I Keep 2 Bottles of This $7 Trader Joe’s California White in My Fridge at All Times (It’s That Good!)
I live in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, a city founded by beer barons, where a craft pint often overshadows wine. You can easily find an IPA or pale ale that doesn’t break the bank, but also doesn’t taste cheap. But I like having a chilled white in the fridge to pop open after a long day or bring to a picnic, outdoor concert, or friend’s house.
For me, it’s Big Churn, a California Chardonnay sold at Trader Joe’s for $6.99 a bottle.
Like many Trader Joe’s wines, it’s exclusive to the retailer. This means you can’t find this wine anywhere else. And unlike the other bottles that don’t disclose where the grapes are sourced from — which usually means it’s a lackluster commodity wine — this is much better than those.
What’s So Great About Trader Joe’s Big Churn California Chardonnay?
If you aren’t a fan of big, bold, and buttery Chardonnays, hear me out. This one isn’t the maximalist version of that. It’s not overly oaky or — as some wine experts will say — “toasty.” Instead, it’s balanced. On the palate are pineapple and jasmine notes that lead into a long, lingering finish.
The packaging is oddly similar to Charles Smith Wine’s black-and-white labels, which might cause someone to think this is Kung Fu Girl Riesling’s less-expensive California cousin. I’m OK with that.
Once, with my Trader Joe’s red grocery cart parked in front of Big Churn, I was about to swing an arm over and gently place two bottles in my cart when the woman next to me got nearly conspiratorial. She even lowered her voice and leaned in closer.
“This one,” she said, pointing to another Trader Joe’s exclusive Chardonnay, “is amazing.” And then she wheeled away with her shopping cart. Naturally, I took a bottle of Big Churn and the wine she recommended home. At $9.99, the Reserve Chardonnay Yountville Napa Valley 2023 is 30% more than the cost of Big Churn. But guess what? Big Churn was better.
Find it in stores: Trader Joe’s Big Churn California Chardonnay, $6.99 for 750 mL
What budget-friendly wines do you buy at Trader Joe’s? Tell us in the comments below.