The Only Trader Joe's Wine You Need for the Holidays

Every year, as I prepare for holiday hosting, I aim to keep a handful of affordable wines on standby that will please everyone and go with a variety of foods. After years of trial and error (and a few misses), I have narrowed it down to eight to ten wines that fill these requirements—one of them happen to be from Trader Joe's.

Trader Joe's Grand Reserve Chardonnay Carneros 2023, priced at $12.99, is an excellent wine that pair beautifully with everything from turkey to rib roast. While $13 might not sound affordable compared to the infamous Two-Buck Chuck and some other well-known TJ's wines, it really is a class of its own.

It isn't just good wines "for the price," it's wine that could easily sell for double the price under different labels, according to James Zichterman, the Category Manager for wine, beer, and spirits at Trader Joe's.

Why This Wine Is Perfect for the Holidays

The Carneros Chardonnay is a lovely white for holiday entertaining. Unlike what you might expect from an in-your-face buttery chardonnay, this one perfectly balances these gorgeous apple and pear notes with just the right amount of acidity. And frankly, in this case, I prefer the butter spread over all the fresh dinner rolls I'll eat. This wine is light enough to sip during appetizers—think cheese plates and olives—but has enough body to stand up to the main event.

This wine is a limited release for the holiday season, which means once it's gone, it's gone. And because I care about your holiday hosting success, I suggest you pick up a couple of bottles while you can. Your guests will think you splurged, and your wallet will thank you for being so savvy.

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