One correction on the Trader Joe's history. Theo who owned Aldi Nord until his death, purchased Trader Joe's in the late 70's. It was founded by Joe Coulombe as Pronto Market.
Vince. So good to see you on you tube and weekly videos. These are great and keep them going! All the best. You are teaching us about wine one great sip at a time.
Really enjoyed this segment! No Aldi stores in New Mexico. I do buy from TJs but only when the bloggers write them up and post their opinions, particularly this guy in Northern New Mexico who likes to "bottom feed" at TJs and Whole Foods. Really enjoyed this segment!
Thanks! Yes it was a first for me and interesting to see what they had. Yes, aldi I think is more a Midwest and east coast thing, they’re weren’t many in Cali either when I was there. Perhaps next I’ll do another one people like to compare; Costco vs Sam’s!
Really nice video and really enjoyed your review! Today we shopped at Joe's for this first time and we have an Aldi down the road, We're really novice wine drinkers so this is going to be fun!!! Thanks again for such a nice vid!
Thanks!! Full episodes are still coming, but we figured this is fun content in between them! Also, a beer episode in Belgium is going to happen one day for sure!
Great stuff Vince . . . Curious if you have Costco around your place. A few others have compared/reviewed their wines and I am curious what your thoughts are. Could be fun!
Really fun video, Vince! We shop at Trader Joe's all the time, so I was definitely rooting for them. I don't even think we have Aldi out here in L.A. Oh and to be clear, we don't always buy wine, we're usually focused on food. However, we have picked up really good wines there. It's been a while since we bought anything under $8. I think maybe the TJ's Grower's Reserve Sauvignon Blanc was the last one and it was actually pretty good as I recall. I'm sure I bought some inexpensive stuff for my WSET classes last year because that's a lot of wine to buy in one shot. I may have even bought a bottle of that Liberté now that I'm thinking about it. Love the weekly videos.
Thanks! Yeah it was interesting for me to see, since I’d never had these wines! I didn’t actually specially aim for under $10 believe it or not, but all the “custom crush” stuff just happened to be in that price point. Glad you’re enjoying the videos, I’ll keep them coming!
Great idea. I find their wines on the sweet side but their barrel reserve which comes out once a year, is pretty tasty. So your evaluation would be interesting.
I'm still pretty new to wine and I'll buy these kind of wines as spitters to taste against a better bottle, it always helps to have a point of comparison. I'm occasionally pleasantly surprised, there's actually a very good Bordeaux you can get at Lidl. The Winking Owl wines are supplied by Gallo. A couple of them are palatable, most of them are a disaster.
For sure there were some that performed decent! They were just inconsistent. One would be good. The next no good. Maybe a Lidl video will have to happen. And makes sense winking owl is by gallo. Rough stuff lol
Trader Joe's is where I go for wine. (when I'm not in Paso or Santa Ynez) Its fun, they put out front what they like and the price is reasonable. This video was great!
@@visforvino Vince, since you are in Chicago, you should come do a tasting show in northern Michigan’s wine country. Not exactly California or Europe, but an interesting niche that is beautiful to visit in the summer or fall!
We don’t have a trader Joe nearby but we have an Aldi. Grabbed a bottle of that Malbec and it’s now my go-to table wine. Also saw that since Aldi caries seasonal items they’ve got some interesting winter wines in including a VQA Vidal Icewine for $15.
I’d love to try supermarket wines…..but here in NY wine sales are not allowed in supermarkets. So small shops and one or two local larger shops (I’ve one locally that has over 3000 Bordeaux producers in its store) are the norm. Great video.
I have such a good impression of Aldi reds to be honest. Went for a blind tasting once and my favourite was the cheapest, called Rockstone Ranch Malbec (or the ranch reserve). The person who conducted the wine tastings said she also pit the same wine against others with her friends and this was always the plot twist. Other than that, I also felt like the Firetree nero d'avola from Aldi was such a steal (£4.75 last i remembered)
I remember this Spanish wine from Cariñena that Trader's used to sell, called Monte Ducay, wow, what a wine. It was a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Garnacha, and Tempranillo. They stopped selling it a few years back. I also remember this single varietal Petit Verdot from Paso Robles, Trader Joe's label, the Reserve, I believe. What a wine that was, very unique!
Pound for pound no grocery store chain can challenge Trader Joe’s for quality vs value for their wines. Not everything on the shelf is good, but you are less likely to get a “stinker” from there than you would from other grocery store chains. It’s important to understand I don’t buy my cellar gems from TJs but I certainly get my Wednesday nights drinkers from there!
Just thinking about that CabSav and the Malbec that tasted oddly different. I wonder if they were fermented from a base that was rebuilt - following water removal under heat and vacuum. Possibly - the original grape juice base was overheated ?
I worked at TJ’s for many years, specializing in their wines. Their wines are geared for the non-expert wine drinker. They are good to try many different wines at a reasonable price. Sadly, too many customers keep buying the same crap: Ménage a Trois, Cocobon, Roasted Oak whatever.
I agree, I rate wines based on many factors and do not compare everything to my $150 Bordeaux Grand Cru Classe’s. I’m actually enjoying a $17 Nero D’Avola as I’m typing this.
Yeah, here's my one-word comment: Costco. I've been a wino for decades, and Costco's wines run circles around those at TJ's. There is a reason that they are America's largest wine retailer. TJ's has interesting expressions that Costco doesn't carry, but almost all of them are mediocre. My wife and I are Aldi's shoppers, but overall their wine selection is uninspiring. (Exception: Their Riesling is very good.) If you live in a state that allows Costco to sell wine - my state, Florida, does - then head there for great values.
I agree with your opinion here, Aldi has been ALL disappointing. Trader Joe’s is slightly better with more selections…I stopped buying there when I moved into a higher tax bracket, no more kitchen sink wine!😖
Thanks for the recommendation of the Evanta Malbec. It sounds like a wine style that I'd like so I may end up buying a bottle in the near future. If you spend more on Aldi wines like $9.99+ you can get far better wines. I picked up an Ice Wine Vidal Reserve 2020 for $14.99, A Saint-Émilion Grand Cru Bordeaux 2019 for $16.99, Champagne Brut for $24.99 and an Elettra Primitivo - Negroamaro 2021 for $12.99. I haven't bought yet but I did see a Durante Toscana Rosso 2020 for $12.99 as well. So, if you look you can find some decent wines for sure. I have only begun to explore TJ's myself as it's a lot further than Aldi is for me. But I 100% agree that Trader's Joe's wine selection has a lot more wines and is really awesome as they really do have some very nice stuff at great prices. Such as a Chateau Grand Puy Ducasse Pauillac 2018 for $44.99 while the same bottle and vintage at a liquor store is $69.99. Even have a Chateau Gloria St Julien 2018 for $59.99 while a liquor store was selling the 2016 vintage for $89.99.
These are some great tips! Yes, for this vid I was trying to try their "branded" wines where they contract with a producer to make a custom label. But both seemed to have some solid options in their good old fashioned wine section as well. These are great selections from you, I'm gonna to have to try some of them!
@@visforvino I'm drinking the Evanta Malbec 2021 as I'm writing this, and I agree with your review on it! I was wondering what that interesting smell in this wine which is the peppery note. Well worth the $4.49! For 50 cents more the La Cornada Crianza Tempranillo is even better imo.
One correction on the Trader Joe's history. Theo who owned Aldi Nord until his death, purchased Trader Joe's in the late 70's. It was founded by Joe Coulombe as Pronto Market.
Thanks!
Vince. So good to see you on you tube and weekly videos. These are great and keep them going! All the best. You are teaching us about wine one great sip at a time.
Thank you! Excited to keep making videos!
This was a lot of fun to watch! I love that you're doing these weekly videos-- I look forward to them.
Of course!! Thanks for being a VIP member so you can get them early. Excited for the next few weeks of videos!
Great segment! I’ve always wondered about wine from these two spots. Now I have a better understanding. 🥂
Of course, happy it helped!! These segments are fun, more to come!
Really enjoyed this segment! No Aldi stores in New Mexico. I do buy from TJs but only when the bloggers write them up and post their opinions, particularly this guy in Northern New Mexico who likes to "bottom feed" at TJs and Whole Foods. Really enjoyed this segment!
Thanks! Yes it was a first for me and interesting to see what they had. Yes, aldi I think is more a Midwest and east coast thing, they’re weren’t many in Cali either when I was there. Perhaps next I’ll do another one people like to compare; Costco vs Sam’s!
Really nice video and really enjoyed your review! Today we shopped at Joe's for this first time and we have an Aldi down the road, We're really novice wine drinkers so this is going to be fun!!! Thanks again for such a nice vid!
Of course, happy to help!
I love this new kind of videos! Look forward to see more.
Cheers from Belgium
Thanks!! Full episodes are still coming, but we figured this is fun content in between them! Also, a beer episode in Belgium is going to happen one day for sure!
Great stuff Vince . . . Curious if you have Costco around your place. A few others have compared/reviewed their wines and I am curious what your thoughts are. Could be fun!
Thanks for suggestion! Costco may have to happen soon!!
I got some amazing wines for 5$ at Costco.
@@gozer825 Costco is on the challenger list then, for sure!
Really fun video, Vince! We shop at Trader Joe's all the time, so I was definitely rooting for them. I don't even think we have Aldi out here in L.A. Oh and to be clear, we don't always buy wine, we're usually focused on food. However, we have picked up really good wines there. It's been a while since we bought anything under $8. I think maybe the TJ's Grower's Reserve Sauvignon Blanc was the last one and it was actually pretty good as I recall. I'm sure I bought some inexpensive stuff for my WSET classes last year because that's a lot of wine to buy in one shot. I may have even bought a bottle of that Liberté now that I'm thinking about it. Love the weekly videos.
Thanks! Yeah it was interesting for me to see, since I’d never had these wines! I didn’t actually specially aim for under $10 believe it or not, but all the “custom crush” stuff just happened to be in that price point. Glad you’re enjoying the videos, I’ll keep them coming!
Nice!! This was really fun Vince! Next round should be TJ vs Lidl!
Oh man, tournament style!!!
Maybe Aldi wines are good for cooking. LOL! 'Alcoholic fruit juice' That cracked me up!!
Thanks for the informative entertaining video ,Happy Easter!
Thank you, glad you enjoyed!!
Love the video! Would you ever considering rating Coopers Hawk wines? People seem obsessed with them and I’d love to hear your take on them.
That’s a great idea! I see those restaurants everywhere, but just like these wines, have never tried them!
Great idea. I find their wines on the sweet side but their barrel reserve which comes out once a year, is pretty tasty. So your evaluation would be interesting.
I'm still pretty new to wine and I'll buy these kind of wines as spitters to taste against a better bottle, it always helps to have a point of comparison. I'm occasionally pleasantly surprised, there's actually a very good Bordeaux you can get at Lidl.
The Winking Owl wines are supplied by Gallo. A couple of them are palatable, most of them are a disaster.
For sure there were some that performed decent! They were just inconsistent. One would be good. The next no good. Maybe a Lidl video will have to happen. And makes sense winking owl is by gallo. Rough stuff lol
You’ve gotta try the Quarter cut Bourbon Barrel aged Cab from Aldi it’s delicious!
Good tip!
Trader Joe's is where I go for wine. (when I'm not in Paso or Santa Ynez) Its fun, they put out front what they like and the price is reasonable. This video was great!
Thanks Mark!
Cool video. Would be interesting to see Costco wines rated this way
Great idea!
@@visforvino Vince, since you are in Chicago, you should come do a tasting show in northern Michigan’s wine country. Not exactly California or Europe, but an interesting niche that is beautiful to visit in the summer or fall!
@@Primesteak1 Traverse City trip is a must.
@@visforvino Don't forget the 45th parallel in Michigan.
We don’t have a trader Joe nearby but we have an Aldi. Grabbed a bottle of that Malbec and it’s now my go-to table wine. Also saw that since Aldi caries seasonal items they’ve got some interesting winter wines in including a VQA Vidal Icewine for $15.
Nice! That Icewine is a steal!
Enjoyed it! Thanks
I’d love to try supermarket wines…..but here in NY wine sales are not allowed in supermarkets. So small shops and one or two local larger shops (I’ve one locally that has over 3000 Bordeaux producers in its store) are the norm. Great video.
You're lucky, and not missing out when it comes to supermarket wine! lol
I have such a good impression of Aldi reds to be honest. Went for a blind tasting once and my favourite was the cheapest, called Rockstone Ranch Malbec (or the ranch reserve). The person who conducted the wine tastings said she also pit the same wine against others with her friends and this was always the plot twist. Other than that, I also felt like the Firetree nero d'avola from Aldi was such a steal (£4.75 last i remembered)
Nice, I’ll have to give them another shot!
I remember this Spanish wine from Cariñena that Trader's used to sell, called Monte Ducay, wow, what a wine. It was a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Garnacha, and Tempranillo. They stopped selling it a few years back. I also remember this single varietal Petit Verdot from Paso Robles, Trader Joe's label, the Reserve, I believe. What a wine that was, very unique!
Interesting! I was impressed by the Trader Joes selection. As we saw, they aren't all winners, but I think theres def some hidden gems in there!
Pound for pound no grocery store chain can challenge Trader Joe’s for quality vs value for their wines. Not everything on the shelf is good, but you are less likely to get a “stinker” from there than you would from other grocery store chains. It’s important to understand I don’t buy my cellar gems from TJs but I certainly get my Wednesday nights drinkers from there!
100% I would do TJs over other grocery stores!
I love this phrase: It reminds me of Chardonnay
hahaha
Just thinking about that CabSav and the Malbec that tasted oddly different. I wonder if they were fermented from a base that was rebuilt - following water removal under heat and vacuum. Possibly - the original grape juice base was overheated ?
Hmmmmm 🤔
I love videos on wines that are easily available. How do the scores compare to Parker points though?
This was fun! Good job
Thanks Eddie!
I highly recommend trying the Grifone Sangiovese from TJ's. Very, very surprising to me at that price point
Oh, good tip!
I worked at TJ’s for many years, specializing in their wines. Their wines are geared for the non-expert wine drinker. They are good to try many different wines at a reasonable price. Sadly, too many customers keep buying the same crap: Ménage a Trois, Cocobon, Roasted Oak whatever.
Yes, I agree! They seemed to have some good gateway wines!
Great 👍 video 👍
I agree, I rate wines based on many factors and do not compare everything to my $150 Bordeaux Grand Cru Classe’s. I’m actually enjoying a $17 Nero D’Avola as I’m typing this.
100%, context is everything!
Yeah, here's my one-word comment: Costco. I've been a wino for decades, and Costco's wines run circles around those at TJ's. There is a reason that they are America's largest wine retailer. TJ's has interesting expressions that Costco doesn't carry, but almost all of them are mediocre. My wife and I are Aldi's shoppers, but overall their wine selection is uninspiring. (Exception: Their Riesling is very good.) If you live in a state that allows Costco to sell wine - my state, Florida, does - then head there for great values.
For sure! I'm going to do a costco video soon I think!
Do traders vs Kirkland now! That would be fun. Wait…did you already do this?
Nope, I need to!
@@visforvino looking forward to it! Love your work.
I agree with your opinion here, Aldi has been ALL disappointing. Trader Joe’s is slightly better with more selections…I stopped buying there when I moved into a higher tax bracket, no more kitchen sink wine!😖
😂😂😂
You & Andre Mack need to get together...
He’s the man! I hope we can colab soon!
Aldi is always better, you're biased
It was a blind tasting 🤔
The "C" is not pronounced in blanc
I think Trader Joe's is owned by Aldi ?! So what?
They are related, but they are operated separately.
Still sober? Not sure, you talk to yourself...
Thanks for the recommendation of the Evanta Malbec. It sounds like a wine style that I'd like so I may end up buying a bottle in the near future. If you spend more on Aldi wines like $9.99+ you can get far better wines. I picked up an Ice Wine Vidal Reserve 2020 for $14.99, A Saint-Émilion Grand Cru Bordeaux 2019 for $16.99, Champagne Brut for $24.99 and an Elettra Primitivo - Negroamaro 2021 for $12.99. I haven't bought yet but I did see a Durante Toscana Rosso 2020 for $12.99 as well. So, if you look you can find some decent wines for sure. I have only begun to explore TJ's myself as it's a lot further than Aldi is for me. But I 100% agree that Trader's Joe's wine selection has a lot more wines and is really awesome as they really do have some very nice stuff at great prices. Such as a Chateau Grand Puy Ducasse Pauillac 2018 for $44.99 while the same bottle and vintage at a liquor store is $69.99. Even have a Chateau Gloria St Julien 2018 for $59.99 while a liquor store was selling the 2016 vintage for $89.99.
These are some great tips! Yes, for this vid I was trying to try their "branded" wines where they contract with a producer to make a custom label. But both seemed to have some solid options in their good old fashioned wine section as well. These are great selections from you, I'm gonna to have to try some of them!
@@visforvino I'm drinking the Evanta Malbec 2021 as I'm writing this, and I agree with your review on it! I was wondering what that interesting smell in this wine which is the peppery note. Well worth the $4.49! For 50 cents more the La Cornada Crianza Tempranillo is even better imo.