The Best of the Cheap Wines You Can Purchase at Trader Joe’s

Two Buck Chuck may have gotten a bit of an inflation bump over the years, but it still maintains the best value buy in any wine aisle, anywhere. Charles Shaw Sauvignon Blanc has been a TJ's staple for decades and continues to hold its place on their shelves. It is crisp, light and easy to pair with an assortment of meals.

If you haven't discovered Vinho Verde yet, you’re welcome. Described as bright, acidic and resembling the tartness of a Granny Smith apple, it tastes a lot more elevated than its price tag suggests. It also happens to pair extremely well with most appetizers commonly found on a charcuterie board, but makes for a refreshing evening glass on its own.

Not all Chardonnays are created equal, and this one will appeal even to devoted non-chardonnay drinkers. Copilot Chardonnay is a bright, dry and balanced white from the Los Carneros region of Napa Valley, containing notes of lemon zest, apple and pear.

Another Chardonnay worth grabbing, and one that consistently tops best-of lists. It's not the kind of Chardonnay that tastes like the inside of an oak barrel — it's cleaner, crisper and more versatile than most bottles at three times the price.

If you want to spend a little more and impress any house guests, this is the bottle to reach for. It's wine that could easily sell for double the price under a different label. Rich and decadent without being overly heavy, this is the kind of bottle you can proudly bring to a dinner party without mentioning the real price tag.

The Belhara Estate Malbec is a full-bodied, dry wine with sharp notes of cherry, plum, blackberry, dark chocolate and spiced vanilla. For under $9, it tastes like a wine from an expensive Argentine winery. It pairs best with grilled steaks and cured meats, making it the definitive go-to for a dinner involving red meat.

Made with 100% organic red grape varietals, this smooth Cabernet boasts rich notes of cocoa, red plums and just a hint of oak. It's a reliable crowd-pleaser that works as well at a dinner party and on any Tuesday night after work.

The Charles Shaw Merlot is fruit-forward with notes of vanilla spice and ripe berries, and versatile enough to pair with any meal from tomato-based pastas, grilled Ahi tuna, red meat and sharp cheeses. At $3.49 it's almost unreasonably good.

The Super Happy red blend is just the right mix of dark cherry and plum notes and is a fan favorite of Trader Joe's employees. It offers a safe enough flavor profile for guests who don't consider themselves wine drinkers, and appeals equally to the ones that do.

Trader Joe’s Reserve Sauvignon Blanc brings bright acidity with grapefruit and grassy aromas. It’s clean, dry and easy to drink on its own or alongside food. Coming in at just under $7, it's one of the best value-for-money whites in the entire aisle.