Hi! I'm Hannah, and I am an avid rosé drinker.
It should also be noted that I am a longtime Target and Trader Joe's groupie.
I know what you're thinking: Could she be any more basic? The answer is: Probably.
Target and Trader Joe's are both known for having an expansive, yet affordable wine selection, and this gave me an idea. I decided to sample rosés from both stores to determine which deals give you the most bang for your buck.
I enlisted the help of my boyfriend Andrew, who, unlike myself, identifies as a rosé skeptic. I knew I would need someone less enthusiastic about rosés to help keep things balanced. So, we set off on our rosé adventure!
Here are the Target's rosés...
And here are the Trader Joe's rosés.
1: The Collection Rosé from Target
Hannah: This one was $8.99, I believe.
Andrew: Let the record show that the label is not straight.
Hannah: Okay, so this tastes like a rosé.
Andrew: Yeah, that means it doesn't taste like much.
Hannah: No definitive flavors are coming forward for me. Is it sweet? Do you have "sizzly tongue?"
Andrew: I have slight "sizzly tongue." It really washes over you like Welch's grape juice.
Hannah: I don't know if I think it tastes fruity or like flowers.
My rating: 5 out of 10.
Based on accessibility, price, and flavor, I feel like this wine deserves 5 out of 10. It's pretty subtle, which isn't necessarily a bad thing! It just isn't overly flavorful or memorable.
Andrew's rating: 2 out of 10.
He was not amused.
2: The Collection Sparkling Rosé from Target
Hannah: So, this one says it's from Italy. Also it was $9.99.
Andrew: This one tastes like it has more flavor.
Hannah: Wow, amazing observation.
Andrew: It's like a zesty La Croix.
Hannah: Yeah, if La Croix got me drunk.
Andrew: If someone gave me this, I would not think it was alcoholic. It has the full-bodied energy of a sparkling Welch's grape juice.
Hannah: We just went over this with the last one. They are all made from grapes.
My rating: 7 out of 10.
It's only a dollar more than the last one and there's something so satisfying about the bubbles. I would definitely drink it again.
Andrew's rating: 5 out of 10.
He was definitely more enthusiastic about this one. And, let it be known that he had more than one glass. Ha!
3: California Roots Rosé from Target
Hannah: Well, it's 12.5% ABV only $5, but, it doesn't taste the best. What are your thoughts?
Andrew: Well, it's good when you put ice in it.
Hannah: I feel like I want it to be stronger?
Andrew: I have some hand sanitizer if you want to sample that next.
Hannah: If I had the choice between this and most red wines, I would choose this.
Andrew: No?
Hannah: One glass of red wine might as well be seven tequila shots for me, so, yes.
My rating: 5 out of 10.
This one's not life-changing by any means, but it tastes like it costs more than $5, so I would consider that a pretty solid deal.
Andrew's rating: 2 out of 10.
Everyone's a critic.
4: Charles Shaw Rosé from Trader Joe's
Hannah: So, this was $3.99 and it's surprisingly good! Like, it doesn't taste that cheap at all.
Andrew: No, it's actually really nice.
Hannah: It actually feels like a rosé. A little tingly, a little acidic.
Andrew: But not too much. Not like vinegar, but not overly sweet either.
Hannah: I expected to be grossed out, but it actually really delivered.
Andrew: I'd buy this. Oh, and it's made with organic grapes, apparently.
My rating: 8 out of 10.
I was so pleasantly surprised. When wine is this cheap, I get a little nervous. But, I have to say, this exceeded all my expectations. It wasn't too sweet, nor was it too acidic. I'd buy it again.
Andrew's rating: 7 out of 10.
He actually really liked this one! Or maybe he was humoring me! He seemed on board with it, so I'll take it.
5: Charles Shaw White Zinfandel from Trader Joe's
Hannah: So, this one was only $2.99. It's our cheapest of the bunch.
Andrew: It's very sweet.
Hannah: But, I don't really mind it because it tastes like other white zinfandels I have had.
Andrew: This is actually the first white zinfandel I've ever had.
Hannah: How are we feeling? I think it's okay, it's just really sweet.
Andrew: I definitely like the other Charles Shaw one more. This one's just too sweet. One glass would be good, but three glasses would lead to a headache.
My rating: 6.5 out of 10.
For the incredibly low price of $2.99, this wine is pretty solid. White Zinfandels don't tend to be my first choice just because of how sweet they are, but I was really impressed by this one. It was refreshing and it would be nice to sip on from time to time.
Andrew's rating: 5 out of 10.
He was a good sport about it, but this one was definitely too sweet for him. He made lots of funny faces.
6: L'Éclat de 1990 Brut Rosé from Trader Joe's
Hannah: Look at this massive-ass bottle!
Andrew: It's 11% ABV.
Hannah: This is aggressively fizzy. It's like needlework on your tongue. Does that sound like a sex thing?
Andrew: I hope not?
Hannah: Okay, but I'm enjoying this. This is the kind of wine I would like to drink on the holidays.
Andrew: It needs to be more chilled. Why are we drinking this lukewarm?
Hannah: Either way, I like it. I'm picking up what it's putting down.
My rating: 8 out of 10.
I thoroughly enjoyed this wine and I will absolutely be getting it again. It's $12.99, which is the priciest of the wines I sampled, but it's also by far the largest bottle. You do get your money's worth.
Andrew's rating: 5 out of 10.
While it wasn't his favorite of the day, he did manage to pour a few more glasses after our formal wine tasting duties had concluded.
I felt a deep connection to this infant-sized bottle of wine.
Final thoughts!
Overall, I am partial to the sparkling wines from both Target and Trader Joe's. There's just something about a fizzy tongue that I can't get enough of! But, I must say, I was very pleasantly surprised by the Charles Shaw wines from Trader Joe's. They were by far the cheapest and they certainly didn't taste like it. Though Andrew remains a bit of a rosé skeptic, his 7 out of 10 rating on the Charles Shaw rosé cannot go unnoticed. This just goes to show you that even non-rosé drinkers may like this wine!
My #1 pick: L'Éclat de 1990 Brut Rosé from Trader Joe's
Andrew's #1 pick: Charles Shaw Rosé from Trader Joe's
Now, my fellow rosé lovers, it's time for you to decide which rosé speaks to your soul! Cheers!
