Two more insanely good value wines from Trader Joe’s and who recommended them
Come on in!
I just can’t say enough good things about Trader Joe’s great wines!
Well, at least some of them.
Let’s talk about it.
First of all, I want to apologize to those who are not near a Trader Joe’s store that sells wine (which actually is me now, but that is another story). I also want to apologize to those who are not in this country and don’t know anything about Trader Joe’s and their wine. Stick with me though, because I will still have worthwhile things to say to you.
MORE GOOD STUFF:
In case you missed my earlier post on why you should be in love with Trader Joe’s wines, this is where you will find it.
I have also written a sequel of sorts to this post. It is Three more insanely good value wines: Red Blend Edition. You can find it here.
For those people who want to know where Trader Joe’s wine shops are located check out this post here. It’s my state by state guide.
For those who want to hear even more, there is my most recent post. For Two Beyond incredible great value bottles of Trader Joe’s wine, click here.
AND…
For everyone, I also have a post on 5 great value red wines that are not Trader Joe’s. Check it out here.
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Even if you can’t buy Trader Joe’s wines, this will not be you with a face pressed against a window.
You will not be on the outside looking in at all the fun stuff you are missing and can’t be a part of.
Even it you can’t buy these 2 wines, I will discuss the types of wines so you can buy similar wines anywhere. I also want to talk about the joy of being able to get good wine advice in a store, and what you should do if you can’t.
I will start by introducing you to the two wines of the title (but then wait for the other good stuff).
First the Soave Classico:
Soave Classico 2021
We were able to buy this for $5.99!
Let’s talk about Soave Classico wines in general. They are white wines from North East Italy. They are primarily made of Gargenega grapes. That probably tells you nothing worthwhile.
Personally I know very little about Gargenega grapes. Okay, I know nothing other than what I just wrote about them. I do not remember being tested on them during my wine exam, but I probably had to know it. Regardless, the majority of people know nothing about Gargenega grapes, but now we all know something.
The term Classico means they are from the historic center of the Soave vineyard zone. In general Classico wines will be of higher quality than those that are not from this area. They may also cost more.
Let’s take a minute out to mention that learning something about Old World wines and all their rules would help. For those who want to know, I write about it often. I first included it in my monthly series of New Year’s Wine Resolutions. Check it out here if you want.
Here is my really short summary:
Old World wines come from Europe and they have a ton of rules and regulations about what can be grown where. The smaller the area, the more requirements. Use these rules as a guide, BUT do not assume that a more expensive wine from a small area will be worth the price. Sometimes it is just supply and demand.
Why did I buy this wine you may ask?
Two reasons. One of the reasons was the price. I mean for $5.99 how wrong could you go? The more important reason was that the gentleman who worked in this particular Trader Joe’s in Massachusetts recommended it. He knew the wines in his store. He knew, based on what I mentioned were my likes and dislikes, that I would like this wine. There were other very inexpensive whites that I could have purchased, but I went with his recommendation and am glad I did.
I’m going to take a minute and once again tell you that wines from Italy are food wines. They are almost always better with food. I could do a deep dive and discuss acid in wine and food, but I won’t do that now.
When I first had this wine, I was not wowed. Then I had it with food and it was great. It was really fantastic! I don’t think it would go with a steak, but maybe it would. Fats and salt(unfortunately) is almost every wine’s friend.
Remember, wine will not change the flavor of your food. Food can change the flavor of your wine. Just like any relationship in your life, there is a range. Some wines may be better with some foods, but there is not just one right answer. Explore.
If you are looking for a flavorful Italian white wine, this Soave is a great choice. Other interesting Italian white wines are Vermentino and Fiano. In the United States, most of the Pinot Grigio wines are not interesting at all. If you are not near a Trader Joe’s wine shop, and you want a Soave Classico or another interesting white wine, you may need someone to steer you in the right direction. There are a ton of them out there, at all different price points.
As I said earlier, it is a joy when you can get great advice in a wine store. If you have that person, value them.
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Let’s move on to the Super Tuscan:
Lodole Rosso di Toscana
This fantastic Super Tuscan was $7.99.
Again you may ask why did I buy this wine?
I will give basically the same answers that I gave for the Soave Classico: Price and it was recommended by the gentleman at Trader Joe’s. I couldn’t really go wrong with that price, could I?
The difference here, is that while I really didn’t know much about the Garganega grapes in a Soave Classico, I do know a lot about Super Tuscans. I originally wrote about this in my post on Red Blends that are not Bordeaux. Check it out here if you want.
Let’s talk about the origin story of the rise of Super Tuscans. Sorry. I Couldn’t resist the reference to all the super hero movies. If you missed the reference, don’t worry about it.
Here’s the story:
Remember when I mentioned that there are a ton of rules and regulations in Old World wines. In the 1980s, winemakers in Tuscany wanted to blend grapes with Sangiovese (the grape that was required in Tuscany) that were not typical Italian grapes. Think Cabernet and Merlot. While the wines may have been delicious and extremely high quality, they were just called Italian table wines because they weren’t following the rules of Tuscany. They did not want to be lumped with lowly table wines. This was a serious reputation and financial demotion.
Eventually the geographical indication (GI) term IGT was born. (In case you care, it stands for Indicazione Geografica Tipica.) This allowed for promoting the wines from the “lowly” table wine to a named designation.
Woo! Validation! Higher Prices!
Wait! What?! Higher Prices?
Some Super Tuscans are insanely expensive. This Super Tuscan from Trader Joe’s wasn’t expensive at all. But you don’t want to waste money either. Sometimes cheap is cheap. Because this was highly recommended I bought it. It was insanely good! It punched way above it’s price point. I have had expensive Super Tuscans that were not this good.
Just like with the Soave, there are a ton of choices. The term IGT can actually be used all over Italy, so look for the region Tuscany on the label if you want a Super Tuscan. Even then, there is a wide selection.
You may need good advice. It’s not always easy to get.
In the United States, each state has different rules about how liquor is sold. Many states sell wine and liquor in a supermarket. There are sometimes signs that try to help, or say a wine won an award or that someone rated it a high score. Even when there is someone to help, they may not be great. As I said, it if you are lucky enough to find someone who is really helpful, be open to their advice and suggestions.
HOWEVER…
If you need or want to be your own salesperson, here is my really helpful advice:
Decide what you want to spend. Remember more expensive is not better or more to your taste. Do not let any salesperson pressure you into spending more. Don’t pressure yourself, either.
Decide what you are looking for. Is this for an occasion, or just for fun drinking? Although, it should always be fun and delicious. I always buy 2 of each wine if I am “stocking up.” That way I have enough to have a group drink the same wine.
Ask yourself questions. Start with basics. Really basic: Do I want red or white or rosé? Sparkling?Have I had this before and did I like it? Where will I be drinking it? Should it be a relaxed easy going wine? Is it for a dinner party where it may be important to buy a wine that “goes” with the food? Are you buying to “impress?” If you want a list of wines for your next get together, sign up below and I will send one to you.
Read the label. See what it tells you. If it is wine from the Old World (see above) it may not tell you what grape type it is. Some labels tell you a lot. There will not be a test. Have fun with it.
Check the alcohol content. The alcohol content can actually tell you quite a bit. High alcohol wines are not appropriate for all occasions. These are not wimpy wines. The alcohol can catch up to you. Be careful.
Hopefully, you do have either a Trader Joe’s wines near you, or you have someone who can offer great recommendations and advice.
Otherwise, use my advice and enjoy looking for your next fun wine.
