Shoppers at Trader Joe's locations in other parts of the country have paid higher prices on Charles Shaw varietals including Merlot, Shiraz, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Chardonnay for years, but in California the $1.99 price tag held strong for more than a decade.
Ceres, California-based Bronco Wine Company is the maker of Charles Shaw and blames bad crops in recent years for the price hike, according to a Santa Rosa Press Democrat article. Bronco owns dozens of California labels and imports dozens more from Africa, Asia, Australia, Europe, and South America.
Trader Joe's sells several million cases each year of various Charles Shaw varietals, making the brand its top selling wine.
