12 Best Wines at Kroger in 2023 [Essential Wines]
Thanks to supply deals with reputable independent wineries, Kroger can be a fantastic place to pick up great value wine that hits the spot.
From Cabernet Sauvignon's rich, fruity goodness to the light freshness of Sauvignon Blanc, Kroger has plenty to offer wine lovers.
We like Kroger for wine because you can find well-known names and varieties from smaller wineries across the States and Europe. A good bottle also costs as little as $10, but if you're willing to pay $20, you can get a brilliant tipple.
This article includes the 12 best wines at Kroger with the tasting notes you need to make an informed choice.
Reds
12. Louis M. Martini Sonoma County Cabernet Sauvignon
Lusciously rich and bursting with oaky, dark fruit notes, this Cabernet Sauvignon from acclaimed winemaker Louis M. Martini ticks all the right boxes. It has a full body with ripe, jammy flavors and an intriguing vanilla undertone.
Louis M. Martini's legacy began in 1933 with the discovery of new sites in the Napa Valley suitable for vineyards. Produced in Sonoma County, California, this red is fermented slowly in stainless steel tanks at cool temperatures to bring out fruity notes.
Big, bold black plum and blackcurrant flavors are complimented by oaky notes, strawberry, and cherry on the nose with a twist of mocha and oaky spice. Moderate tannins and a well-balanced dryness make it a real crowd pleaser.
This wine goes wonderfully with prime rib, lamb chops, sticky ribs, hamburgers, and barbecue. It's easily approachable, with the oaky, almost spicy finish lending itself perfectly to meaty, hearty dishes that need a touch of fruit.
11. Meiomi Pinot Noir
Meiomi Pinot Noir puts you in savory heaven with notes of cranberry, cherry, lemon, and cocoa enveloped in a dry, tart profile. It bursts with dark fruit flavors and adds depth with oak, vanilla, and chocolate notes on the mid-palate.
Established by Joe Wagner in 2007, Meiomi Wines is a California winery dedicated to red and rose wines. Their Pinot Noir is aged for 6 months in French oak barrels, which impart an oaky and smoky flavor.
This red wine highlights the intense aroma and flavors of strawberry, cherry, cranberry, and vanilla. It coats the palate with its full body and takes you through fruity, oaky, savory notes with a long, smooth finish.
Venison, veal, pink lamb, mushroom-based dishes, and Beef Bourguignon go beautifully with Meiomi Pinot Noir.
However, it's so good that you might want to savor the bottle and drink it on its own. It's easily the best Pinot Noir at Kroger.
Do you shop at Grocery Outlet? You'll love our new wine guide.
10. Josh Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon
Dark and fruity with toasted hazelnut and cinnamon notes, Josh Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon gives us that warm, fuzzy feeling. It's very smooth and drinkable, with an intriguing undertone of anise, vanilla, and mocha.
Josh Cellars winery began in 2007, founded by Joseph Carr, who discovered his love for wine in 1978 after moving to Napa, California. The winery produces red, white, and rose varieties in pure and blended forms to suit all tastes.
We love this Cabernet Sauvignon's intense black fruit flavor, with black cherry, blackberry, and plum wrapped up in a full body. Notes of red licorice, vanilla, and hazelnut give it one of the earthiest bouquets of any Cabernet Sauvignon.
Mezze plates, smoked sausages, goat's cheese, duck, steak with horseradish, and venison stews work great with this wine. It also pairs well with red fruits, jam, fruity dressings, and dark chocolate (including desserts like brownies).
9. Hands Hot to Trot Columbia Valley Smooth Red Blend
As blended wines go, this one's a cracker. Shiraz/Syrah, Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Mourvedre, and Pinot Grigio combine to create a medium-bodied, off-dry red with fruity notes and a spicy finish with a touch of jam.
Produced by 14 Hands winery in Columbia Valley, Washington, this wine is aged for ten months in stainless steel vats and neutral French and American oak barrels. This combination balances fruity, spicy, and savory notes.
The palate is underpinned by plum, black cherry, and vanilla. A hint of raspberry and strawberry on the mid-palate delivers a sweet hit, while oak, vanilla, and chocolate on the finish create a rich, decadent tipple.
This is one of Kroger's most approachable red wines, perfect for sipping at parties and as a table wine. It pairs well with Asian-style cuisine with coriander and lime, roasted vegetables, white fish like halibut, zucchini, and salty cheeses.
Whites
8. 19 Crimes Martha's Chardonnay
19 Crimes Martha's Chardonnay is smooth and fruity, with a long finish and a light mouthfeel.
It's as crisp and refreshing as white wine gets, with strong citrus notes and lashings of stone fruit, honey, caramel, and vanilla.
The funky 19 Crimes name comes from the crimes for which people could be sentenced to transportation after the Revolution of 1776. The Australian winery was founded by Treasury Wine Estates in 2012, focusing on value-priced wines.
If you love the crispness of Chardonnay, this wine is for you. Slightly sweet with green apple, orange blossom, lemon, caramel, and honeysuckle notes, it's rich and flavorful, with a touch of stone fruit and pear for a tropical twist.
This wine's slightly sweet profile lends itself to spicy Asian and Mexican cuisine. Hot dishes like vermicelli and vindaloo are perfect matches, but it also works well with lobster, chicken, pork belly, jacket potatoes, and salads.
7. Oyster Bay Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc
Oyster Bay Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc is a thirst-quenching powerhouse packed with grapefruit, lemon, and apple notes. Aromatic tropical fruits and bright citrus notes make it an irresistible tipple befitting the finest Sauvignon Blancs.
Primarily known for its Sauvignon Blanc from Marlborough, Oyster Bay Wines produces pure aromatic wines that win multiple awards, with its inaugural wine named best Sauvignon Blanc at the 1991 International Wine and Spirit Competition.
We adore this wine's highly acidic palate and zesty aromas. Grapefruit and citrus dominate with a hint of oak. Initially, the wine is tart and crisp, with lashings of pear, apple, and hints of melon, giving it a tropical, sweet-ish finish.
The acidity of this wine makes it perfect for oysters and other shellfish, calamari, white fish, green vegetables, and crab cakes. Seafood and chicken cooked with zingy flavors such as citrus or garlic marinades are ideal pairings.
6. Bartenura Moscato
Bartenura Moscato is a perfumed, aromatic, and floral white wine from Provincia di Pavia, Northern Italy. It's on the sweeter side with flavors of peach, pear, agave, melon, and honey, with an undertone of lemon and a touch of acidity.
A kosher wine manufacturer, Bartenura produces wines in Italy, with grapes grown in the northern region of Lombardia. This region has five DOCG and 22 DOC wine appellations and is renowned for producing the finest Moscato wines.
This wine is slightly effervescent with fresh, peachy highlights. Peach, mandarin, pear, and honeysuckle aromas on the nose, with a hint of melon. The palate adds wildflowers, nectarines, apricot, and yellow apple.
Because Bartenura Moscato is sweet, it pairs best with spicy curries, Cajun dishes, Szechuanese dishes, and Pad Thai. Soft, mild cheeses like brie, burrata, camembert, chevre, and ricotta also work wonderfully with it.
5. Chateau Ste. Michelle Harvest Select Riesling
Dessert wines don't come finer than Chateau Ste. Michelle Harvest Select Riesling. Light, syrupy, and brimming with peachy notes, this Riesling is easy to drink, with a hint of acidity to cut through the candied profile.
Chateau Ste. Michelle winery is Washington State's oldest winery. Founded in 1954 by a merger, it produces wines in Columbia Valley, which has a semi-arid climate and sees only 10 inches of annual rainfall, producing sweet, fruity grapes.
We adore this Riesling's peachy, appley profile, which has lots of depth with generous notes of honey, caramel, and hints of mineral, graphite, and lemon. The medium body and smooth mouthfeel make it highly drinkable.
Enjoy this wine as a dessert on its own, or pair it with cheesecake, meringues, and salted caramel cookies. The light acidity balances the sweetness, making it a perfect sipping wine for parties and those evenings in front of the TV.
4. Cavit Pinot Grigio
Light, refreshing, and zingy, everything about Cavit Pinot Grigio makes us jump for joy. This dry white wine uses grapes grown in Friuli Venezia Giulia, Italy, fermented and refined in stainless steel tanks to retain the purity of the fruit.
The Cavit winery is in Trentino, Italy, specializing in Pinot Grigio, Pinot Noir, and blended wines. They use sustainable farming practices and produce approachable wines anyone can enjoy. What's not to love?
On the nose, aromas of pear, green apple, grapefruit, honey, and stone, with citrus, honeydew, and vanilla on the palate. The finish is long and crisp, with pear and a subtle minerality making it irresistible.
Shellfish, pasta with white sauce, rice dishes with lots of herbs, fresh green salads, green vegetables, and sandwiches are perfect food pairings. The fair acidity and smooth mouthfeel also work well with savory snacks like pretzels.
Rosé
3. La Marca Prosecco Rosé
Love strawberry and red fruit? La Marca Prosecco Rosé delivers a red fruit bonanza with strawberry, raspberry, and melon flavors. It's produced with 100% Glera grapes from the northeastern Italy Prosecco di Treviso region.
La Marca operates cooperative wineries in the Province of Treviso, working with 5,000 winegrowers. Their Prosecco Rosé is the product of vineyards dedicated to rosé wine with the warm, humid climate producing intense grapes.
Zingy and fruity, this sparkling wine has medium bubbles with an off-dry, slightly mineral profile. Flavors of strawberry, raspberry, and a twinge of passion fruit shine. Butter and pear on the finish give it a delicate richness.
Pair this wine with barbeque meats, grilled vegetables, frittata, fruit tarts, and citrusy salads, or serve it with brunch for a refreshing tipple.
Also available at your local Whole Foods and Walmart wine sections.
Sparkling
2. Gemma di Luna Moscato
Sumptuous, fizzy bubbles and elderflower richness give Gemma di Luna Moscato a unique character. It's rich, refreshing, and off-dry, with a sweet palate leaning to tart on the finish. A light, easy wine perfect for any occasion.
Gemma di Luna is an Italian winery in Piemonte, Northwest Italy, with vineyards at the foot of the Alps. This is one of the coldest regions in Italy, with the winery picking Moscato grapes late in the season for an irresistible, floral fizz.
On the nose, peach, pear, elderflower, wildflowers, and apple, with a hint of lemon. The flavor profile leans heavily on elderflower, orange blossom, and sweet lime, and the crisp finish has notes of rose and honey.
Our favorite way to drink this wine is on its own after a meal – the refreshing, pure taste is divine and worthy of your attention. If you want to pair it with food, meaty fish like halibut, prawns, and lobster are excellent pairings.
1. Martini & Rossi Asti
This lush, lightly sparkling wine is made with the Moscato Bianco grape, known for its sweet, intensely aromatic profile. Martini Asti is a DOCG sparkling wine, fermented once instead of twice as with prosecco, giving it a light body.
Martini & Rossi is a famous Italian winery specializing in sparkling wines. Founded in 1863, it is one of Italy's earliest Pessione region wineries, with eco-friendly vineyards in the heart of the prestigious Italian DOCG area.
Aromatic white grape, ripe peach, melon, and brioche aromas are reflected on the palate with a touch of lemon and grapefruit. Sweet and low in alcohol (7.5% ABV), this wine is very approachable with a crisp, short finish.
The almond and vanilla notes of Italian desserts bring out the best in this Asti, but our favorite dessert pairing is Tiramisu, with its whipped coffee goodness. Fresh fruit, jam tarts, and English trifle also work brilliantly.
What are your favorite wines at Kroger? We'd love to hear what you think down below!
