Go Back  FlyerTalk Forums > Travel&Dining > DiningBuzz
Reload this Page >

Two Buck Chuck

Community
Wiki Posts
Search

Two Buck Chuck

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Dec 16, 2011 | 12:33 am
  #1  
Original Poster
20 Years on Site
 
Join Date: Aug 2005
Posts: 3,438
Two Buck Chuck

This is an odd one. I don't live in the states anymore but I've had multiple friends raving about a wine called "Two-Buck-Chuck" and that I must try it on my next visit. Is it really possible that a $2 wine could not only be drinkable but not bad? When I heard that name all I could think of was Boone's Farm. If I bought a two euro bottle of Bourgogne Rouge here I'd be saving the world by dumping it out.
VivoPerLei is offline  
Old Dec 16, 2011 | 12:35 am
  #2  
All eyes on you!
10 Years on Site
 
Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: SMF
Programs: Hilton Diamond-Marriott Platinum-life
Posts: 1,015
Originally Posted by lancebanyon
This is an odd one. I don't live in the states anymore but I've had multiple friends raving about a wine called "Two-Buck-Chuck" and that I must try it on my next visit. Is it really possible that a $2 wine could not only be drinkable but not bad? When I heard that name all I could think of was Boone's Farm. If I bought a two euro bottle of Bourgogne Rouge here I'd be saving the world by dumping it out.
It is at Trader Joes and not bad but not a everyday wine.IMHO
mike2200 is offline  
Old Dec 16, 2011 | 12:42 am
  #3  
Moderator Communications Coordinator, Signatures
All eyes on you!
20 Years on Site
 
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: deep within the Eskimo lair
Programs: TubWorld, Bar Alliance, Borratxo Legendarium
Posts: 16,970
Two buck chuck is actually $3-4 here in Seattle. It can be decent if you get a good batch, but I generally only buy it when I need some to cook with.

http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/3076201/ns/today-food/
missydarlin is offline  
Old Dec 16, 2011 | 12:43 am
  #4  
All eyes on you!
25 Years on Site
 
Join Date: Feb 1999
Location: San Jose, California, USA
Programs: AS Plat, UA MM, AA MM, IC Plat, Marriott Gold, Hilton Gold, Hyatt Globalist
Posts: 3,166
I just polished off a bottle of the Charles Shaw (the Trader Joe's brand) Shiraz, and it occurred to me that it was better than any of the "free" house wines I've had at the airport lounges recently.

No, it's not the best, but when I'm home alone it's nice to have a glass or two (or three) after work without carting out the good ($$) stuff, and at $2 a bottle, it's an excellent value for me. YMMV depending on how particular you are about wine.
mikew99 is offline  
Old Dec 16, 2011 | 4:59 am
  #5  
Original Poster
20 Years on Site
 
Join Date: Aug 2005
Posts: 3,438
Originally Posted by mikew99
I just polished off a bottle of the Charles Shaw (the Trader Joe's brand) Shiraz, and it occurred to me that it was better than any of the "free" house wines I've had at the airport lounges recently.
That's an interesting discussion in and of itself and deserves it's own thread. I generally like the free wines in the lounges here in Europe, particularly in LIS where they often have a Monte da Cal Reserva I like. Do any lounges in the states still have free wine, or were you overseas?

As for Two Buck Chuck, it is hard to argue with the mostly positive responses so far. If it is really decent I wonder why they don't charge just a little bit more to avoid the stigma. Seems like the demand is there.
VivoPerLei is offline  
Old Dec 16, 2011 | 5:09 am
  #6  
10 Countries Visited
All eyes on you!
20 Years on Site
 
Join Date: Mar 2006
Posts: 1,656
a few years back, there was a glut of high quality california grapes on the market and charles shaw snatched them up. they really were $2/bottle, and they really were good. the good grapes are long gone, but the reputation lives on.
crabbing is offline  
Old Dec 16, 2011 | 5:50 am
  #7  
 
Join Date: Apr 2005
Posts: 971
Make sure you shake it in a cocktail shaker (or use a whisk).
sylvia hennesy is offline  
Old Dec 16, 2011 | 8:42 am
  #8  
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Conversation Starter
All eyes on you!
20 Years on Site
 
Join Date: Nov 2002
Location: ORD
Posts: 14,768
Originally Posted by crabbing
a few years back, there was a glut of high quality california grapes on the market and charles shaw snatched them up. they really were $2/bottle, and they really were good. the good grapes are long gone, but the reputation lives on.
This. ^

The myth lives on but the reality isn't so great. I'd rather get a higher-end box wine for when I want a glass or two.
gfunkdave is offline  
Old Dec 16, 2011 | 9:24 am
  #9  
Moderator: CommunityBuzz!, OMNI, OMNI/PR, and OMNI/Games & FlyerTalk Evangelist
Conversation Starter
All eyes on you!
25 Years on Site
 
Join Date: Nov 2000
Location: ORD (MDW stinks)
Programs: UAMM, AAMM & ExPlat, Hyatt Globalist, Marriott lifetime Plat, IHG Plat, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 24,155
Two previous threads on the vino:

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/dinin...expo-gold.html

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/dinin...uck-sucks.html

-
Sweet Willie is online now  
Old Dec 16, 2011 | 9:41 am
  #10  
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
20 Countries Visited
3M
Conversation Starter
25 Years on Site
 
Join Date: Jul 1999
Location: Over the Bay Bridge, CA
Programs: Jumbo mas
Posts: 42,547
Originally Posted by crabbing
a few years back, there was a glut of high quality california grapes on the market and charles shaw snatched them up. they really were $2/bottle, and they really were good. the good grapes are long gone, but the reputation lives on.
Not necessarily - there are good grapes that can come and go. But one bottle can be, i.e., as good as a $10+ bottle, and the next, not so much. "Charles Shaw" is merely one of Bronco Wine Company's 50+ labels. Some of them are actually available in airport lounges and restaurants, and aren't available for retail sale, so you have no idea what the price point is. And, it isn't any better than the $2 Chuck. And some of the brands are much better.

For $2, you could do worse. On the other hand, I do not remember the last time I bought it.
Eastbay1K is offline  
Old Dec 16, 2011 | 10:25 am
  #11  
All eyes on you!
25 Years on Site
 
Join Date: Feb 1999
Location: San Jose, California, USA
Programs: AS Plat, UA MM, AA MM, IC Plat, Marriott Gold, Hilton Gold, Hyatt Globalist
Posts: 3,166
Originally Posted by lancebanyon
That's an interesting discussion in and of itself and deserves it's own thread. I generally like the free wines in the lounges here in Europe, particularly in LIS where they often have a Monte da Cal Reserva I like. Do any lounges in the states still have free wine, or were you overseas?

As for Two Buck Chuck, it is hard to argue with the mostly positive responses so far. If it is really decent I wonder why they don't charge just a little bit more to avoid the stigma. Seems like the demand is there.
I'm thinking of the "free" wines in domestic U.S. airline lounges. For whatever reason, the self-service wines in lounges outside the U.S. are usually much better.

Don't tell Trader Joe's, but I wouldn't mind paying an extra buck for their Chuck. I like being able to open a bottle without worrying about the cost; I'm essentially getting a bottle for what a glass is worth.
mikew99 is offline  
Old Dec 16, 2011 | 10:56 am
  #12  
In memoriam
 
Join Date: Mar 2000
Location: IAD, BOS, PVD
Programs: UA, US, AS, Marriott, Radisson, Hilton
Posts: 7,203
It's 3.99. It may taste 5.99, but never 9.99.

Think UA lounge wine.
violist is offline  
Old Dec 16, 2011 | 11:19 am
  #13  
15 Years on Site
 
Join Date: Sep 2006
Posts: 6,964
OP, I've never had the wine you mention, but you may be surprised to find what some Trader Joe's stock in the alcohol section. (Varies widely by store and state)

Some have a pretty big range of German beers, not surprising considering the ownership of Trader Joe's.
exbayern is offline  
Old Dec 16, 2011 | 11:40 am
  #14  
Suspended
 
Join Date: Sep 2010
Posts: 3,001
Originally Posted by mikew99
Don't tell Trader Joe's, but I wouldn't mind paying an extra buck for their Chuck. I like being able to open a bottle without worrying about the cost; I'm essentially getting a bottle for what a glass is worth.
As implied above everyone outside of California pays an extra $1 for the Chuck, $3 chuck doesn't rhyme so well though I haven't had a decent "higher-end" box wine since the wine grape glut passed either so for the price $2 is alright enough. Particularly for cooking or mulling.

Regarding beer the German beers I've gotten at chez TJ didn't transport well and ergo aren't worth purchasing imo. The annual Christmas beer is very good, and at $5 for an ale on lees, well worth it. Brewed by Unibroue of Quebec.
DownTheRappitHole is offline  
Old Dec 16, 2011 | 12:07 pm
  #15  
15 Years on Site
 
Join Date: Sep 2006
Posts: 6,964
I've never bought beer there either, just interested to see the wide range some of the stores carry. I like to try and determine which items are hiding under the Trader Joe house brands. They have a lot of items from western Europe in the stores. Latest new product is Lotus speculoos spread ie Biscoff spread, hiding under something such as 'cookie spread'.

But this year they really seemed to cut back on the German and French Christmas products (although admittedly I was only in two stores in two states recently)
exbayern is offline  


Contact Us - Archive - Advertising - Cookie Policy - Privacy Statement - Terms of Service -

This site is owned, operated, and maintained by MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands. Copyright © 2026 MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands. All rights reserved. Designated trademarks are the property of their respective owners.