TN: Second Story Wine Co Pumpkin Spice Chardonnay

WINE TALK
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Thought I would take one for the team here. I am not sure if I should be more scared that I liked this wine or that this was already in Cellartracker :rofl:

  • NV Second Story Wine Company Chardonnay Pumpkin Spice - USA, California, Central Coast, Monterey County (9/13/2025)
    Sometimes when you walk through the wine section of Trader Joe's you just see something that makes you go WTF. Today's WTF was Pumpkin Spice Chardonnay. After literally stopping in my tracks and looking at the display with disbelief, I grabbed a bottle. I didn't notice until I got home that this had a nutrition facts panel on it - 6.9% ABV made from Chardonnay, Chardonnay juice, and natural flavors.

    Upon cracking open the bottle and pouring a glass, I got hit with the smell of cinnamon bubble gum. That quickly passed and in the glass I could smell nutmeg, cinnamon, clove, and pineapple. For a novelty like this, it's very balanced and not overpowering.

    The sip is sweet and reminiscent of an apple cider. Thick bodied with some acidity present that helps keeps the sugars from becoming too cloying sweet. The nutmeg/cinnamon/clove spice mixture hits first followed by bruised ripe apples, pineapple, yeasty bread, mango, and a bit of lemon. Finish is moderate in length matching the palate and very sticky.

    It's debatable if I'd really call this a wine. But I've gotta admit, it is rather tasty. I could see this being a hit over the holidays next to a fireplace with family. I am still in shock that I liked this. (80 points)

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My wife sent me a picture of this yesterday, i passed

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Pretty sure you will get banned around here for admitting that you drank Pumpkin Spice Chardonnay, not to mention liking it :wink:

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Lord no

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Daniel,
Sounds awful but good on you for giving it a chance.
Taste anything/everything . . .

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Could have potential for cocktails?

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This is what makes America great.

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BYO for book club at Starbucks? :rofl:

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Do you think it could be served hot, like a mulled wine? Or maybe if you also added some spirits and/or juices to it?

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Based on your note, I think my wife would love this. She likes the wines I buy but will also enjoy the occasional White Claw. This sounds like something that could blow a White Claw out of the water. A gateway to real wine, perhaps?

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Obviously this is a different lane than our usual wines, but I don’t know why it should be verboten to make fun wines with some additives and flavorings. Beer and spirits do it, why not wine

I do really enjoy mulled wine on a cold night. Probably once a year is enough for me but it’s really lovely. Way better than most $18 specialty cocktails and hoppy IPAs.

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Dude, you just failed the purity test. Your WB street cred is plummeting……

:grin:

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I have heard that because of poor conditions the vintage juice has gone into the NV.

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I could see it being served hot and possibly a used as a mixer. But it’s already juicy enough that I would not add any more sugar to it myself.

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It was a risk I was willing to take.

It’s practically a juice - this would not be the gateway to real wine.

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Starbucks is running an ad to the effect that their pumpkin spice lattes have real pumpkin in them.
Who knew there was artificial pumpkin flavor? Probably a bunch of flavor scientists who got bored working on artificial liverwurst.

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