The 2 Trader Joe’s Wines 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—two of them happen to be from Trader Joe’s.

Trader Joe’s Grand Reserve Chardonnay Carneros 2023, priced at $12.99, and the Platinum Reserve Carneros Pinot Noir, priced at $14.99, are excellent wines that pair beautifully with everything from turkey to rib roast. While $13 to $15 might not sound affordable compared to the infamous Two-Buck Chuck and some other well-known TJ’s wines, they’re really in a class of their own.

They aren’t just good wines “for the price,” they’re wines 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 These Wines Are 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.

The Platinum Reserve Pinot Noir is equally impressive and proves that you can absolutely serve red wine with turkey! Platinum Reserve is a term used to describe some of the higher-quality wines offered at Trader Joe’s. They’re generally a bit more expensive than the baseline wines because they’re made from better grapes and with more attention to detail.

For those who shy away from heavier reds, you can rest assured that this pinot isn’t overwhelming. It’s smooth and light, with beautiful cherry notes and just a hint of vanilla and spice from aging in oak. The tannins are also polished and gentle, which makes it a crowd-pleaser. I particularly appreciate how it plays so nicely with everything on a holiday table from turkey, potatoes, and stuffing to roasted veg.

These wines are limited releases for the holiday season, which means once they’re gone, they’re gone. And because I care about your holiday hosting success, I suggest you pick up a couple of bottles of each while you can. Your guests will think you splurged, and your wallet will thank you for being so savvy.

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