There’s nothing like a glass of chilled white wine on a summer’s day, especially from Trader Joe’s. They have a wide selection of wines from all over the world that are affordable and good quality. I picked eight white wines at random and held a wine tasting for my friends. I did a little bit of research before (as in I searched “Trader Joe’s best white wines” on TikTok and compiled the answers).
I wanted to have a wide variety of white wines. I picked three sauvignon blancs, one pinot grigio, and one chardonnay because those were the ones that came to mind immediately. Then, I randomly picked three types (chenin blanc, vouvray, and vinho verde) that I have never heard of before. During the tasting, we scored the wines based on taste and compared the flavors of each wine. What made the tasting interesting was that each friend had a different preference on wines: one liked red, some liked sweet, one had no preference, and I gravitate towards whites and rosés. Because of this, the scores were all over, so I calculated the average for each wine. I must say that we are not wine experts, so we turned to the Vivino app for help to look at the more intricate descriptions of the wines. Here are the best (and not so great) white wines from Trader Joe’s.
1. Ports de Bordeaux, $7.49
This sauvignon blanc is a crisp white wine with a bold flavor from the Bordeaux region of France. On the drier side, you can taste notes of citrus such as lemon and grapefruit.
Score: 3/10
It was watery and I did not taste any citrus notes. This was the least favorite of the group because of the lack of flavor and ultra dryness of the wine.
2. Vin de Bordeaux Sauvignon de Seguin, $6.99
This wine is special in that it is only produced with grapes from the Entre-Deux-Mers area in Bordeaux. Again, it’s a dry wine with a bold flavor of citrus as well as lemongrass.
Score: 5/10
If you like dry wines, you’ll be a fan of this one. This was the first wine we tried in our tasting, and what was interesting was that one person scored a five at first then changed her score to a three after a few sips. I also had the same thought; on first sip it was okay but the more that I drank, it became less appealing to me.
3. Trader Joe’s Grower’s Reserve Chardonnay, $5.99
The Grower’s Reserve wines are produced from organic grapes. It is a smooth, medium-bodied wine. It is not crisp, but rather it has a soft finish. There are hints of apple, vanilla, and oak. Red wine fans would probably gravitate towards this one the most.
Score: 5.5/10
I liked the smoothness and mildness of this chardonnay. I’m used to powerful zing and crisp white wines that the neutral flavor was unexpected. The downside for me was the oak; it gave the wine a smokey taste which was nice. However, I felt that it overtook the wine and all you could taste was oak. I liked it but I wouldn’t repurchase.
4. Mbali Chenin Blanc, $5
The wine comes from the Western Cape of South Africa, which I didn’t know was a wine region until going to Trader Joe’s, so obviously, I had to try it out. This wine leans on the drier side of the spectrum with the flavors of fruits like melon, passion fruit, guava, lychee, and tangerine.
Score: 6/10
When reading the description of the wine, I had the expectation of it being a sweeter wine. I was totally thrown off when I tasted the dry and acidic flavor. I think if I didn’t have that preconceived notion, I would’ve liked it better on the first sip. This is one I’ll have to retry later on.
5. Giardino Pinot Grigio delle Venezie, $5
From northern Italy, this pinot grigio is very dry with light and crisp flavors of apples and pears. Additionally, it is a sparkling wine so you get extra crisp with the bubbles. Pairs well with light meals such as pasta, seafood, chicken, and salad.
Score: 6.5/10
The group had a collective ranking of a 6 to 7 score. I liked the bubbles, as they were subtle and gave the same level of a seltzer. Its light flavor combined with the dryness gives the wine a powerful zing and it’s crisp for sure, great for a hot summer’s day. I would buy this wine again and have it with seafood like shrimp and a light pasta so I can pretend that I’m in Europe.
6. Josh Sauvignon Blanc, $11
This Californian wine is bright, crisp, and clean with a citrus flavor with hints of kiwi. It is dry, balanced, and acidic. It pairs well with seafood, salads, and grilled chicken.
Score: 7/10
I originally bought this wine as a joke after seeing it on X and Instagram, but it really surprised me. I thought maybe I wasn’t a fan of sauvignon blancs after tasting the first two wines, but Josh proved me wrong. It was smooth and went down nice despite being dry. Definitely worth it and I will be repurchasing.
7. Vignobles Lacheteau Vouvray, $8
Grown in the Loire Valley east of Tours, France, wine makers use chenin blanc grapes to concoct this beverage. With flavors of acacia, pear, and almond, this wine pairs well with cheeses, spicy dishes or Indian food.
Score: 8/10
If you like sweeter wines, this one’s for you. It has a sweeter taste but it’s balanced by its acidity. It’s smooth and easy to drink, I am curious to try it the next time I get Indian takeout.
8. Espiral Vinho Verde, $5.50
This Portuguese wine is fresh and crisp. “Vinho verde” translates to “green wine,” but it really means “young grape,” which describes the winemaking process. It is a medium dry wine, acidic and has slight bubbles. The crispness comes from the notes of green apples and citrus; it’s like a sweet tart candy, perfect for a summer’s day.
Score: 9/10
By far my favorite wine I’ve ever had. The dryness gives it that crisp flavor that keeps it light and refreshing. The price rocks for the high quality of this wine. I could drink a whole bottle by myself.