two buck chuck?

QueerFemme

Hey everyone - 

As evidence by the following post/questions, I am NOT a wine drinker.  I have a glass now & then, but it's usually very sweet dessert wine.  So, I wouldn't know the difference between a horrible, decent, or fabulous wine.    Our reception venue only allows beer/wine/champagne. So, we are buying cases of inexpensive wine.  Our local beer/wine store suggested a few different wines that were in the "reasonable price" range (Barefoot. Beringer, Sutter Home). 

I have a few wine drinking friends though, that keep recommending Trader Joes wine.  I know it's super cheap, but is it really ok?  I don't want to give everyone a horrible headache.  I also want to try to stay as budget friendly as possible.

Also, if you were getting one white and one red, what would your choices be?  A merlot and a chardonnay?  Or a cabernet & a chardonnay?

Thoughts?  

Thanks!

[Deleted User]

2 buck chuck is fine. Also consider Barefoot - merlot, pinot grigio, pinot noir, and chardonnay are all drinkable and affordable.

hoffse

2 buck chuck is alright, but it's not amazing.  If you want a tasty, cheap wine I'd recommend the Tisdale wine that you can buy at whole foods - it's $5/bottle and really very good.  I like pinot noir for red, and that's because I get headaches from the sulfades that are in merlots.  Cab is fine, but it's not my personal preference.

AbbeyS2011

I have heard Barefoot is good.

I saw a newspiece about 2 buck chuck - they put it up against some more expensive wines in some kind of wine-tasting contest, and it rated up there with the pricer brands. 

Does your local store have an unopened wine buyback policy?  Some do, and it is nice to recoup some funds in case you have leftovers. 

RupertPenny

I think two buck chuck is fine (although it is $3). I got married in Orlando and there was no TJ so I bought the Three Wishes brand wine from Whole Foods. It is also $3 (with a discount for purchasing cases) and I had no complaints. 

[Deleted User]

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_etiquette_two-buck-chuck?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding BoardsForum:9Discussion:f3edd284-0457-4df2-abf2-9309f20e362ePost:f7d68ddc-f82b-46f3-9121-4e3df3b33ce5">two buck chuck?</a>:
[QUOTE]Hey everyone -  As evidence by the following post/questions, I am NOT a wine drinker.  I have a glass now & then, but it's usually very sweet dessert wine.  So, I wouldn't know the difference between a horrible, decent, or fabulous wine.    Our reception venue only allows beer/wine/champagne. So, we are buying cases of inexpensive wine.  Our local beer/wine store suggested a few different wines that were in the "reasonable price" range (Barefoot. Beringer, Sutter Home).  I have a few wine drinking friends though, that keep recommending Trader Joes wine.  I know it's super cheap, but is it really ok?  I don't want to give everyone a horrible headache.  I also want to try to stay as budget friendly as possible. Also, if you were getting one white and one red, what would your choices be?  A merlot and a chardonnay?  Or a cabernet & a chardonnay? Thoughts?   Thanks!
Posted by cmgilpin[/QUOTE]

Okay so YOU'RE not a wine drinker but your guests are, you are serving them garbage!
Make a deal with a LOCAL wine store to buy some good wine.  You are buying volume so they should give you a discount by the case.  Also wine stores routinely discount wines they want to move out of stock, good wines too!
Get an assortment of whites and reds, not just one kind of each.

[Deleted User]

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_etiquette_two-buck-chuck?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20BoardsForum:9Discussion:f3edd284-0457-4df2-abf2-9309f20e362ePost:58cbc364-8455-4746-af22-7435c56f90f9">Re: two buck chuck?</a>:
[QUOTE]In Response to two buck chuck? : Okay so YOU'RE not a wine drinker but your guests are, you are serving them garbage!
Posted by IamTheMommaOfTheBride[/QUOTE]
Get fucked.

button6004

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_etiquette_two-buck-chuck?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20BoardsForum:9Discussion:f3edd284-0457-4df2-abf2-9309f20e362ePost:58cbc364-8455-4746-af22-7435c56f90f9">Re: two buck chuck?</a>:
[QUOTE]In Response to two buck chuck? : Okay so YOU'RE not a wine drinker but your guests are, <strong>you are serving them garbage!</strong> Make a deal with a LOCAL wine store to buy some good wine.  You are buying volume so they should give you a discount by the case.  Also wine stores routinely discount wines they want to move out of stock, good wines too! Get an assortment of whites and reds, not just one kind of each.
Posted by IamTheMommaOfTheBride[/QUOTE]

There is nothing wrong with any of the options that have been listed.  I think Barefoot tastes fine, as does Little Penguin (which I usually find for around $9 for 1.5 liters).  OP, I think whatever you choose will be fine- your guests will appreciate having wine provided. 

kimandjosh22

Barefoot is good, we had quite the assortment at my shower.
what season/what time of day is your wedding, that might impact what types/how much you want to buy.  Pino grigio, chardonnay, and pinot noir are musts, you could throw in a merlot too if you want more red variety.
our caterer is ordering us their house pino grigio, chardonnay, reisling, pinot noir, merlot, and cab sauv.

button6004

Also, I tend to think Pinot Noir is an "easy" red and a Riesling or Pinot Grigio an "easy" white.  Those are my go-to's for any dinners or parties I have.

bmoruzzi

I thought the two buck chuck didn't come in bottles, but rather those containers like box of joe come in.  If that's the case, I wouldn't serve that at all.  If that's not the case and I'm a looney toon, which could be a possibility, I think it'd be fine. 

jmp2004

I'm not familiar the TJ, but I like Barefoot wines.  Also, while merlot and chard are the most common wines, I wouldn't recommend them unless you know your guests will drink them.  I drink wine relatively frequently but do not drink either of these because they are too dry for me.  A merlot-cab-zin mix can be a great red for some that are inexperienced with wine but will give them a good drink.  Also, I would look at a Pinot Grigio or Riesling for a white.

QueerFemme

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_etiquette_two-buck-chuck?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding BoardsForum:9Discussion:f3edd284-0457-4df2-abf2-9309f20e362ePost:58cbc364-8455-4746-af22-7435c56f90f9">Re: two buck chuck?</a>:
[QUOTE]In Response to two buck chuck? : Okay so YOU'RE not a wine drinker but your guests are, you are serving them garbage! Make a deal with a LOCAL wine store to buy some good wine.  You are buying volume so they should give you a discount by the case.  Also wine stores routinely discount wines they want to move out of stock, good wines too! Get an assortment of whites and reds, not just one kind of each.
Posted by IamTheMommaOfTheBride[/QUOTE]

Thanks.  Yeah, trying not to serve garbage, hence the question here.  I asked the LOCAL wine store, and they were the ones who recommended Barefoot,  Sutter Home and Beringer.  Then, I asked three or four of my friends who DO drink wine, and they were the ones who recommended Trader Joes wine.    Soooooooooo, that was my point/question.  Out of the reasonably priced wines... which one isn't garbage?  I know zero about wine, and I didn't want to take the only suggestions of the local wine store and the trader joes suggestion without getting some alternative opinions. 

thanks for the suggestion of Whole Foods.  Keep the suggestions coming! I'd love to get a consensus of the direction I should head of brands and types of wines.

QueerFemme

My wedding is at 3pm. Reception is from 4-10pm.  So, I want to have enough of a variety. We are also making a white and a red Sangria (since we can't serve any hard liquor, we have to settle for sangria as a "signature" drink). 

So, we will have plenty of beer (we are doing 4 different beer varieties), red & white sangria, and I wanted to have a red & white wine option.  I'm certainly not opposed to having three wines.  Just wanted to cover the basics.

QueerFemme

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_etiquette_two-buck-chuck?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding BoardsForum:9Discussion:f3edd284-0457-4df2-abf2-9309f20e362ePost:b40be8b7-36a1-4042-a821-26acd2488f7b">Re: two buck chuck?</a>:
[QUOTE]I thought the two buck chuck didn't come in bottles, but rather those containers like box of joe come in.  If that's the case, I wouldn't serve that at all.  If that's not the case and I'm a looney toon, which could be a possibility, I think it'd be fine. 
Posted by bmoruzzi@hotmail.com[/QUOTE]

Oh Shiznit. I think it comes in bottles!??  I am NOT having boxed wine.  I don't care how cheap I wanna go...   no boxes-o-wine.

LDubHawksFan

ha, I don't have a problem with two buck chuck, and honestly if we could serve it, my wedding guests would probably get a kick out of it.  I drink it often enough to say their reds aren't my favorite, but I still drink it!  Barefoot is usually pretty good, so I would do that if you don't want TJ's...

RupertPenny

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_etiquette_two-buck-chuck?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20BoardsForum:9Discussion:f3edd284-0457-4df2-abf2-9309f20e362ePost:a10b5ca4-3d67-4e79-91c2-6ebe7ce66061">Re: two buck chuck?</a>:
[QUOTE]In Response to Re: two buck chuck? : Oh Shiznit. I think it comes in bottles!??  I am NOT having boxed wine.  I don't care how cheap I wanna go...   no boxes-o-wine.
Posted by cmgilpin[/QUOTE]

<div>No, it def comes in bottles. Don't worry. And it is actually called Charles Shaw just FYI. I don't want you wandering the aisles of TJs looking for a wine that was actually labeled "Two Buck Chuck."</div>

StephBeanWed61502

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_etiquette_two-buck-chuck?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding BoardsForum:9Discussion:f3edd284-0457-4df2-abf2-9309f20e362ePost:84f67d5a-8714-43db-b8c8-896d96c16706">Re: two buck chuck?</a>:
[QUOTE]In Response to Re: two buck chuck? : Thanks.  Yeah, trying not to serve garbage, hence the question here.  I asked the LOCAL wine store, and they were the ones who recommended Barefoot,  Sutter Home and Beringer.  Then, I asked three or four of my friends who DO drink wine, and they were the ones who recommended Trader Joes wine.    Soooooooooo, that was my point/question.  Out of the reasonably priced wines... which one isn't garbage?  I know zero about wine, and I didn't want to take the only suggestions of the local wine store and the trader joes suggestion without getting some alternative opinions.  thanks for the suggestion of Whole Foods.  Keep the suggestions coming! I'd love to get a consensus of the direction I should head of brands and types of wines.
Posted by cmgilpin[/QUOTE]

Don't listen to that crazyperson.

Two buck chuck is actually fine, as is the Whole Foods house brand, and the brands recommended to you by the store.  I would probably try to offer two of each type of wine though instead of just one of each, i.e. chardonnay and riesling for the whites, pinot noir and merlot for the reds (note: I don't drink red wine at all so don't take my suggestion on the reds, I was just naming 2 types I happen to know of.  Listen to me for the whites though, riesling is delicious.  <img src="http://cdn.cl9.vanillaforums.com/downloaded/ver1.0/content/scripts/tinymce/plugins/emotions/images/smiley-smile.gif" border="0" alt="Smile" title="Smile" />)

aloisk57

Two Buck Chuck comes in bottles!

Another sweet, super cheap red wine is Lambrusco.  I HIGHLY recommend it

Habs2Hart

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_etiquette_two-buck-chuck?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding BoardsForum:9Discussion:f3edd284-0457-4df2-abf2-9309f20e362ePost:58cbc364-8455-4746-af22-7435c56f90f9">Re: two buck chuck?</a>:
[QUOTE]In Response to two buck chuck? : <strong>Okay so YOU'RE not a wine drinker but your guests are, you are serving them garbage!</strong> Make a deal with a LOCAL wine store to buy some good wine.  You are buying volume so they should give you a discount by the case.  Also wine stores routinely discount wines they want to move out of stock, good wines too! Get an assortment of whites and reds, not just one kind of each.
Posted by IamTheMommaOfTheBride[/QUOTE]

Your post is garbage. 

Habs2Hart

I would go with a pinot noir or a cab sauv for red and I'd go with either a pinot grigiot, reisling or a gewertziminer for white. 

Lizzieyounce

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_etiquette_two-buck-chuck?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20BoardsForum:9Discussion:f3edd284-0457-4df2-abf2-9309f20e362ePost:4daf321e-90f7-4191-9d06-3244d546f375">Re: two buck chuck?</a>:
[QUOTE]In Response to Re: two buck chuck? : Get fucked.
Posted by daffodil_jill[/QUOTE]

<div>
</div><div>Took the words right out of my mouth.</div><div>
</div><div>OP: There are a lot of inexpensive, tasty wines out there. Like some PP's have said, Barefoot is good, and they have a selection of types from pinot noir to moscato.</div><div>
</div><div>I also like Menage a Trois by Follie a deux...these are blends. There is a red and a white. Both are smooth and under $10 a bottle.</div>

RupertPenny

At my wedding I served the Three Wishes Chardonnay and Merlot. Plus Prosecco and three types of beer. It wasn't a ton of choices, but I think it was ok. I didn't want it to get too complicated. I don't mind going to events where there is only 1 white and 1 red offered. I will drink mostly anything. 

whitneywoolf

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_etiquette_two-buck-chuck?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding BoardsForum:9Discussion:f3edd284-0457-4df2-abf2-9309f20e362ePost:84f67d5a-8714-43db-b8c8-896d96c16706">Re: two buck chuck?</a>:
[QUOTE]In Response to Re: two buck chuck? : Thanks.  Yeah, trying not to serve garbage, hence the question here.  I asked the LOCAL wine store, and they were the ones who recommended Barefoot,  Sutter Home and Beringer.  Then, I asked three or four of my friends who DO drink wine, and they were the ones who recommended Trader Joes wine.    Soooooooooo, that was my point/question.  Out of the reasonably priced wines... which one isn't garbage?  I know zero about wine, and I didn't want to take the only suggestions of the local wine store and the trader joes suggestion without getting some alternative opinions.  thanks for the suggestion of Whole Foods.  Keep the suggestions coming! I'd love to get a consensus of the direction I should head of brands and types of wines.
Posted by cmgilpin[/QUOTE

We are using trader joes wine at our wedding. We actually drove 5 hours from Oklahoma to Kansas City just to buy it. It is a really great deal and I am marrying into a family of avid wine drinkers who all enjoy the TBC and I know if they think it is ok then its definitely not trash!  We picked up 4 different kinds 2 reds, a vinfendel, and a white, a total of 125 bottles for $400! I hear the story behind the wine is the guy who makes it, Charles Shaw, enhirited the winery but wasnt really looking to run a high end winery so he made a deal with TJ's to sale it inexpensively.

RupertPenny

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_etiquette_two-buck-chuck?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20BoardsForum:9Discussion:f3edd284-0457-4df2-abf2-9309f20e362ePost:69945766-2e11-4cf8-9fc4-ee0bc4ff00c6">Re: two buck chuck?</a>:
[QUOTE]In Response to Re: two buck chuck? :  We are using trader joes wine at our wedding. We actually drove 5 hours from Oklahoma to Kansas City just to buy it. It is a really great deal and I am marrying into a family of avid wine drinkers who all enjoy the TBC and I know if they think it is ok then its definitely not trash!  We picked up 4 different kinds 2 reds, a vinfendel, and a white, a total of 125 bottles for $400! I hear the story behind the wine is the guy who makes it, Charles Shaw, enhirited the winery but wasnt really looking to run a high end winery so he made a deal with TJ's to sale it inexpensively.
Posted by whitneywoolf[/QUOTE]<div>
</div><div>I heard that his wife got half the profits of his winery in their divorce settlement so he just decided to run the business without a profit from there on out. 

</div>

MyUserName1

Two buck chuck is just fine.  And I agree with PPs to offer two whites and two reds.  They also have JW Morris, which is about 3$ a bottle and is quite good too.

I'd go to the TJs and ask for the wine person's reccomendation for which to choose- I don't know much about reds.  I'd do a Reisling and a Pinot Grigio for the whites, personally.

RussoWill

If you're doing sangria, I'd recommend boxed wine to save money. We bought boxed wine for the sangria and made it the night before at a friend's house. We were the only ones who know it came in a box!

Also, we used flip flop wines for our wedding.  I used the cabernet (not the best, buy very good for the price and better than 2 buck chuck IMO) and the pinot grigio (which is really good).  You can get them for around $5/ bottle at most grocery stores and could probably get a case discount.  If you're definitely set on using wines from TJ, ask friends, family and the employees for suggestions.  I buy a lot of wine from there and have only run into 1 wine that I absolutely hated.  You can definitely get decent wine there for under $5/bottle. 

Also, someone above mentioned barefoot wines- their zinfandel is really good, easy to drink red.

kimm444

Honestly, I wouldn't go with Two Buck Chuck, not because it's really bad (although in my honest opinion I wouldn't drink it - but I like wine and I know what I like) but because frankly it has a reputation for being "cheap".

I think Beringer or even Barefoot is a bit "nicer" for a wedding. Also I would go with Pinot Grigio for the white and Merlot for the red as they are usually popular with a majority of wine drinkers. I personally dislike California chardonnay and I know lots of wind drinkers who feel the same way.

Actually I'd probably try to find a nice cheaper Italian Pinot Grigio, there are several labels in the $6-8 range which are drinkable.

lennonkdc

TBC is a good wedding choice, and as a wine drinker I would be happy to see it at a wedding. TJ's also has a wide variety of very good affordable wines besides TBC. I would pop in there talk to sales person and get their input on what you could afford in your price range. You might be surprised with the quality of the wine you can get at an affordable price if you are willing to stray off the traditional path. 

FWIW even as a wine snot, I never judge the wine at weddings b/c, hey its free

RupertPenny

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_etiquette_two-buck-chuck?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20BoardsForum:9Discussion:f3edd284-0457-4df2-abf2-9309f20e362ePost:6d43da89-8bbf-4a26-a251-94cd41b5054d">Re: two buck chuck?</a>:
[QUOTE]TBC is a good wedding choice, and as a wine drinker I would be happy to see it at a wedding. TJ's also has a wide variety of very good affordable wines besides TBC. I would pop in there talk to sales person and get their input on what you could afford in your price range. You might be surprised with the quality of the wine you can get at an affordable price if you are willing to stray off the traditional path.  FWIW even as a wine snot,<strong> I never judge the wine at weddings b/c, hey its free :)</strong>
Posted by lennonkdc[/QUOTE]

<div>Cheers to that!</div>

QueerFemme

Thanks everyone !!      I agree about the "free" thing. I want to properly host my guests and not give them a headache with cheapass wine.  And, I also don't want to blow my whole liquor budget on a few bottles of wine.  Gotta keep the beer/champagne drinkers happy too !!     I think the vast majority of my guests will drink the Sangria or beer.  We probably have 30-40 wine drinkers on the guest list at most.

I was going to try get away with doing a vodka/pink lemonade signature drink, particularly since I don't drink beer OR wine.  I want a damn cocktail.  But, our reception is being held at building rented and managed by the regional park district.  I kept thinking... what, are they going to DNA test my signature drink?  If the park ranger asks, I'll just tell them it's a white wine/lemonade mixture. But, I'm not sure I want to risk my $1,000.00 deposit.