Every Trader Joe's Coastal Wine, Ranked

Trader Joe's has a legendary wine selection, with a wide array of affordable bottles from which to choose. Arguably the store's most famous budget line is Charles Shaw, famously known as two-buck Chuck. Although these wines are ideal when you're looking for the cheapest possible wine, you might want to choose a bottle that's a step up from this more budget-focused option. That's when you might want to seek out Trader Joe's Coastal wines. The price point is slightly above Charles Shaw wines, but as a WSET Level 3-certified wine writer, I find that these are just a bit more interesting and complex than their cheaper counterparts.

I've tasted the whole lineup side by side and ranked them to help give you a better sense of what you're getting in every bottle. I judged these wines both by comparing them to other examples of the same grape as well as my personal taste. Of course, we all have different preferences when it comes to wine, and that's totally fine — you might prefer a different bottle than my personal favorite. But by knowing what to expect from each sip, you can better select which Trader Joe's Coastal wine you'd like to try first.

Now, is Trader Joe's Coastal Cabernet Sauvignon the best example of the wine this grape generally produces? Not exactly. But that's true of basically all of the wines on this list. But I think this one will be particularly disappointing to those who are used to a bigger, bolder cab. There are some black fruit notes here, like black cherry and plum, as well as some oak. However, I think the oak is a bit too overpowering here and doesn't integrate well with the wine's overall flavor. That lack of balance isn't super appealing and doesn't produce the same luscious richness that you might be used to in a better-quality cab (like these that are still priced under $15).

That being said, if you're just looking for a red wine that isn't too light, this wine will still get the job done. For those who like a more intense oakiness in their reds, that strong, almost smoky flavor could be a nice touch. I do think that there are better red wines in this lineup to try before this one, though.

Next up is the Coastal Zinfandel. I'll be honest — zinfandel generally isn't my wine grape of choice. These intensely bold red wines are often a bit too heavy for my taste. But I was surprised that this example, even at its low price point, was so plush. On the palate, it feels soft and smooth, with an unexpected richness that I think punches above its weight. Generally, you'd only find that sort of textural quality in a higher-end wine, but this one delivers a pleasant mouthfeel that makes it worth checking out if you like bolder reds.

However, I didn't find the flavor of this wine to be particularly pleasant. It has an exceptionally bitter tinge that doesn't really allow the fruit flavors to shine as I'd want them to. And despite that plushness, the tannins are more aggressive than I'd prefer. It's not a bad wine for its price point, but there are much better zinfandels to explore if this is a kind of wine you're interested in.

Chardonnay is known as an exceptionally versatile grape. Depending on where and how it's made, different bottles can taste very different from one another. Lighter, fresher examples are generally unoaked, while fuller-bodied, more rounded versions often see oak and lees contact (which is responsible for those sort of bready, brioche-y flavors in some wines). Trader Joe's Coastal Chardonnay falls into the unoaked category, with a bright freshness that makes it easy to drink. I can pick up on notes of green apple and lemon, but those flavors are pretty muted — but that's not uncommon for such a cheap wine.

I think this selection is very middle-of-the-road. It's nothing groundbreaking or particularly delicious, but I also think that this is a very inoffensive wine, so it's not something that's going to turn most wine drinkers off. If anything, its flavors are muted but overall pleasant, so it makes for a good base for homemade white sangria.

Sauvignon blanc is massively popular for a reason: Its bright, acidic, and refreshing flavor makes it perfect for drinking on its own on a hot day, although it also performs exceptionally well with a wide variety of foods. Plus, you can generally find excellent quality sauvignon blancs at a relatively low price point. Trader Joe's Coastal Sauvignon Blanc is definitely on the cheaper end of the spectrum, and that's reflected in its quality. However, since sauvignon blanc is so delicious anyway, even this cheaper version of the wine is actually pretty solid.

Pear and stone fruit notes dominate this bottle, which sets it apart from brighter, grassier versions of the beverage. That being said, it also has the sort of zippy acidity I look for in this kind of wine. If you're looking for an affordable bottle of white wine that's super refreshing for summertime sipping, this Trader Joe's selection is worth checking out. It's also great for sauvignon blanc beginners.

Finally, we've reached the best of Trader Joe's Coastal wines, at least by my estimation. It's the Trader Joe's Coastal Merlot, which offers an excellent value for the quality of wine you get in this bottle. It actually snagged the top spot in my ranking of popular value red wines, and for good reason: It's a wine that tastes a lot more expensive than it really is, with a medium body and flavor profile that makes it one of the more versatile selections in this lineup. I pick up on some fresh-tasting green bell pepper notes that seem unusual in a wine of this price point. At the same time, there's still some weight there, with a slight oakiness and acidity that means that this wine can stand up to fatty cold cuts or red meat.

If you're into red wine but you don't like anything too intensely oaky, I think that this is a great bottle to pick up at Trader Joe's. Even if you're not generally a red wine fan, I think it's still worth a try, considering that you're not wasting a lot of money even if you decide it's not for you.

I tried all of these wines at the same time, from lightest to most intense. The whites were chilled, while I served the reds at room temperature. To rank these wines, I considered how they stacked up to similar wines I've had made from the same grapes; I also took my own personal flavor preferences into consideration as well. Wines that seemed more well-balanced ranked higher than those that I felt had less well-integrated flavors.