Raise your hand if you want drinkable dinner wines that don’t break the bank ?, I know we do! We’ve been in Florida for about 6 months now and finding those tasty, inexpensive, uncommon wines is always our task at hand. This being said, we have found quite a few around the area at Trader Joe’s, Aldi, Walgreens and a small specialty shop called West Palm Wines. Join us as we taste through about a dozen examples.

Landonnet Bordeaux Rosé
2015
France-Bordeaux

aromas: Lighter fruit aroma, tart, berry, some sweet berry too
flavors: Dry yeasty fruit like a Brut champagne, spice and heat in flavor kind of like fireball, cherry finish, next day-watermelon!

Tasted with hamburger and mac n’ cheese, wine gets softer with food,
Surprising it only costs $6,
yum, let’s buy it again!
From Trader Joe’s

Villa Cerrina Chardonnay Pinot Grigio
2015
Italy

aromas: Pear and apple
flavors: pear, Chardonnay flavor, crisp

Really does remind me of both varietals.
From Trader Joe’s

William Wright Chardonnay
2012
California-Monterey

great balance of lemon and butter, lingering finish.

Surprised how good it was for $6
from Aldi

Rolling Mist Fumé Blanc
2014
California-Sonoma

aromas: hint of sweet, definitely crisp
flavors: made my teeth feel squeaky, high acid? tasted like lime, reminded me of dry riesling, reminded Neil of honeysuckle, light wine, crisp

We both liked it!
from Aldi

Chiaré Sparkling Blanc de Blancs
2014
California-Monterey

aromas: apple
flavors: dry finish, after eating dinner- honey flavor
from Aldi

Vintjs Pinot Noir Rosé
2015
California-Arroyo Seco

aromas: watermelon/strawberry candies
flavors: tasted similar to aroma for me, still light, not as sweet as it smells

We had on first day and didn’t properly chill, made it smell like old man, tasted kind of fizzy and tangy, very light and not good
The next day we paired it with hamburgers and it was way better!
Tasty!
From Trader Joe’s

Trader Joe’s Reserve Barbera
2014
California-Mendocino

spicy and peppery, also noticed meat flavor

We paired it with tamales and queso and it was definitely influenced by the food.
From Trader Joe’s

La Granja garnacha Rosé
2015
Spain

aromas: candied fruits (strawberry and watermelon), watermelon jolly ranchers
flavors: crisp, tart and soft, kind of dry, tingling from tart

We paired it with well-done hamburgers
Tasty!
From Trader Joe’s

Pórtico Da Ría Albariño
2013
Spain

aromas: citrus, grapefruit, tangerine, petrol but we paired with Brussels sprouts for dinner
flavors: grapefruit, very crisp, dry

Good!
From Trader Joe’s

Vignobles Lacheteau Vouvray
2015
France-Loire Valley

aromas: pears
flavors: pears, texture is kind of thick/oily reminds me of chardonnay texture, seemed like there could have been some spice too but had it with spicy chick peas, next day-mineral, third day-hint of lime, still mineral and it became too sweet for Neil but only on the third day

We paired it with salmon, nice pairing, never thought of pears with salmon
From Trader Joe’s

Coastal Zinfandel
2013
California-Central Coast

aromas: Blackberry, black licorice
flavors: black pepper, vanilla in finish
First day, fruitier than Neil would like, but on the second day it mellowed and was ok
Pretty good on first day for Maria but as time went on, not great, a few days later pretty bland

Good to Ok
From Trader Joe’s

Stormchaser Wild Ride Red
red blend
2015
Washington

aromas: smelled grapey like merlot,
flavors: tastes dry like cabernet sauvignon, then noticed black pepper later on, wasn’t chilled enough.
On day 2 it tasted like cab but then became pretty fruity. Maybe smelled some strawberries/blueberries. Seemed kind of sweet, and fruity

Only ok, not much character
from Aldi

Zuccardi Bonarda
2014
Argentina-Mendoza

aromas: meat, earth and fruit
flavors: Rich, dry, fruit, hint of sweet before dry, lingering spice not much fruit

Seemed very complex in the beginning but then flavor died out (tasted while I was sick)
from West Palm Wines

MADD Virgin Brut
Nonalcoholic sparkling wine

aromas: honey
flavors: apples and honey, says it’s brut but pretty sweet to us

Did seem like regular sparkling wine, couldn’t tell it was non-alcoholic!
from Walgreen’s