The Tricks To Pick The Best Trader Joe's Wines According To Its Wine Experts

Picking out a bottle of wine can be an overwhelming experience — and not just for beginners. Each wine has its own levels of acidity, sweetness, and alcohol content. What does it mean when a wine bottle is labeled "reserve," and what exactly are tannins anyway? It's just a lot to think about. Luckily, some stores make it easy to choose a wine, and Trader Joe's is a prime example. This popular spot pays special attention to its wine selection, and Trader Joe's knows exactly how to help you pick the best bottle. 

If you're eager to browse Trader Joe's wine selection, two of its wine experts shared some tricks on how to make the process easy on the Inside Trader Joe's Podcast. The first tip was simple but underrated: Start by asking a member of the crew for help. If you've been to Trader Joe's, you know the employees aren't shy, and the wine experts are especially knowledgeable. The crew tastes every wine before it reaches the shelves — so established employees will know exactly what these wines taste like, and they'll probably want to have a conversation with you about it. If you have a question, don't be bashful, and just ask. The crew can provide some valuable insight on questions like how a bottle of wine was made or the reasons behind its price point. But remember, they'll probably have some questions of their own to ask you, too. 

To lessen any anxiety you might have about an interaction with an established Trader Joe's wine expert, let's dig into some of the questions they might ask you. For starters, as two of these wine experts shared on the Trader Joe's podcast, asking how much you know about wine and what your palate is like are two basic questions that crew members will start with. This helps them determine which wine will best fit your needs. From there, they might branch out more and ask: Do you prefer dark chocolate or milk chocolate? Do you like sweet wines or not? All this dialogue helps the crew curate the perfect bottle for you, so you don't have to take a shot in the dark. Plus, it can help you discover what you really like in a wine. 

Even if you're nervous about mispronouncing the name of a wine, or if you're not really sure what you're looking for, ask a Trader Joe's employee anyway. A lot of them have a personal favorite they can recommend if you're really at a loss, and it's a lot better than standing there internally panicking while surrounded by countless bottles of wine. If you end up liking a crew member's recommendation, you can confidently ask for another when you come back. So, what is there to lose?

Another helpful suggestion for picking the best wine at Trader Joe's is to check out the stacked boxes at the end of the aisles first. While other shops might keep a large stock of particular wines simply because the brand paid for the space, the Trader Joe's crew chooses which wines they want to stock instead. These stacks usually contain the most popular wines, or some that the crew thinks are truly worthwhile offerings. Trader Joe's makes a point to keep a few different price points of these wines in stock, so whether you prefer a simple local rosé or a high-end imported chardonnay, there is something for everyone. Since these wines are kept in boxes at the end of the rows of wine, they're easy to spot.

Now, if you're familiar with wine already, you can always just read the labels on a few different bottles and see what catches your eye. These labels have information about which grapes were used to make the drink, the location the grapes were grown in, and the layers of flavor hidden inside, so there's a lot to work with if you already know what you're looking for. Still, never be afraid to ask questions. That's how you'll discover the best Trader Joe's wines for you and your palate.