- I'm a sommelier, and Trader Joe's is one of my favorite places to purchase great, affordable wines.
- I think Copilot's chardonnay pairs well with creamy seafood dishes.
- For a refreshing mimosa, I recommend using Trader Joe's Blanc de Blancs sparkling wine.
I love Trader Joe's sourdough bread and new items as much as the next person, but as a sommelier, what really keeps me coming back is the store's wine selection.
With affordable varieties from around the world, Trader Joe's bottles make having a delicious glass of wine — or two — an everyday luxury.
Here are seven of my favorites to buy for the summer season.
Editor's note: Product availability and prices may vary by location.
For a Champagne dupe on a beer budget, try Trader Joe's Blanc de Blancs sparkling wine.
To officially be called Champagne, the product must be a sparkling wine from the Champagne region of France.
However, that doesn't mean other types of wine can't offer a similar taste. Trader Joe's Blanc de Blanc is a French sparkling wine made with white grapes.
It's dry, crisp, and I think it perfectly complements sweet orange juice for a lively mimosa. For $8, it's luxury on the cheap.
I love Copilot's chardonnay.
Copilot's chardonnay hails from the Los Carneros of Napa Valley.
Apple and citrus notes with a touch of buttery oak make this $8 white wine a no-brainer for creamy seafood dishes. Plus, its smooth finish means it's the perfect drink to cool down with on a summer evening.
And, who wouldn't love the adorable dog logo?
If you're going to grill meat, I recommend grabbing this Argentine blend.
From Argentina's Uco Valley region, the Alma de Uco Grand Assemblage malbec cabernet franc is the perfect red blend for just $10.
Earthy but with strong fruit flavors, its leather and peppercorn notes are both smooth and bold. It pairs nicely with any kind of grilled meat, including lamb.
This Pine Ridge white blend is perfect for nights when it's too hot to cook.
When the temperature hovers above 90 degrees Fahrenheit and pasta salad is the only acceptable choice for dinner, this $12 Pine Ridge blend of chenin blanc and viognier is exactly what you need.
I think the floral, melon, and pear aromas entice, while the pineapple, chamomile and slight honey flavors keep people sipping.
To keep my glass cool, I like to toss in some frozen grapes.
For an easy-to-drink red, grab this Duvergey-Taboureau Bourgogne pinot noir.
This vin de Bourgogne, or wine of Burgundy, by Duvergey-Taboureau, is a light pinot noir that's a steal at $12.
With notes of cherry and strawberry, this wine goes well with a fruit salad, but it's also light enough to pair with grilled salmon over mixed greens.
Château Le Grand Faurie is a Bordeaux red blend that's good now, and even better later.
If you love a red blend, I have great news for you: Bordeaux, France, just might make the best.
This bottle includes merlot, cabernet franc, malbec, and cabernet sauvignon, meaning there's hints of blackcurrant, plum, leather, oak, and cloves.
I love this one decanted because Bordeaux wines are known to age exceptionally well. At just $20, I bought another six bottles to hold onto and enjoy later.
For a rosé, I suggest a bottle of Trader Joe's Bandol.
Similar to Champagne, Bandol wine is produced specifically in the Bandol appellation of the Provence region of France.
With strong citrus and strawberry notes, I think this rosé is perfect for summer at $13.
