I rarely set foot in a Trader Joe's -- the joke around our house is that I think it's a chick thing -- but the Mrs. stops in there from time to time. And she's always looking out for my best interests. Knowing my fondness for wine, lately she's brought home a couple of fine, inexpensive rosés, pretty nice for the end of a hot (or even not-so-hot) summer day.
One is a rosé version of Portugal's slightly fizzy vinho verde, put out under the label Casal Garcia. I think this one ran about $8. The other is a calmer rosé with a goat on the label; it's called La Ferme Julien and it carries a 2008 vintage. I believe it's $6.
At those prices, you can't go wrong if the wine is decent, and these two go beyond that. Salud.
Comments (16)
Thanks for the tip Jack! Will check this out at our local Trader Joe's - since we have at least a month (or more) of 80+ degree weather ahead of us in Reno.
Perhaps you should lift a glass in memory of Theo:
"Theo Albrecht, Who Helped Build the Aldi Grocery Chain, Dies at 88
By JACK EWING
Published: July 29, 2010
FRANKFURT — Theo Albrecht, who with his brother Karl used lessons learned in the lean years of postwar Germany to build an international grocery empire, died Saturday in Essen, Germany. He was 88.
His death was announced by a representative of the company he owned, Aldi, which also owns the Trader Joe’s chain in the United States.
After being released from Allied prisoner-of-war camps following World War II, Theo and Karl Albrecht took over their parents’ small grocery in the bombed-out city of Essen and, out of necessity, sold only a small number of essential items. When the economy began to boom, competitors expanded their inventories to include thousands of items, but the Albrecht brothers realized they could operate more efficiently by limiting selection and keeping stores fairly small.
.
.
.
At Trader Joe’s, Theo Albrecht applied some Aldi principles to upscale items like California wine, olive oil and goat cheese."
Speaking of vinho verde, New Seasons has a wonderful one from Gazsla, again about $8. The only drwback is you really need to finish off the bottle at one sitting. I saved some for later in the evening and yep, the fuzzy wuzzen't fuzzy any more!
Otoh, the alcohol content isn't high so go ahead! Enjoy!
I dislike TJ's. Their 2 buck chuck I called 2 buck upchuck!
Our two best buys from the TJ's wine aisles are their private label Blanc de Blanc French sparkling (nice and dry, not too sweet and only $4.99) and the Blue Fin Petite Syrah (even better bargain at $3.99).
But we added a new one to our list. We went in earlier this week and stumbled upon a different vinho verde than one you bought. This one is Espiral and is only $4.99 and definitely fits in as a great, cool summer wine.
I am fond of some TJ wines. Hamilton-Stevens (when I feel like a Goldschmidt crony); Rootstock (when I feel like a Reedie); TJ's Pinot (when I'm cheap cause I'm poor).
All in all - good prices, good wines. Feel bad I can't patronize all the fab wineries here in Oregon all the time....
TJ's has been known to have inexpensive bottles of prosecco (Italian fruity, low bubble sparkler) as well. The one where you actually have to use the corkscrew to open it, is better than the others I have tried.
Four weeks ago when my sweetie and I were doing one of our caravans from Kennewick to Portland or vice versa we decided to use SR 14 rather than I 84, and piced up the maiking of a good picnic lunch and planned to stop at Comulbia Crest in Patterson, WA. Nice ppace for a picnic.
CC was selling a nice rose, predominately a syrrah but a blend, really really good well chilled. $5.00 a bottle, no sales tax with an Oregon ID.
Label calls it a Vinyard No. 10 Rose, 2007, on their Two Vines labe, I put a couple of bottles of this in the ice / water bath in the galvanized tun with the beer cans for a barbeque a couple of weeks ago, and it went faster than the beer.
I need to get more at that price. The 6 I got are gone, its a good hot weather drinker.
Charamba, Douro 2008
Horse Heaven Hills, Cabernet 2010
Lorelle, Horse Heaven Hills Pinot Grigio 2011
Avignonesi, Montepulciano 2004
Lorelle, Willamette Valley Pinot Noir 2011
Villa Antinori, Toscana 2007
Mercedes Eguren, Cabernet Sauvignon 2009
Lorelle, Columbia Valley Cabernet 2011
Purple Moon, Merlot 2011
Purple Moon, Chardonnnay 2011
Abacela, Vintner's Blend No. 12
Opula Red Blend 2010
Liberte, Pinot Noir 2010
Chateau Ste. Michelle, Indian Wells Red Blend 2010
Woodbridge, Chardonnay 2011
King Estate, Pinot Noir 2011
Famille Perrin, Cotes du Rhone Villages 2010
Columbia Crest, Les Chevaux Red 2010
14 Hands, Hot to Trot White Blend
Familia Bianchi, Malbec 2009
Terrapin Cellars, Pinot Gris 2011
Columbia Crest, Walter Clore Private Reserve 2009
Campo Viejo, Rioja, Termpranillo 2010
Ravenswood, Cabernet Sauvignon 2009
Quinta das Amoras, Vinho Tinto 2010
Waterbrook, Reserve Merlot 2009
Lorelle, Horse Heaven Hills, Pinot Grigio 2011
Tarantas, Rose
Chateau Lajarre, Bordeaux 2009
La Vielle Ferme, Rose 2011
Benvolio, Pinot Grigio 2011
Nobilo Icon, Pinot Noir 2009
Lello, Douro Tinto 2009
Quinson Fils, Cotes de Provence Rose 2011
Anindor, Pinot Gris 2010
Buenas Ondas, Syrah Rose 2010
Les Fiefs d'Anglars, Malbec 2009
14 Hands, Pinot Gris 2011
Conundrum 2012
Condes de Albarei, Albariño 2011
Columbia Crest, Walter Clore Private Reserve 2007
Penelope Sanchez, Garnacha Syrah 2010
Canoe Ridge, Merlot 2007
Atalaya do Mar, Godello 2010
Vega Montan, Mencia
Benvolio, Pinot Grigio
Nobilo Icon, Pinot Noir, Marlborough 2009
Portuga, Rose 2011
Revelation, Chardonnay, Pays d'Oc 2010
Beaulieu, Cabernet, Rutherford 2005
Monte Alto, Tinto Reserva 2005
Chateau Ste. Michelle, Cabernet, Indian Wells 2009
Espiral, Vinho Rose
Vin-Koru, Pinot Gris 2011
14 Hands, Hot to Trot Red 2009
Rodney Strong, Cabernet, Sonoma 2009
Abacela, Vintner's Blend #11
Portuga, White 2010
La Bourgeoisie, Red 2009
Januik, Red 2009
Three Rivers, River's Red 2008
Kirkland, Alexander Valley Merlot 2008
Muga, Rioja Rose 2010
Quinta das Amoras, Vinho Tinto 2009
Mauro Molino, Barbera d'Alba 2009
Garda Chiaretto Rose
Columbia Crest, Two Vines Vineyard 10 White
Chateau Ste. Michelle, Pinot Gris, Columbia Valley 2009
L'Hortus, Rose de Saignee 2010
Maculan, Pino & Toi 2008
McKinley Springs, Bombing Range Red 2008
Trader Joe's Pinot Gris 2009
Montes Alpha, Cabernet 2007
Gran Sasso, Sangiovese, Terre di Chieti 2009
Garda, Classico Chiaretto Rose
Beaulieu, Cabernet, Rutherford 1999
Picos del Montgo, Tempranillo 2008
Chateau de Montmirail, Vacqueyras 2008
La Granja 360, Syrah 2009
Montgras, Carmenere Reserva 2009
Lange, Pinot Gris 2009
Columbia Crest, Horse Heaven Hills Cabernet 2008
Kirkland, Pinot Grigio 2010
Trader Joe's Coastal Syrah 2009
Columbia Crest, Horse Heaven Hills Merlot 2008
Trader Joe's Coastal Chardonnay 2009
Vieux Papes Red
Domaine de l'Aujardiere, Chardonnay 2009
Santa Rita, Cabernet, Medalla Real 2007
Penfold's, Koonunga Hill Shiraz Cabernet 2008
Guild, Red, Lot #02 2008
Dievole, Dievolino Sangiovese 2008
Laforet, Burgogne Chardonnay 2009
Columbia Winery, Merlot 2007
Bonterra, Cabernet 2008
Elk Cove, Pinot Gris 2009
Maquis Lien 2006
Scott Paul, Pinot Noir, Le Paulee 2007
The Occasional Book
Neil Young - Waging Heavy Peace
Mark Bego - Aretha Franklin, the Queen of Soul (2012 ed.)
Jenny Lawson - Let's Pretend This Never Happened
J.D. Salinger - Franny and Zooey
Charles Dickens - A Christmas Carol
Timothy Egan - The Big Burn
Deborah Eisenberg - Transactions in a Foreign Currency
Kurt Vonnegut Jr. - Slaughterhouse Five
Kathryn Lance - Pandora's Genes
Cheryl Strayed - Wild
Fyodor Dostoyevsky - The Brothers Karamazov
Jack London - The House of Pride, and Other Tales of Hawaii
Jack Walker - The Extraordinary Rendition of Vincent Dellamaria
Colum McCann - Let the Great World Spin
Niccolò Machiavelli - The Prince
Harper Lee - To Kill a Mockingbird
Emma McLaughlin & Nicola Kraus - The Nanny Diaries
Brian Selznick - The Invention of Hugo Cabret
Sharon Creech - Walk Two Moons
Keith Richards - Life
F. Sionil Jose - Dusk
Natalie Babbitt - Tuck Everlasting
Justin Halpern - S#*t My Dad Says
Mark Herrmann - The Curmudgeon's Guide to Practicing Law
Barry Glassner - The Gospel of Food
Phil Stanford - The Peyton-Allan Files
Jesse Katz - The Opposite Field
Evelyn Waugh - Brideshead Revisited
J.K. Rowling - Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone
David Sedaris - Holidays on Ice
Donald Miller - A Million Miles in a Thousand Years
Mitch Albom - Have a Little Faith
C.S. Lewis - The Magician's Nephew
F. Scott Fitzgerald - The Great Gatsby
William Shakespeare - A Midsummer Night's Dream
Ivan Doig - Bucking the Sun
Penda Diakité - I Lost My Tooth in Africa
Grace Lin - The Year of the Rat
Oscar Hijuelos - Mr. Ives' Christmas
Madeline L'Engle - A Wrinkle in Time
Steven Hart - The Last Three Miles
David Sedaris - Me Talk Pretty One Day
Karen Armstrong - The Spiral Staircase
Charles Larson - The Portland Murders
Adrian Wojnarowski - The Miracle of St. Anthony
William H. Colby - Long Goodbye
Steven D. Stark - Meet the Beatles
Phil Stanford - Portland Confidential
Rick Moody - Garden State
Jonathan Schwartz - All in Good Time
David Sedaris - Dress Your Family in Corduroy and Denim
Anthony Holden - Big Deal
Robert J. Spitzer - The Spirit of Leadership
James McManus - Positively Fifth Street
Jeff Noon - Vurt
Road Work
Miles run year to date: 21
At this date last year: 52
Total run in 2012: 129
In 2011: 113
In 2010: 125
In 2009: 67
In 2008: 28
In 2007: 113
In 2006: 100
In 2005: 149
In 2004: 204
In 2003: 269
Comments (16)
Thanks for the tip Jack! Will check this out at our local Trader Joe's - since we have at least a month (or more) of 80+ degree weather ahead of us in Reno.
Posted by Dave A. | August 12, 2010 3:46 PM
Thanks for the tip, indeed! I'll be stopping off there on my way home to pick up a bottle (or two...or, you know).
Posted by Wino | August 12, 2010 3:51 PM
Believe it or not, Walgreens has a collection of wines under the "Southern Point" label that have received surprisingly good reviews.
Posted by Max | August 12, 2010 4:24 PM
Perhaps you should lift a glass in memory of Theo:
"Theo Albrecht, Who Helped Build the Aldi Grocery Chain, Dies at 88
By JACK EWING
Published: July 29, 2010
FRANKFURT — Theo Albrecht, who with his brother Karl used lessons learned in the lean years of postwar Germany to build an international grocery empire, died Saturday in Essen, Germany. He was 88.
His death was announced by a representative of the company he owned, Aldi, which also owns the Trader Joe’s chain in the United States.
After being released from Allied prisoner-of-war camps following World War II, Theo and Karl Albrecht took over their parents’ small grocery in the bombed-out city of Essen and, out of necessity, sold only a small number of essential items. When the economy began to boom, competitors expanded their inventories to include thousands of items, but the Albrecht brothers realized they could operate more efficiently by limiting selection and keeping stores fairly small.
.
.
.
At Trader Joe’s, Theo Albrecht applied some Aldi principles to upscale items like California wine, olive oil and goat cheese."
With all of the $$ you save on Portuguese rosés, perhaps you can sample some of the fine OR vintages? Abacela's Rosado, eg:
http://www.wine-girl.net/2008/05/reviews-mr-blac.html
Posted by Gardiner Menefree | August 12, 2010 4:34 PM
Trader Joe's? Walgreen's? Ish.
Support your local merchants and winemakers. Patronize a locally-owned wine shop.
Posted by Rich | August 12, 2010 6:10 PM
I do. Sometimes.
I have a life.
Posted by Jack Bog | August 12, 2010 6:23 PM
Speaking of vinho verde, New Seasons has a wonderful one from Gazsla, again about $8. The only drwback is you really need to finish off the bottle at one sitting. I saved some for later in the evening and yep, the fuzzy wuzzen't fuzzy any more!
Otoh, the alcohol content isn't high so go ahead! Enjoy!
I dislike TJ's. Their 2 buck chuck I called 2 buck upchuck!
Posted by Lawrence | August 12, 2010 6:31 PM
Our two best buys from the TJ's wine aisles are their private label Blanc de Blanc French sparkling (nice and dry, not too sweet and only $4.99) and the Blue Fin Petite Syrah (even better bargain at $3.99).
But we added a new one to our list. We went in earlier this week and stumbled upon a different vinho verde than one you bought. This one is Espiral and is only $4.99 and definitely fits in as a great, cool summer wine.
Posted by hilsy | August 12, 2010 7:16 PM
The Portuguese are wise about many things.
Posted by Jack Bog | August 12, 2010 8:59 PM
I am fond of some TJ wines. Hamilton-Stevens (when I feel like a Goldschmidt crony); Rootstock (when I feel like a Reedie); TJ's Pinot (when I'm cheap cause I'm poor).
All in all - good prices, good wines. Feel bad I can't patronize all the fab wineries here in Oregon all the time....
Posted by Wickets | August 12, 2010 10:10 PM
The Oregons are so darn expensive. We have a bottle of the Abacela Grenache Rosé ready to go, but couldn't afford to have that be our everyday wine.
Posted by Jack Bog | August 12, 2010 10:26 PM
TJ's has been known to have inexpensive bottles of prosecco (Italian fruity, low bubble sparkler) as well. The one where you actually have to use the corkscrew to open it, is better than the others I have tried.
Posted by LucsAdvo | August 13, 2010 6:36 AM
Bargain in the Horse Heaven Hills
Columbia Crest
Four weeks ago when my sweetie and I were doing one of our caravans from Kennewick to Portland or vice versa we decided to use SR 14 rather than I 84, and piced up the maiking of a good picnic lunch and planned to stop at Comulbia Crest in Patterson, WA. Nice ppace for a picnic.
CC was selling a nice rose, predominately a syrrah but a blend, really really good well chilled. $5.00 a bottle, no sales tax with an Oregon ID.
Label calls it a Vinyard No. 10 Rose, 2007, on their Two Vines labe, I put a couple of bottles of this in the ice / water bath in the galvanized tun with the beer cans for a barbeque a couple of weeks ago, and it went faster than the beer.
I need to get more at that price. The 6 I got are gone, its a good hot weather drinker.
Posted by Nonny Mouse | August 13, 2010 3:47 PM
If you are looking at summer wines from WA, Cascade Cliffs makes a nice Symphony wine. Symphony is a hybrid of Muscat of Alexandria and Grenache Gris.
Posted by LucsAdvo | August 14, 2010 6:14 AM
Considerably more about TJs from CNN Money:
http://finance.yahoo.com/family-home/article/110437/inside-the-secret-world-of-trader-joes
Posted by Gardiner Menefree | August 24, 2010 8:53 AM
come to Cannon Beach, Jack, and you'll get the Mayoral tour....
Posted by mike morgan | August 26, 2010 9:11 PM