9 Trader Joe's White Wines, Ranked Worst To Best

Trader Joe's is a virtual wonderland for food shoppers, but if you're lucky enough to live by one of the locations that also sells alcohol, we have great news — it's a fantastic place for that as well. In particular, Trader Joe's brand white wines, either self-titled or under the brand Charles Shaw, are worth a try. Well, at least some of them. They come at a fantastic price point — $9.99 or cheaper — and, as it turns out, they aren't half bad. I should know, I just tasted nine of them.

I ranked the wines based on taste, overall quality, and how well they represented the grape in question. As a bartender for 10 years and, above all else, a white wine fanatic, you can count on me to point you in the right direction regarding Trader Joe's selection of vintages. A closer look at my methodology can be found at the end, but we will get to that in due course. Now it's time to find out which Trader Joe's white wines stand out as superb choices and which ones don't live up to the competition. Let's go.

The least appealing Trader Joe's white wine I tried was the Charles Shaw Chardonnay, and let me tell you: It didn't even come close to the others on this list. For starters, it's neither buttery nor oaky, so it misses the Chardonnay mark by quite a bit. It doesn't have much of a nose either, and I found it to be overly acidic with an almost metallic finish. Honestly, I also thought it was somewhat bland for a Chardonnay. I might use Charles Shaw Chardonnay for cooking, maybe in a French onion soup or chicken stew, but that's about it.

The only redeeming quality about Charles Shaw Chardonnay is its super low price. A bottle only costs $4.49. However, there are two other Charles Shaw whites coming up, both of which cost about the same, and they are miles ahead in the flavor department. If the lowest possible price tag is a selling point for you, definitely opt for one of them instead. Sorry, not sorry, Charles Shaw Chardonnay. Moving on ...

Coming in eighth place is Trader Joe's Grower's Reserve Organic Chardonnay. Since it's organic, it doesn't contain any added sulfites, so it has that going for it. This bottle also comes at the fantastic price of $5.99. Even so, it didn't have what it takes to score higher than second-to-last place in my ranking.

Trader Joe's Grower's Reserve Organic Chardonnay puts off a strong nose with notes of vanilla and oak. After a sip or two, they became just about all I could taste. It was a bit buttery, but the oak and vanilla instantly overloaded my palate. It also had a midpalate flavor and a round finish with very subtle hints of fruitiness. While it was significantly better than Charles Shaw Chardonnay, I still was not the biggest fan of the bold vanilla. It added an overly sweet taste that I simply don't prefer. As a result, every other upcoming Trader Joe's white wine beat it fair and square for me. Next.

Next up is Charles Shaw Pinot Grigio, and you know what? There are worse ways to spend $4.49. It may not be the most groundbreaking wine, but it's got lots of mass appeal, and it definitely punches well above its weight when it comes to cost. There's no doubt it's miles ahead of Charles Shaw Chardonnay, as well.

Typical of a Pinot Grigio, Charles Shaw's Pinot is crisp and bright without too much bite. It coated my palate nicely with a mild acidity and also gave me a slightly floral finish. All in all, it's an easy-drinking wine that screams summertime. Translation: I could easily see myself sipping this on a sunny patio with friends.

That's a lot of praise for Charles Shaw Pinot Grigio, but when it comes to complexity, it falls a bit flat. I see it as a decent entry point for drinkers who want to explore various white wines without spending too much. However, for just a couple of dollars more, you can still do better at Trader Joe's. That being said, it's time to jump into some of the brand's white wines that offer a more robust flavor.

The final $4.49 bottle of Trader Joe's white wine, Charles Shaw Sauvignon Blanc, managed to clench a sixth-place ranking. It is actually quite similar to its Pinot Grigio counterpart, but a touch more complex and flavorful.

Charles Shaw Sauvignon Blanc had a mouth-watering acidity and a bright, fresh flavor overall. I also detected a touch of musk and citrus at the end. However, it is a California wine, so unlike Sauvignon Blancs that come from New Zealand, the citrus wasn't straight grapefruit. I tend to dislike New Zealand Sauvignon Blancs for this exact reason, so the well-rounded citrus taste spoke to me. The flavor also leads me to believe it would be a great pick for making sangria. That low price certainly doesn't hurt, either.

Overall, as with Charles Shaw's Pinot Grigio, for just a bit more money, you can get a better-tasting Trader Joe's white wine. Three of them just so happen to be Sauvignon Blancs, too. Is Charles Shaw Sauvignon Blanc bad? Absolutely not, but it only gets better from here on.

Trader Joe's Grower's Reserve Organic Sauvignon Blanc managed to score a firm middle-of-the-road ranking. It's a good representation of a classic Sauvignon Blanc, and it comes at a nearly unbeatable price: $5.99 a bottle. Obviously, Charles Shaw is slightly more affordable, but this is one of those cases where spending $1.50 more really pays off.

Trader Joe's Grower's Reserve Organic wines are made with organic grapes, and that is a big perk for many people. However, whether you care about that or not, it's a delicious, crisp white wine perfect for both new and experienced wine drinkers. If you're on a strict budget, even better. What I like most about Trader Joe's Grower's Reserve Organic Sauvignon Blanc is its smooth taste and bright acidity. It had just enough bite and a refreshing finish. Despite the label saying it has notes of grapefruit, I didn't pick up on much of it — a big plus for me. Lastly, it's pretty dry, so it would pair nicely with creamy pasta.

There are still four wines I enjoyed more than Trader Joe's Grower's Reserve Organic Sauvignon Blanc. However, if you prefer a white wine made with organic grapes, this is the one to buy at Trader Joe's. Still, I prefer the complexity of the four upcoming wines, organic or not.

For all you Chardonnay lovers out there, Trader Joe's Reserve Chardonnay from the Huichica Hills Vineyard in Napa Valley is your best bet. It offers all the classic hallmarks of a quality Chardonnay, and it only costs $9.99. It seems you get what you pay for, though, with the Trader Joe's Chardonnays, because this one is significantly better than the two lower-ranking ones.

Trader Joe's Reserve Chardonnay features a bright, fresh nose. It had a delicious bite and a pleasant crispness followed by a dry finish. Actually, the dryness at the end is what got my attention. I'm not the biggest fan of Chardonnays in general, but this one drew me in. It's well-balanced, and it doesn't rely on oak to do the heavy lifting.

Fourth place isn't a bad spot for Trader Joe's Reserve Chardonnay to land, considering my personal tastes. Even so, the three bottles coming up are the ones I'll be reaching for time and time again. Their easy-drinking appeal is undeniable, whatever your white wine preferences.

A bottle of Trader Joe's Reserve Pinot Gris only costs $9.99, but you'd never know it by the taste. Not only does it have all the easy-drinking appeal of a classic Pinot Gris, but it also presents like a much pricier bottle. Essentially, Trader Joe's nailed the quality aspect with this one.

Trader Joe's Reserve Pinot Gris is a Willamette Valley, Oregon wine produced and bottled by DW Hinman Cellars. It has a subtle citrus nose with a flavor to match. Above all else, this wine is refreshingly crisp and bright. It gave me tons of midpalate flavor and a deliciously dry finish — something I love. Really, though, anyone could enjoy it, and if you take it to a party, it'll be gone before you know it.

Compared to the Pinot Grigios on the list, Trader Joe's Reserve Pinot Gris is an infinitely better pick. In fact, it is pretty much interchangeable, ranking-wise, with the bottle that scored second place. However, I put it in third because it lacks the complexity achieved by the final two. Regardless, it would make a fantastic choice for any time of the year or any occasion.

Trader Joe's Reserve Sauvignon Blanc Lot #267 looks like summertime in a bottle, and I, for one, am here for it. This wine is a California Sauvignon Blanc, so you don't have to worry about it tasting like a highly acidic grapefruit, which I detest. Additionally, it's more complex than a Pinot Gris or a Pinot Grigio. While it remains easy to drink, it offers your palate a more playful flavor.

Trader Joe's Reserve Sauvignon Blanc Lot #267 retails at the low price of $9.99. It doesn't have much of a nose, but thankfully, the flavor makes up for it — layered with hints of lime, citrus, and just a touch of white peach at the end. Yum. The label claims it also has notes of guava and yuzu, but I didn't pick up on them. Regardless, I loved this wine's bright acidity and excellent crispness enough to award it a second-place ranking.

If you're looking for a white wine to pair with salads, look no further: Trader Joe's Reserve Sauvignon Blanc Lot #267 has you covered. Still, I liked my number one just a hair more. The difference is marginal, but I guess when you know, you know. And that's how I felt about my first-place pick.

Drumroll please ... The award for the absolute best Trader Joe's white wine goes to Trader Joe's Reserve Sauvignon Blanc Lot #257. It's vinted and bottled by JBA Cellars in Rutherford, CA, and it only costs $9.99. That's the highest price you'll find on the list, but you won't care after you get a taste. That's for sure.

Unlike Lot #267 (in second place), Trader Joe's Reserve Sauvignon Blanc Lot #257 has an almost effervescent mouthfeel that instantly activated my palate and left me wanting more ... and more. I detected notes of citrus, herbs, and musk, all of which shone through in the nose as well. Overall, it's zesty with a bright, clean finish and lovely complexity. Don't get it twisted, though. Trader Joe's Reserve Sauvignon Blanc Lot #257 is still an easy-drinking white wine. However, it's got enough bite and flavor that novice and experienced wine drinkers alike will enjoy a glass or two, but who's counting?

Trader Joe's Reserve Sauvignon Blanc Lot #257 is a shoo-in for summertime enjoyment, but really, I'd recommend it any time of the year. As far as food pairings go, citrus-based salads, meats, and rich pasta dishes will be its friends, and the tart flavor will cut through the creamiest of sauces. I'd even enjoy it with ice cream. Maybe that's just me, though.

As a lover of white wines and all things Trader Joe's (well, almost), I couldn't wait to dive into a taste test that combined both these things. So, after picking up these nine wines at my local store, I took them home, chilled them all, and got down to it.

Once I had tasted all nine white wines, I ranked them based on flavor and overall quality. Since they all cost $10 or less, I left the price out of it. Additionally, my 10 years of bartending experience taught me quite a lot about wines, so I made sure to factor in how well a particular bottle represented the grape it was made with as well. After all, we want our Chardonnay to taste like Chardonnay, not Pinot Grigio. Right?

Once you are done exploring all of Trader Joe's white wines (at least the ones in the middle and top half of my ranking), there are quite a few bargain wines at Costco you could consider tasting as well. Happy drinking.