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Although I agree that "3 buck chuck" isn't very good wine, has anybody found any alternatives (besides Gallo and Boones) at such a low price?
We host monthly open house <a href="www.1020first.org" target="_blank">events</a> and <a href="www.j-a-g.net/News-Events...es.htm" target="_blank">parties</a> with an open bar, and go through up to 3-4 cases of wine...Because "3 buck chuck" is so affordable, I can afford to keep our guests lubricated if they only leave a $1 in the tip jar.
I only recently discovered the magnum sized Hogue wines, which come in at a little less/oz than "3 buck chuck"...How do people feel about that wine? I actually haven't tasted it, but I might make the switch...Anyone have any nicknames? How about "6 Gun Fun"??
We host monthly open house <a href="www.1020first.org" target="_blank">events</a> and <a href="www.j-a-g.net/News-Events...es.htm" target="_blank">parties</a> with an open bar, and go through up to 3-4 cases of wine...Because "3 buck chuck" is so affordable, I can afford to keep our guests lubricated if they only leave a $1 in the tip jar.
I only recently discovered the magnum sized Hogue wines, which come in at a little less/oz than "3 buck chuck"...How do people feel about that wine? I actually haven't tasted it, but I might make the switch...Anyone have any nicknames? How about "6 Gun Fun"??
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Re: Alternatives?
Tue, March 2, 2004 - 11:48 AMThe other $3 wines at Trader Joes -- The Robert Morris Zin comes to mind -- are good enough to drink if you're trying to get smashed -- or need to supply an art opening with cheap wine. They now have a $3 dry Italian one that is a bit watery and described as 'red table wine' but it's actually not so bad.
If you can find Cline cheap it's usually good as well.
I'll also uncritically recommend the 'Marquis De Riscal' from Trader Joes a $10 - $12 bottle of Spanish Red that is pretty nice the couple times I've had it. I think it was supposed to be the better version of the infamous 'Marquis De Caracas', but it never caught on. -
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Re: Alternatives?
Tue, March 2, 2004 - 9:28 PMI actually work at Trader Joes, and I am sick of the damn 2Buck chuck phenomenon. As for cheap yet good wines, TJs does have a good selection. My favorite right now is the YellowTail Shiraz. Its five bucks, and is damn good! The Prosperity Cab is good, too, and its also around 5 bucks. As for a good chardonnay, I like the Rutherford, but its a bit more pricey. Around 7 dollars. -
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Unsu...
Re: Alternatives?
Wed, March 3, 2004 - 4:59 PMwent to the liquor store the other night and saw a stack of
box-o-wine stacked to the ceiling. 5 liters bargain priced at $8! not too bad either... from what i remember. i'll post the brand when it comes to me. -
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Unsu...
Re: Alternatives?
Sat, March 6, 2004 - 9:40 PMAs my fellow worker Alicia typed, there are a bunch of wines at TJ's that are filthy cheap. Coming to mind here are the two wines by Espiral, the Dão & the Vinho Verde @ $4.49 & $3.99. Also the Rene Barbier wines at $3.99 aren't too shabby by the two portugeuse wines mentioned above are actually pretty damn good. Also try the Frascati & Verdicchio at $3.99. There's a new Sangiovese blend called Posta del Lupo that's makes me moist @ $4.99. We do have a lot of bad wines so ask about some fo the cheap shit before you buy but there's some good shit for a good price there (even better with a 10% discount). -
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Re: Alternatives?
Mon, July 11, 2005 - 1:13 PMHere, here! Ditto to everything she said. I just tried Posta del Lupo this weekend & was very impressed! I'll be going back for a case or 2. Didgeridoo for $3.99 is also pretty good (albeit a little heavier in style) - blend of cab & shiraz. If you like dry whites, check out Espiral Vinho Verde from Portugal. Also, the Abrazo del Toro Reserva is a steal at $4.99 for Spanish wine fans.
2-Buck Chuck is great for cooking and sangria. -
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Re: Alternatives?
Sat, July 23, 2005 - 11:01 AMI find 2 buck chuck lacks the acidity for cooking, actually. If I have to mix in regular vinegar and give extra reduction time, it's not worth it.
It's good for putting in front of your really good stuff so freeloading friends don't accidently open that bottle of DRC you've been saving.
Seriously, I need to dig up my notes, one of the REAL wineries up in Sonoma has answered by simply bottling in larger formats. They sell a big jug instead of 750mL bottles to reduce their costs, so you get much better wine for cheap. If you really like having 750s, save a bunch of empties from CS, boil and dry them to clean em, and when you open the jug, grab a funnel and pour away. Give em a shot of wine preserver gas and stick a cork in. done.
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Re: Alternatives?
Sun, March 7, 2004 - 9:11 AMThere are a number of dirt-cheap Australian wines (mostly blends) that are enjoyable everyday table wines. The name of the cheapest escapes me at the moment (Springwood, maybe?), but they can be found at TJ's a shelf or two under the Rosemount Estates bottles (their $7 shiraz being one of the mainstays of my wine rack). Crocodile Rock is a pretty decent bargain basement selection as well.
One of my college professors studied wine during his sabbaticals, and gave me a rule of thumb that's not failed me yet: "You can never go wrong with an imported Australian or South African wine." In the decade since, I've yet to be disappointed by any wine bought blind under that guidance. -
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Re: Alternatives?
Thu, May 6, 2004 - 3:54 PMLidan says '"You can never go wrong with an imported Australian or South African wine." In the decade since, I've yet to be disappointed by any wine bought blind under that guidance.'
This has been my philosophy & experience as well. I've also had nothing but good luck with randomly chosen Chilean reds. -
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Re: Alternatives?
Thu, May 6, 2004 - 4:38 PMGlad to hear it - but I've had *terrible* luck with Chileans!! Something about them gives me horrible sinus headaches.
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Re: Alternatives?
Wed, May 12, 2004 - 12:03 PMI'd have to agree with some people about the after effects vs. the taste. The much ontribe-touted Yellow Tail Shiraz gave me a weird hangover/headache as do some other Australians and S. Americans. Can's say if it's the sulfites, soil, pesticides or what, though. Some of each (Australians and S. American) as well as most European seem acceptable to me in that (headache) respect though, although of some of my more sensitive friends suffer more. Trader Joe's has one or two interesting looking new super cheap Chileans: comments on 3 Buck Lucks, anyone? -
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Re: Alternatives?
Wed, May 12, 2004 - 12:29 PMI'd love to know the whys and wherefors as well. As a rule, I have HUGE problems with South American and Spanish - any label, any variety. Other Europeans are drinkable, I think I just don't *like* French wine. German and Italian are mostly OK, but I'm not a fan, unless it's gewuertztraminer or chianti. Californian, South African, and Australians are *always* safe and tasty, so that's primarily what I buy, and I've been very satisfied in blind buys.
So, yeah - what gives? Soils?
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Unsu...
Re: Alternatives?
Sun, March 7, 2004 - 2:59 PMMany thanks for all the suggestions, but nobody has really addressed the problem of an alternative for the "Chuck". While $4-$9 is inexpensive...a $1/bottle means $30-$50 when you are buying it by the case...
Salut -
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Unsu...
Re: Alternatives?
Sun, March 7, 2004 - 4:57 PMWell sure, the alternative is to spend a little more or buy a little less to get decent wine.
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Re: Alternatives?
Sun, March 7, 2004 - 7:49 PMActually, the Springwood (I think that's the name) I spoke of goes for $2.99 ea. at TJ's. They do have a least a couple of drinkable $3 wines. -
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Re: Alternatives?
Thu, May 6, 2004 - 4:45 PMWe found Golden Gate Cab at Albertson's and it's in the 2 buck chuck league. Definitely drinkable.
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Re: Alternatives?
Wed, June 2, 2004 - 3:54 PMsorry to be a snob, but at $2-$3 dollars it's pretty damn tough to find decent wine. Get drunk wine? sure. But good wine, erm, not so much.
Re: headaches from different regions...
A fine tip when travelling abroad is to first eat the local yogurt. This will dump the flora into your gut that is necessary for digesting local foods. Wines from different regions will have radically different strains of yeast and produce, at times, histamine attacks in a person who does not have the happy native bacteria in their intestines.
