These wines are balanced, tasty and well worth the effort to find parking in a crowded Trader Joe's lot. From left to right, Vignobles Lacheteau Vouvray 2024, A Garnacha 2023, Espiral Vinho Verde (Nonvintage), Lini 910 ‘Labrusca’ Lambrusco Rosso, Trader Joe’s French Sparkling Blanc de Blancs Brut (Nonvintage), Porta 6 Tinto 2023, Trader Joe’s Bandol Grand Reserve Rosé 2024, Epicuro Nero D’Avola Sicilia DOP 2023, and Kono Sauvignon Blanc 2024. Peggy Cormary for The Washington Post; food styling by Carolyn Robb

During a recent trip to buy wine at Trader Joe’s, the cashier did a double take when he read my total. “Wow, that’s a whole lot of wine for $200,” he said, laughing.

He wasn’t wrong. On average, each wine in my 23-bottle haul cost less than $8.50, a low figure from every side of th

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