Two Buck Chuck

Re:Two Buck Chuck (Phildelmar)

Mon, 09 Jan 2012 12:50:11 GMT

I have had it a few times and, for the most part, enjoyed it. Consistency is a problem. However, I wish it were available in the PA/DE area

Re:Two Buck Chuck (Sundancer7)

Fri, 06 Jan 2012 17:19:07 GMT

joerogo

Foodbme

joerogo

Did I mention how much Fred Franzia is hated in Napa Valley?

Is this the same guy who has his name on a line of Box Wines?

That was his family. His father sold the business and name to Coke.

The case of Two Buck Chuck that was given to me has the name of "Charles Shaw"
on the bottle. The cab is very good.

Paul E. Smith
Knoxville, TN

Re:Two Buck Chuck (joerogo)

Fri, 06 Jan 2012 16:06:50 GMT

Foodbme

joerogo

Did I mention how much Fred Franzia is hated in Napa Valley?

Is this the same guy who has his name on a line of Box Wines?

That was his family. His father sold the business and name to Coke.

Re:Two Buck Chuck (brisketboy)

Fri, 06 Jan 2012 15:38:04 GMT

Yep, that's why they're so good they're flying off the shelves. My wife bought one about a year ago had several glasses and the box is still on top of the fridge in the garage.

Re:Two Buck Chuck (Foodbme)

Fri, 06 Jan 2012 15:00:35 GMT

joerogo

Did I mention how much Fred Franzia is hated in Napa Valley?

Is this the same guy who has his name on a line of Box Wines?

Re:Two Buck Chuck (sudie)

Fri, 06 Jan 2012 13:53:13 GMT

At our TJ's, 2BC is 3.59 or so, with a case discount. While I don't think I'd take a bottle with me as a party gift, I've found it very drinkable, particularly the Pinot Grigio. My son brings me a case of Chuck occasionally from Long Beach CA, and it's 1.99 each plus tax for a case.

Re:Two Buck Chuck (Twinwillow)

Fri, 06 Jan 2012 11:49:08 GMT

Wholefoods in Dallas sells what I believe is the same wine labeled as "Three Wishes" for $2.99 a bottle. A Cabernet (good). A Merlot (OK). And a Chardonnay (Surprisingly good).
They recently had an, all the same kind of varietal case sale @ $21.50 per case of 12 bottles plus sales tax (8.25%). After an in store tasting I bought the Cabernet. What a deal!
The label on the back say's bottled by Three Wishes Wine Co. Livermore and Ripon, California.

Re:Two Buck Chuck (whatnameisnottaken)

Fri, 06 Jan 2012 10:59:38 GMT

TJ's is well known for taking anything you like back. Not sure if state laws would prohibit them from taking back unopened wine (probably can't take back opened wine anywhere) but I suspect they'd figure out a way to make you whole if you bought a bad bottle/case.

Re:Two Buck Chuck (seafarer john)

Fri, 06 Jan 2012 10:29:13 GMT

The problem with Three Buck Chuck is inconsistency - you never know what you might get. Sometimes you might get lucky and get a pretty good bottle and sometimes not. If, on the other hand, you want consistently OK, not great, wine at the $3 buck price point you should consider any of the popular box wines. The box stuff is a bargain - 6-2/3 bottles for about $16 - that's about $2.40 a bottle, and what you don't drink on the first opening, the rest keeps forever in those boxes. With what you save you can afford a $30 bottle once in a while to have with a meal deserving of a good bottle.
Cheers, john

Re:Two Buck Chuck (wheregreggeats.com)

Fri, 06 Jan 2012 07:37:29 GMT

I bought a bottle once. Then went back for a case and the case sucked.
I asked a few people and heard consistency is/was not a hallmark of TBC.
Here, the bargain wine at Whole Foods is a popular alternative, at a $3-something price point.

Re:Two Buck Chuck (chefbuba)

Fri, 06 Jan 2012 01:45:08 GMT

I was in TJ's in Vancouver,WA last week...I glanced at the TBC, think it was three bucks and change.
I used to buy it to wash down pizza....was not bad.

Re:Two Buck Chuck (Michael Hoffman)

Thu, 05 Jan 2012 19:05:01 GMT

joerogo

Michael Hoffman

In Ohio the cost is even more. That's because of Ohio's archaic laws requiring what amounts to a minimum 100 percent markup over whatever the wholesaler pays for it.

Michael, Several years ago, Fred Franzia put together a program for restaurants. The goal was for the restaurant to be able to offer a good tasting bottle of wine for $10. The program failed because of stupid State laws and high taxes.

State law here in Ohio requires restaurants to mark their prices up over what they pay their source, usually a distributor, by a minimum of 100 percent. And that, of course, is above the 100 percent the distributor had to mark up his price to the restaurant.

Re:Two Buck Chuck (Davydd)

Thu, 05 Jan 2012 17:19:07 GMT

Joerogo,

Maybe a Californian can confirm but when I went to a Trader Joe's in Sacramento, CA a couple of years ago I'm pretty sure it was up to $3 then. Inflation, maybe taxes, is part of it I would think.

Re:Two Buck Chuck (joerogo)

Thu, 05 Jan 2012 16:32:14 GMT

Michael Hoffman

In Ohio the cost is even more. That's because of Ohio's archaic laws requiring what amounts to a minimum 100 percent markup over whatever the wholesaler pays for it.

Michael, Several years ago, Fred Franzia put together a program for restaurants. The goal was for the restaurant to be able to offer a good tasting bottle of wine for $10. The program failed because of stupid State laws and high taxes.

Re:Two Buck Chuck (joerogo)

Thu, 05 Jan 2012 16:27:20 GMT

Did I mention how much Fred Franzia is hated in Napa Valley?

Re:Two Buck Chuck (Michael Hoffman)

Thu, 05 Jan 2012 15:41:08 GMT

In Ohio the cost is even more. That's because of Ohio's archaic laws requiring what amounts to a minimum 100 percent markup over whatever the wholesaler pays for it.

Re:Two Buck Chuck (joerogo)

Thu, 05 Jan 2012 15:26:48 GMT

The winery owner, Fred Franzia(Bronco), is one of a kind. He buys up the wine glut in California and sells it under many labels.

Charles Shaw was once a higher end winery, Fred bought the name and started to bottle wine exclusively for Trader Joe's. I believe it is only sold for in California for 2 bucks, everywhere else for 3 bucks.

So, depending on what winery has a glut, or is hurting for cash, you could be drinking a $25 Napa Cab for your 3 bucks. Although most is blended for consistency.

In the early years, people would go into Trader Joe's, buy a bottle, take it outside, open it and taste it. If it was good, they would buy cases, if not, they would wait a couple weeks for a different bottling.

Re:Two Buck Chuck (Davydd)

Thu, 05 Jan 2012 14:41:57 GMT

It's very drinkable but no where comparable to most wines over $10, IMO. You might have a difficult time separating it from most of the other under $10 wines so in that case it is a very good deal because I have never seen anything cheaper. I don't know if you can call it Two Buck Chuck anymore. Last time I bought it, it was Three Buck Chuck.

Trader Joe's knows how to hit the perfect sweet spot between price and taste with most of its products. The only thing I don't care for are their custom sourced private labeled beers. Around the country they miss more than hit on those.

Re:Two Buck Chuck (jaylhorner)

Thu, 05 Jan 2012 14:34:09 GMT

I do not care for the cab, but for the price you cannot beat it!

Re:Two Buck Chuck (brisketboy)

Thu, 05 Jan 2012 13:45:17 GMT

I have enjoyed many a bottle of Two Buck Chuck. Surprisingly for an inexpensive wine it is quite good. I was first turned on to it in Oxnard CA. And since there is no Trader Joe in Texas I make an anuual pilgrimage to San Diego and bring some back.

Re:Two Buck Chuck (kevincad)

Thu, 05 Jan 2012 13:23:07 GMT

Sundancer7

Charles Shaw wine also known as two buck chuck was given to me for a Christmas Present. I got a case of it mixed with white and red. So far I have only had the cab. I was suprised at this high quality cheap wine. It is not available in Knoxville and Trader Joes carries it but not in Tennessee due to the state law.

Anyone else had experience with this wine?

Paul E. Smith
Knoxville, TN

Yes, TBC is very good wine. It's actually won quite a few blind tastings. I lived in CA for a few years so it was readily available. What TN law is there that prohibits Trader Joe's from selling it?

Two Buck Chuck (Sundancer7)

Thu, 05 Jan 2012 12:31:12 GMT

Charles Shaw wine also known as two buck chuck was given to me for a Christmas Present. I got a case of it mixed with white and red. So far I have only had the cab. I was suprised at this high quality cheap wine. It is not available in Knoxville and Trader Joes carries it but not in Tennessee due to the state law.

Anyone else had experience with this wine?

Paul E. Smith
Knoxville, TN