Evoluna Chardonnay

TJ TuesdayTrader JoesWhite WinesChardonnay
Written By Catherine Courtney

Evoluna Chardonnay

GRAPES: Chardonnay

VINTAGE: 2023

REGION: Mendocino, California

ALCOHOL PERCENTAGE: 13.5%

PRICE: $9.99

Warm weather is finally here, and honestly, I’ve never been happier. I’ve swapped scarves for sundresses and my full-bodied reds for something a little more flirty. Enter: my latest Trader Joe’s treasure, Evoluna. While casually “just grabbing one thing” (famous last words), I stumbled across a bottle of Evoluna Chardonnay from Mendocino.

Typically, I am not a Chardonnay-girlie. (Despite that my last post was about a Russian River Chardonnay)

Chardonnay gets a bad rap, and honestly, it’s kind of unfair. Somewhere along the way, people started associating it solely with overly oaked, buttery bombs that taste like someone dropped a stick of butter in your wine glass. But the truth is, Chardonnay is one of the most versatile, elegant white wines out there. From crisp and citrusy to rich and creamy, there’s a style for everyone… even the Chardonnay skeptics.

Admittedly, I love Trader Joe’s and their employees. As I was checking out, one of the employees commented that I was going to LOVE this bottle. Oftentimes, I take recommendations in stride, but I felt like this person was right, not to mention they had enjoyed a few bottles in the previous weeks.

With that said, I grabbed my bags, headed home, and immediately chilled this bottle. So, let’s jump into the tasting details, shall we?

Tasting Notes:

  • Pale, straw-yellow hue - truly the faintest color

  • Delicate floral notes layered over ripe stone fruits like peach and pear, with a hint of citrus/lemon zest

  • Medium-bodied with a smooth, almost creamy mouthfeel

  • Crisp, refreshing, and slightly tropical with lingering notes of pineapple and a kiss of minerality

  • Nicely balanced acidity, making it bright and food-friendly ( perfect for warmer days: aka- Patio Pounder)

Verdict:

Evoluna is a charming, easy-to-love Chardonnay that feels fresh, modern, and a little elevated for its $9.99 price tag. With its organic pedigree, vibrant fruit, and whisper of oak, it's a refreshing reminder that good wine doesn’t have to come with a steep price tag. Whether you’re pairing it with a light spring dinner or sipping it solo on the patio, this is the kind of bottle that belongs in your warm-weather rotation. If you grab a bottle, drop your thoughts in the comments below!

Until Next Time!

Catherine Courtney

Welcome to Blonde Voyage Nashville!

I am so excited to finally see this dream become a reality.  Between the destination restaurants, the copious amount of food photos and insanely crazy travel stories, I have decided to share my journey. 

My name is Catherine Courtney and I am a Nashville native with a penchant for culinary creativity and epic travel adventures. I'll admit... I also have a slight obsession with handbags.

Two years ago, my life changed completely.  Everything that I knew to be was completely turned upside down.  I quickly realized that time is our greatest commodity and it's not to be taken for granted. I couldn't wait for the perfect time, who knew when that would be.  I needed to take the leap and explore the world on my own.  There were so many places I wanted to go, but where would I start. 

France was always one of those places that I had romanticized.  Wandering the streets of Paris and seeing the Eiffel tower were at the top of my list. Without hesitation, I booked a two week trip to the French Rivera and Paris.  It was a journey of a lifetime.  Not only were amazing friendships cultivated, but it was on that trip that i discovered that food and travel are the embers that that keep my soul on fire. 

It wasn't until I arrived back in Nashville with my passport that I realized I had been bit. Wanderlust had completely taken over.  I already started thinking about where I wanted to go next.  It was then that I decided that it was more important to have camera full of photos and a tattered journal full of stories than anything else. My heart was overflowing.

One of my favorite quotes that resonates is from Lewis Carroll's Alice in Wonderland:

"Actually, the best gift you could have given her was a lifetime of adventures...."

Join me as I explore near and far away places, filling my passport full of stamps and satiating my appetite with some of the most amazing cuisine the world has to offer. 

Thanks for reading! 

       

 

 

http://blondevoyagenashville.com
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