Trader Joe’s Grower’s Reserve Zinfandel, 2018

For the inaugural review of Wine ID, we will start with Trader Joe’s Grower’s Reserve Zinfandel, 2018. A friend of mine who shops at Trader Joe’s always tells me about the wines he likes from there and about how affordable they are. Considering that wine under $10.99 comprises 74% of all wine sold in the US, I thought this would be a great place to start.

Name: Trader Joe’s Grower’s Reserve Zinfandel, 2018

Price: $4.99

Varietal: Zinfandel

Appellation: Paso Robles, California

ABV: 13.5%

Size: 750 ml

Category: Red

Producer: Produced and bottled by ASV Wines, San Martin, California

Do I Need a Corkscrew? Yes

Where to Buy: Trader Joe’s

Best Occasion to Drink: Weeknight dinner

Coming in at $4.99, this is about as affordable as it gets when it comes to wine. This is a great price point for the value and bargain shopper and can be the go-to for those looking to imbibe on a budget.

This Paso Robles Zinfandel is made using organically grown grapes without the use of chemical fertilizers, pesticides, or other artificial agents. I’m not typically one to look for organic wines, but you will always be able to find wines like this at TJ’s. 

In the glass, the color is a clear maroon with some brick tones. On the palate it comes off as a merlot at first with a smooth mouthfeel, leading with plum, blue fruits, blackberry, then moving to cherry and cassis later. It’s jammy and fruit-forward with spice and black peppercorn on the midpalate. It is light on tannin for a Zinfandel and has a medium to light body.

This wine is great to enjoy with a weeknight dinner alongside beef, lamb or chicken entrees. Light, easy to drink and tastes like Zin without the weighty boldness that usually accompanies it. It’s not the most accurate representation of the varietal, but it will do just fine for a casual night in or quick value selection while grocery shopping.

If wine at the ~$5 price point is something you are a fan of then stay tuned for the next review as it is another Trader Joe’s wine at a similarly affordable price. If you like this wine and want to try a Zinfandel that is the next level up, look for something in the $10-$20 at your local wine retailer. I will post a review for this sometime soon and update this post with a link when I do.