Is Two Buck Chuck good?
Two Buck Chuck Cabernet is drinkable for about $4 but thin and forgettable; for a few dollars more you can get a much better red, so it's best saved for sangria or cooking.
Charles Shaw Cabernet Sauvignon · Cabernet Sauvignon · California · Trader Joe's only
- Alcohol
- About 12 to 12.5%
- Sweetness
- Dry
- Grapes
- Cabernet Sauvignon (newer labels say "Charles Shaw Blend")
- Made by
- Bronco Wine Company, for Trader Joe's
- From
- California
- Price
- About $3 to $4.50, depending on the state
- Calories
- About 115 to 125 in a 5 oz glass
What it tastes like
Light cherry and plum, a little earthy, with a short, slightly sour aftertaste. It does not taste much like Cabernet.
- Bodylight → big
- Sweetnessdry → sweet
- Zingsoft → zippy
- Gripsmooth → grippy
Is it worth $4?
For cooking, mulled wine or sangria, sure. For drinking, spend a bit more. Barefoot is cheap and smoother, and Columbia Crest Grand Estates is a real step up for about $12.
Who it’s for
For pan sauces, big-batch sangria and true budget nights. If you want to enjoy the glass, pick almost anything else on this list.
How to serve it
Serve cool. It tastes better slightly chilled.
The backstory
Bronco Wine Company, run by the late Fred Franzia, bought the Charles Shaw name out of a bankruptcy for about $27,000 in 1995 and launched it at Trader Joe's in 2002 for $1.99. Shoppers nicknamed it Two Buck Chuck and it sold by the hundreds of millions of bottles. The trick is scale: big Central Valley vineyards, huge batches and no marketing spend, which is also why it tastes thin and simple.
How it compares
- Two Buck Chuck vs Barefoot Cabernet
Barefoot costs a few dollars more and is smoother and fruitier; it is the easiest upgrade if you want a cheap red you actually enjoy sipping.
- Two Buck Chuck vs Dark Horse Cabernet
Dark Horse is bolder and darker for about twice the price; keep Chuck for cooking and sangria, pick Dark Horse for the glass.
- Two Buck Chuck vs Yellow Tail Shiraz
Yellow Tail is jammier and sweeter-tasting; Chuck is drier and more tart, which actually makes it the better cooking wine.
What to eat with it
Questions people ask
- How much is Two Buck Chuck now?
- Usually about $3 to $4.50 a bottle, depending on where you live. It went from $1.99 to $2.49 in California in 2013 and costs more in most other states because of shipping and local taxes.
- What is Two Buck Chuck?
- It's the nickname for Charles Shaw, Trader Joe's super-cheap house wine, made by Bronco Wine Company in California. It comes in several flavors, including Cabernet, Merlot, Chardonnay and Pinot Grigio.
- Where can you buy Two Buck Chuck?
- Only at Trader Joe's. In states where grocery stores can't sell wine, those Trader Joe's stores won't carry it.
- Is Two Buck Chuck still available?
- Yes, it is still on Trader Joe's shelves. Newer bottles of the Cabernet may say "Charles Shaw Blend" on the label, so look for that if you can't spot the old one.
- Who makes Two Buck Chuck?
- Bronco Wine Company, a family company near Ceres, California, founded by members of the Franzia family in 1973. (Franzia boxed wine is a separate company that shares the family history.)
If you like this, try
- Barefoot CabernetCabernet Sauvignon · about $7It's fine
- Dark Horse CabernetCabernet Sauvignon · about $9It's fine
- Yellow Tail ShirazShiraz (Syrah) · about $7It's fine
Where Moxie recommends it
Last checked 2026-10-04. Moxie Vino isn’t affiliated with Charles Shaw; this is our honest take.