When Blind Wins Out

"Two Buck Chuck's" as Trader Joe's Charles Shaw Brand house wine is affectionately called, hit the shelves at our very own Trader Joe's Wine Store on 14th Street here in Manhattan several months ago. Except here, it's $2.99, or "Three Buck Chuck's".

- Bobby L. on review site Yelp.com says, "I recommend the "3 buck chuck" for pure non-snobish enjoyment".

- Brett W. says "Who needs a therapist when you have Trader Joe's Wine Shop?"

- Alan G. "A classic case of "what's not to like?"

I've been bringing Trader Joe's wonder wine to dinner gatherings and pot lucks for awhile now.. always reassuring people that the wine had 'won awards',, but I never really knew what those awards were, or who gave them, or when this happened.

So, I decided to put this mystery to "Google". It wasn't easy to find. A lot of bloggers and writers write about the award, but I couldn't quite find out the specifics. But apparently, the 2005 Chardonnay, in a "blind test" won out with the judges at the California State Fair Wine Competition. Jim Gordon blogs the Two-Buck-Chuck Blind Taste at WineMag.

Hmmmmmm,, So if someone actually saw the label, they wouldn't consider it? Maybe the 'blind test' is the only way Chuck can be taken seriously. In the mean time, 'Three' or 'Two Buck' Chuck is still a phenomenon and a perfectly fine choice for most any occasion.