. This is summertime drinking.

Credit: Merc

Rating:

8.5/10

Sporks

Reserve Chardonnay (Monterey County)

Trader Joe’s Reserve Chardonnay Arroyo Seco

Trader Joe’s

I could be biased about my top pick for the best white wine at Trader Joe’s (and the best Chardonnay at Trader Joe’s), because I spent some formative years in Monterey, so I have a fondness for that Central Coast style of wine. But I wasn’t the only one tasting these Trader Joe White wines, and my colleague, Gwynedd Stuart, also enjoyed this bottle. It’s super zippy and tastes like fresh pressed apples and lemons. It’s a classic California coastal Chardonnay. And there’s oak in there, but only enough to provide structure. You don’t taste it outright. This is the Trader Joe’s white wine I’ll be buying in the future—I suggest you grab a bottle or two as well.

Credit: Merc / Trader Joe’s

Rating:

9/10

Sporks