Everybody raves over Two-Buck Chuck, the sub-three-dollar Trader's Joe's wine made by Charles Shaw. What they don't rave over-- but should -- is Il Valore Primitivo, a wine from the Puglia region of Italy (the "heel "of the "boot," geographically speaking). It's made from red Zinfandel grapes, and it's perfect with Italian food (naturally) but would work well with any grilled red meats. And quite frankly, it has a depth and complexity that one expects from Zinfandels in the $10 to $15 range.
The price? That's the best part. At the TJ's in Northern Virginia where I make pilgrimages once every six weeks, it's selling for $4.99.
So why spend money on Charles Shaw when you could have a real wine for five dollars? I'll admit, Il Valore Primitivo doesn't have a catchy nickname ("Five Bill Il" was the best I could come up with), but dollar-for-dollar, it's more bang for the buck than Chuck.
5-11-2006 @8:49PM David T said... Which trader Joe's in NoVA? I live across the street from the one in Reston.
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5-11-2006 @9:00PM Anne Metz said... The one near Tyson's Corner...my heart belongs to sad-looking strip malls on Lee Highway.
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5-12-2006 @6:53AM Allan Friedman said... Trader Joes in Mass carry a superb zin for $6 under the label "Black Hills". The vintner does other varietals as well, but Black Hills Zinfadel is an incredibly drinkable wine that's a little darker than Il Valore, and is smooth enough to be sipped on its own.
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5-12-2006 @9:06AM Anne Metz said... Hmm...I'll have to check that out on my next Trader Joe's pilgrimage. Thanks for the tip.
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5-12-2006 @9:56AM DanGarion said... They don't have this Il Valore wine at the Trader Joes in Orange, CA. All they had was a Chianti.
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5-12-2006 @10:33AM Anne Metz said... That's odd!?! And all of these years, I've thought that California had everything...
I'd say keep looking though, as the TJ wine stock changes at the rate most of us change our pants.
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