Trader Joe’s Wine: Villa Carlotti Prosecco

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Trader Joe's Villa Carlotti Prosecco in cool blue bottle

Trader Joe's Villa Carlotti Prosecco in cool blue bottle

So it is July and I thought that it would be appropriate to share a Prosecco I found at Trader Joes.

Trader Joes had a Villa Carlotti Prosecco for around five dollars so I gave it a try. I tend to like Proseccos because, as the label states, it is a “Soft White Wine”. This slightly charged and bubbly wine was just perfect. The apple and pear flavors were balanced with a subtle dryness that made this Prosecco a great Trader Joe’s fine.

The cool blue bottle would make it a great hit for a 4th of July party. Or just a warm evening that you want to celebrate life…

The Prosecco would go nicely with anything you would serve a light white wine with, such as fish, chicken or a salad. I also like to have a little cheese with my white wine so I would recommend brie, smoked Gouda, and/or a little or rich, creamy Port-Salut. The great news is Trader Joes sells all of those cheeses so it can be a one stop entertainment shop.

By the way you will still need to remove the cork with a cork screw. Yes, this does seem strange for a bubbly wine, but these bubbles are not as strong as Champaign or Asti. In fact, there was not even a wire basket to hold down the cork, nor was there a “POP” when the cork came out. Oh yeah…. The bottle also states a certain type of cork screw is necessary, but we used our regular one, and everything was OK.

So go ahead have fun…celebrate life…and all of the wonders of your world,

Cheers,

Delaina

Trader Joe’s Wine: Chariot Gypsy, 2007

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A wine moment with Delaina…the sipping continues….

This wine moment features the red wine Chariot Gypsy 2007. Chariot’s Gypsy comes out of Jim Neal Wines in St Helena, California. This red wine is complex and smooth, but with enough playfulness to drink on summer evening.

Now remember, we live in Tucson Arizona so a summer evening for us means that we are inside with the air conditioner running… and staying cool.

The label does not describe the wine’s flavors for you, other then to note the obvious, “Red Wine”.  I am always intrigued by wines that say “Red Wine” or “Table Wine” (the latter is usual for Italian wines). So I thought perhaps the winery from California wanted the Chariot Gypsy to be California’s “table wine.”

So you have only my taste buds to describe this wine for you. The bouquet to me is a mixture of lavender and cherries. The flavor I would say matches the smell.  It is what I would imagine drinking summer would be like in a vineyard.

Yeah…  I do know this sounds ‘cheesy.’ But hey speaking of cheese, this wine would pair nicely with a number of different cheeses. For example, try smoked Gouda, or even a creamy plain and simple cheese like Monterey Jack. We love to serve a selection of cheeses and fun crackers with wine for an appetizer.

If you were thinking about a full dinner paring, then I can tell you that this wine also pairs nicely with a salad and gnocchi tossed in garlic butter.

Either way, bon appétit! And I hope you enjoy drinking yummy wines during the summer nights to come.

Have you tried this wine? Take a moment to leave a comment if you like… we can compare wine tasting notes….

Cheers!

Delaina

Trader Joe’s Wine: Grower’s Reserve Chardonnay 2009

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A wine moment with Delaina…the sipping continues….

After the success of the Trader Joe’s Grower’s Reserve Zinfandel (yes this is another plug for that Zin), I decided to give the Trader Joe’s Grower’s Reserve Chardonnay 2009 a try.

I was very impressed. Sometimes Chardonnays are just too dry for me. As a rule I like Chardonnays that have little bit of “oakieness” but not so much they lose their buttery smoothness. It is true I expect the same complexity from white wine as I do reds.

Too often I feel that white wines have little complexity. This is not, I repeat, not the case with Trader Joe’s Grower’s Reserve Chardonnay.

This organic Trader Joe’s wine find has complexity, at least by my white wine standards. The label talks about this Chardonnay’s straw coloring and apple, pear, and melon flavor.  Personally I think it is the melon flavor that  gives this wine its complexity, but I might be biased.

Trader Joe’s Chardonnay is from ASV Wines out of San Martin, California (just like the Zinfandel).

This wine would pair nicely with salads, fish, lightly buttered pasta, and anything really that you would drink white wine with. In fact, depending on your own tastes, this could be one of the rare white wines that could be fancied/ drank  on its own. Alone there is a bit more of a bite but the bite is more like a nibble.

I hope you enjoy this wine as much as I did. Drop me a comment below to let me know what you thought of this wine…

Cheers!

Delaina

Trader Joe’s Wine: Grower’s Reserve Zinfandel 2009

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Trader Joe's Zinfandel

Trader Joe's Zinfandel

A wine moment with Delaina…the sipping continues….

I believe I have mentioned that I for the most part love Zinfandels. I am seduced by their smooth flavor and enchanted by their complexity. Don’t get me wrong you will often read me saying the same thing about other red wines but I have never met a Zinfandel I did not love.

Here is a wonderful example of a great zin: Trader Joe’s  Grower’s Reserve Zinfandel 2009. I was very impressed by this $5.99 Zin. I shared this bottle with a friend, as we worked on a project and we were both impressed. The wine came from ASV Wines in San Martin, California. I have never heard of that vineyard, but will tell you I won’t soon forget it.

Funny….I have not even told you the best part.

Beyond this wine being one of the most enjoyable with all of the right things- smoothness, complexity, and under $6 – it is also organic. Yep! you read that right- organic. I could not believe it. Another value bonus from Trader Joe’s

So the label talks about the wine’s flavor as a mixture of berry and plum with a hint of pepper.  I always look for reds that are described with berry, plum and sometime cherry tones, but as I rule I stay away from peppery. I just find that my taste buds will latch on to the peppery and taste nothing else. This usually puts me at odds with many Chilian wines. Never mind,  the point that I am trying to get across,  is that I could not taste the pepper, or maybe more to the point if there was a hint of pepper it only enhanced the berry and plum flavors.

Trader Joe's Delish Zinfandel, 2009

Trader Joe's Delish Zinfandel, 2009

So just in case you were not sure…I highly recommend the Trader Joe’s Grower’s Reserve Zinfandel. I would serve it with anything or just sip it by itself because it is a very drinkable wine. I hope you enjoy this wine at least as much as I have enjoyed talking about it.

Cheers!

Delaina