9 Trader Joe's Wines Worth Picking Up For Fall

The leaves are falling, and you can feel a cozy chill in the air. It's finally fall, which means you might want to change up your normal wine routine. It's easy to find amazing wines from Trader Joe's to drink during the summer, but once the weather starts cooling down, you might be gearing toward more full-bodied whites and approachable reds to pair with the soups, stews, and roasted dinners of the season. Luckily, Trader Joe's has you covered on that front as well. With its extensive and surprisingly affordable wine selection, you have more than a few options at TJ's, no matter what you're looking for in a wine.

As a WSET level 3-certified wine writer, I'm digging into some of my favorite bottles to enjoy during the season and highlighting why, exactly, I think they're so delicious in the fall specifically. I've also consulted Trader Joe's wine reviews by another writer from Tasting Table to offer a wider swath of bottles for you to check out. Whether you're looking for a bottle of bubbly, a bold red, or a slightly rounder, creamier white, we've got you covered. Let's take a closer look at some of the Trader Joe's wines you should consider picking up for fall.

Prices are as of the date of publication and may vary based on region.

Now, we're starting off with something sort of fun and funky, which is a great energy to take into a new season. It's Cuy Malbec from Argentina. Although malbec originally hails from France, it's really gotten its footing in Argentina, so this is a great example of a bottle if you want an intro into Argentina's wine culture. The bottle says that this is a "natural" wine, which sometimes means that you can expect a bit of funk. 

That's certainly what I got here, along with a bright red fruit flavor that makes the wine taste surprisingly refreshing for a red. There are also some dark fruit notes there as well, like blueberry and plum, which give the wine more weight. I think this boldness and intensity are particularly nice during the colder months of the year, but that refreshing quality still makes this a great transitional wine.

While this wine is bold, the tannins aren't too strong, which means it doesn't have the overly drying quality you find in some reds. Instead, there's a pleasant smoothness to this wine that makes it easy to drink casually, with or without food. I think it would be a particularly nice glass to sip on the porch as an early fall storm rolls in.

When Tasting Table wine expert Hayley Hamilton Cogill drew up a list of the best red wines at Trader Joe's in 2026, King Estate's Willamette Valley Pinot Noir was included, and for good reason. Not only does this wine display cherry and other berry notes, but you'll also find some toasted spice in the glass, which makes for a more interesting sip that many drinkers expect from pinot noir. She writes that it's not an overly complex wine — this probably isn't a bottle that you're going to ponder over — but it's easy-drinking and approachable, which makes it ideal for casual sipping.

Personally, I think pinot noir is an excellent wine for autumn because it often has a really nice balance, like what you'll find in this bottle. You often get those bright red fruit notes, along with a lighter body and more pronounced acidity than you'll find from many red wines. It's also considered a classic Thanksgiving wine, since it tends to pair so well with many classic Thanksgiving dishes. Of course, you don't have to limit this bottle to Thanksgiving Day — it's a great choice all season long.

This isn't the first time I've written about Trader Joe's La Burgondie Crémant de Bourgogne, which at the time of writing retails for $11.99. This wine is made in the traditional style, which is also how champagne is made, which is certainly unusual at this price point. Is this the most interesting, most nuanced crémant I've ever tasted? Of course not. But for how much you're paying, I think it's an excellent deal. You get the bready, brioche-y flavors that make this style of wine so beloved, along with a fresh, crisp green apple note that still keeps things tasting light and refreshing.

I truly believe that sparkling wine should be enjoyed all year long, for celebrations and random weeknights alike. But crémant and other traditional method wines can be especially nice during the fall months since they tend to be richer and fuller-bodied than sparkling wines like Prosecco. I think this makes for a more interesting standalone wine, and you can definitely sip it on its own. But of course, sparkling wine will taste good with food, which is why you might want to consider these fall Trader Joe's wine and snack pairings.

Now, I've already discussed my love for pinot noir during the fall, so it shouldn't come as any surprise that there's more than one bottle on the list. Next up is Angeline Pinot Noir, a somewhat budget-friendly option that features all the aspects I love about this wine: It's light, refreshing, and easy to drink. This wine displays notes of red cherry, cranberry, and strawberry, with an approachable flavor that offers just a whisper of the complexity that you can expect from a pricier bottle. There are also some subtle savory, vegetal notes there as well, along with a bold acidity that'll make you want another glass as soon as you finish your first.

You won't always find a ton of decent bottles of pinot for under $30, since pinot noir tends to be one of the more expensive wine varieties. So, to have an option at Trader Joe's that doesn't break the bank is reason enough to check out the grocery chain's wine section.

It might not seem like the best season for a crisp white wine, but that doesn't mean you have to ditch the wine grapes entirely. If you're looking for the refreshing quality of white wine along with the complexity and depth of a red, then Trader Joe's Slice Skin Contact White Wine may be up your alley. This wine is made with white grapes but in the style of a red wine. Basically, that means the juice is kept in contact with the skins for a certain period of time, which is what gives the wine its signature orange color. These wines often have a weight and texture to them that make them particularly interesting for autumn, when drinkers might be looking for a white wine that packs more of a punch.

This particular bottle is made with an interesting blend of grapes, including chenin blanc, pinot gris, colombard, and a host of other grapes you don't always see together in a white blend. The resulting flavor has an earthiness, with a subtle bitter, tannic touch that gives it an interesting edge for a white. There's also a juiciness to this wine, with notes of ripe apricot and nectarine.

Now, Trader Joe's may be known for its especially budget-friendly wines, but if you're willing to spend a bit more cash — like what you might expect to spend at an actual wine shop — you can get your hands on a bottle that feels sort of elevated compared to Trader Joe's more budget-focused lineup. That's where La Crema Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir comes in. It's not the absolute cheapest bottle on this list, but it offers a high level of quality for a pinot noir at its price point.

When Tasting Table wine reviewer Hayley Hamilton Cogill tried this wine for herself, she discovered notes of pomegranate, red cherries, spice, and vanilla, for a dynamic and fresh-tasting wine that belongs on your dinner table. Another reviewer mentioned notes of clove and cedar and said that the wine was overall heavy on the more barrel-forward flavors; multiple people point out that the acidity in the wine helps to balance things out nicely. Of course, you already know that this bottle will make an excellent addition to your Thanksgiving table, although you can easily enjoy it all season long.

Not everyone who's looking for an autumnal white wine will want to drink a skin contact white, which is why I'm including another solid white from Trader Joe's on this list. It's Pine Ridge Chenin Blanc + Viognier, a white blend that delivers a rounder, creamier texture that's perfect for enjoying in the cooling weather. This wine is quite plush, with a fuller body that stands up to the kind of creamy, decadent dishes you may be craving during this time of year. At the same time, that texture is bolstered by a relatively pronounced acidity that keeps every sip feeling fresh and bright, along with a mineral-forward note that offers just the right amount of zippiness to your glass. You might notice fruity notes of melon and pear.

To me, this wine is perfect for the transitional period between late summer and full-blown fall. You still get the freshness you're looking for in a white wine, along with a richness that feels more appropriate for colder weather. Plus, I think this is another great Thanksgiving wine, perhaps to serve alongside a pinot so your guests can choose between red or white.

Some wine lovers out there have pretty substantial wine budgets, while others of us try to save as much money as we can on a bottle since it's considered an extra or a luxury. If you fall into the latter category, Trader Joe's is a particularly great place to shop for wine. For a more budget-friendly fall find from the chain grocer, consider a bottle of La Granja 360 Tempranillo. This Spanish red is a bit bolder and more intense than, say, the pinots on this list, with a medium-full body and medium-high tannins. That extra weight makes this wine great for when you're making heartier fall dishes, like these chili recipes. At the same time, it's not as heavy as some reds, like cabernet sauvignon, which you might want to save for even colder weather.

Not only are you going to get red fruit notes, like red cherry and raspberry, but there's also a nice savory note to this wine (which, again, makes it perfect for pairing with food). I noticed notes of dill here, along with a subtle tomato-y aroma and the boldness of dried cherry. Of course, you're not getting a ton of complexity here, as you'd probably expect given the price point. But if you're looking for a solid red that can hold its own against the most decadent dishes of the season (and won't break the bank in the process), this TJ's pick is worth checking out.

A lot of people might wrinkle their nose at red blends, and it's true that there are some not-so-delicious varieties out there. But Ridge Vineyards Three Valleys Red Blend turns that assumption on its head, offering a wine that can truly shine during this time of year. It's a zinfandel-based blend, which means you're likely to notice some rich blackberry, raspberry, vanilla, and plum notes, according to the producer. The use of American oak barrels means you're going to get more of those stronger, toasty flavors, like vanilla, creating a weight and intensity that provides a more powerful sip for wine drinkers craving more boldness in their glasses.

However, according to Tasting Table wine reviewer Hayley Hamilton Cogill, those oaky notes aren't too intense, which can sometimes overpower the more refreshing, nuanced notes in a glass of wine. Perhaps this is one of the reasons she decided to include the bottle on her list of 2026 top red wines you can buy at Trader Joe's.

I've personally tried the majority of the wines on this list. For those I haven't tried, I consulted other reviews from Tasting Table writers as well as wine reviewers across the web. I wanted to include reds with some body but aren't too intense, as well as whites that offer rounder, creamier flavors while still retaining their acidity; I also added a couple of less-common picks that can create some diversity in your wine lineup. These categories, I think, make for excellent transitional wines that are easy to enjoy as the weather is cooling off but before things get too cold.