Aldi now has wines for under $5
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Four of Aldi's eight new California Heritage wines with suggested pairings. Photo: Monica Eng/Axios
Aldi recently released a bargain wine brand that aims to be your go-to table selection.
The big picture: The Batavia-based discount market has long offered cheap, not-great vintages (like Winking Owl) on one end and pricier award-winners (like Côtes de Provence rosé) on the other end. But it's lacked a reliable table wine to compete with Trader Joe's beloved Charles Shaw (aka "Two Buck Chuck").
Zoom in: We tried four bottles (each $4.95) from the new California Heritage collection with Aldi's North American wine buyer Arlin Zajmi.
- He says this year's grapes come from California's Central Valley, but future vintages could draw from anywhere in the state.
- Zajmi paired each wine with, you guessed it, other Aldi products.
What to expect:
- Sparkling brut — Nice bright appley aroma but too sweet for my taste. Still, it could make fine mimosas. (Paired with dark chocolate)
- Chardonnay — Well-balanced with a lovely peachy nose and buttery finish. (Paired with sharp English cheddar cheese)
- Pinot noir — Light body with smokey notes and thin finish. (Paired with Manchego cheese)
- Cabernet sauvignon — Lovely blackberry and tobacco nose with a nice jammy finish. (Paired with mesquite barbecue kettle chips)
The verdict: I didn't adore the sparkling and pinot but would be happy to serve any of these as an everyday table wine.
Plus: I was wowed by two pricier bottles from the store's new Specially Selected collection: A well-balanced 2023 Argentine Malbec from Mendoza's Uco Valley ($7.99) and an elegant and delish 2021 Napa cabernet sauvignon ($14.99).
- The cabernet sauvignon is already sold out in a few North Side stores.
