I Finally Tried Aldi’s $4 Blueberry Wine and I Have Some Thoughts

When it comes to blueberries, my taste buds and I have a pretty hard and fast rule: the fruit itself is just okay, but we love it in other things. Muffins, smoothies, and pancakes come to mind. So when I heard about Aldi sweet blueberry wine, I was immediately intrigued. 

The Aldi Nerds Facebook group, now over 1.4 million members strong, cannot get enough of the grocery store’s blueberry wine. It has been the subject of dozens and dozens of posts and comments, all praising the fruity drink. As is the case with various Aldi favorites, members of the group have shared photos in the store or at home with their finds, bragging about “finally” being able to try an item that has garnered so much attention in the community.

When you see it on the shelf, its color is just a bit brighter than the standard red. But the illustrated blueberries on the label ensure there’s no confusion about what you’ll taste when you twist off the top. Once you pour it into a glass, you can see it’s actually more deep purple than a true red, the second clue that this is not your average sip. 

True to Aldi form, this wine is such a good deal, you have to do a double take. Price may vary a bit from state to state, but you’ll likely find it for around $4. And at just nine percent alcohol by volume, it clocks in below the standard 11 to 15, which is part of what makes it an easy drinking wine.

I would not call myself a wine expert, but I’ve been to a wine tasting or two, so when I’m feeling fancy I do the whole swirl and sniff routine before taking a couple of sips. The scent of this wine is what I’d expect from anything “blueberry flavored” but the taste captures some of the tartness you experience with the fresh fruit.

Sippers of sweet wines will definitely love this one. It is true to its name Sweet Blueberry, but it’s not sugary in a way that it gives you a stomachache. As someone who has moved closer to dry wines over time, I found myself reaching for fresh lemon juice and ice to make this more of a wine cocktail.

If you’re also not a big sweet wine drinker, don’t worry — Aldi superfans have found lots of ways to remix this one. Turning it into a boozy slushie by blending it with frozen fruit or lemonade seems to be one of the favorite alternatives. Others have paired it with sparkling water for a not-so-sweet spritzer version. 

They’ve inspired me to do some experimenting of my own. I think I’ll swap it in for the sweet red in my mom’s famous sangria recipe. Add fresh stone fruit (and blueberries, of course!), skip the simple syrup, and throw in a shot or two of brandy. Let that sit in the pitcher overnight and it’ll be just like my mom used to make. Almost.