I might just have to stock up on Haras myself. I can't drink it without thinking fondly of all of the wonderful empanadas I ate in Patagonia last year, not to mention the chivitos which are a South American riff on an American hamburger but oh so much better.

Have taken note: Haras!

Speaking of Bin 41, Chris, perhaps you saw the article a few weeks ago (maybe on Crosscut?) about a Yakima vineyard starting to sell "bulk" wine, in particular, some nice reds if I recall correctly? I wish I had the link still, but I deleted it. Anyway, the premise is folks will bring their containers in and syphon off the good stuff.

I LOVE that idea. Talk about the sustainable good life! :]

You're right on the money westseattledood. I've traveled extensively in Chile, Argentina and Uruguay and their love of huge piles of roasted meat paired with tannic wines is universal. But it is also possible to find non-tannic wines from that region, based on Cabernet and/or Marselan grapes, that are big and full like our Eastern Washington reds. The Cabernets from Argentina's Haras winery are an incredible value at $10. West Seattle Cellars or Bin 41 will probably be able to order Haras for you if you ask them.

Charles Shaw exists but lets not kid ourselves, the single purpose of cheap alcohol is to get the user falling down stain your pants drunk. There are wines out there that pack more wallop without taking as big a bite out of your coin purse. Don't fall victim to the high price and low alcohol content of Several Bucks Chuck when you can forget your cares with true Fortified Wine.

"The great street wines are pretty much evenly priced, and range between $1.10 and $2.80, depending on the tax and transportation costs in your area. Of course, with all five, the first sip is always the foulest."

http://www.bumwine.com/

I thought this was going to be about the musical duo, "Two Buck Chuck" The sometimes plaid here in West Seattle. Wife and I had them during the cocktail portion of our wedding.

:-)

My favorite is Plunger Head. QFC carries it. It's a hearty Zin.

Definitely think buck chuck is icky, nasty.

I have to go along with cjb on TJ's SA wines. I still have one bottle of Bodega Septima malbec on the rack that I know I paid less than $15 for, probably less than $10 at TJs. Those kinds of reds are the only thing I bother going to TJ's for.

FYI, the malbecs are traditional with grilled and charbroiled beef - Argentina is cattle country. We are coming into grilling season and malbecs are awesome with bbq. Right, Christopher? :)

Thank you for all the helpful replies! We've been looking for something simple and inexpensive to take along with us when we get together with some friends at Cafe Revo tomorrow evening and have some great ideas for tomorrow's shopping.

On a not helpful note, I have never had the $2 wine, but I have got to say I am hooked on bitch bubbly that QFC sells. I dont even know if it counts as wine, but it's in the wine section and usually 10.99 per bottle. Its good for a laugh, and it doesnt taste so bad either!

Deb

How funny! I just tried Three Buck Chuck Shiraz for the first time last night and would describe it as insipid. It tastes like they are saving money by watering it down. I barely choked down one glass of it and will try to use the rest of the bottle for cooking.
And no, I am not a wine snob. I routinely drink wine that is well under $10 a bottle, with far better results. Barefoot vineyards, Yellow Tail, Pepperwood Grove, and Hogue are all better for a cheap bottle.
I need one of those tshirts!

flowerpetal, that sounds like fun!

I used to drink 3 buck chuck all the time, back in the days when I had a little less money. It's alright. I also haven't had it in years. If you want a REALLY good cheap wine, I suggest anything from Barefoot Wines. Around $5, and everything I have had is great.

The $3 buck chuck varies from year to year. We haven't bought it for at least four years; so my knowledge is limited. However, we have friends and in our circle we ocassionaly do blind taste testing with the wine in paper bags; and everyone with tablets and pens to score and write comments. Surprisingly, this TJ wine often fares quite well; even when matched against more expensive and higher rated wine. I can't explain it. :-)

I like the one with the ? mark on it. I also like the red Epicuro. There are 2 reds and both are good. I haven't had the white.

Both are $5.99 a bottle at TJ.

Bonnie..

i am with you.. the white will do for cooking...
the red.. you are better off with a good vinegar:(

i don't buy two buck chuck...
but i do buy my cooking wine at trader joes....

JayDee...

i like Columbia Crest.. so thanks for the tip about the two vines vinyard no 10 red.

The white is okay. The red is awful.

It's $3 a bottle here in Washington. I think it's because of all our taxes.

A favorite t-shirt: "Friends Don't Let Friends Drink Two Buck Chuck"

CharlaBob -- As someone observed: If we all liked the same things, there would be long lines everywhere. Enjoy your Charles Shaw wines.
-

Columbia Crest Two Vines Vineyard No. 10 Red ($5.89 at Safeway or OFC) is my favorite value wine (and I think Wine Spectator agrees).

Well, we like it -- Chuck has a new Australian chardonnay and we like it too. A lot. Here's a shocker -- I'm not a wine snob :-) Which is why I'm saying, *we like it a lot.* Give it a try--think about all the expensive wine you HAVEN'T liked. And you don't have much to lose. Two of our best friends who are wine snobs like it too -- in fact, they told us about it.

Lest this seem a review damned by faint praise, "I LIKE CHUCK! THE RED THE WHITE and THE 2 or 3 buck" (YMMV)"

I think it always has been in Washington.

isn't it 3 bucks now?

Plonk. Drop another fiver and increase your satisfaction 100%.
I wouldn't even use it for cooking wine.

francis57: Yes, I've tried it. No, I would not recommend it.

However, TJ's often has some very good values in the $8-$9 range, especially with some of the reds they are sourcing out of Argentina and Chile.

I heard from a girlfriend in Spokane that Trader Joes sells this wine for $2 a bottle and that it is really good wine for the price.

My first reaction was "how could $2 wine be any good?", but she insists it is actually quite well made wine.

Has anyone tried it, and would recommend it?