Trader Joe's Wines for Topping Up?

[Burton Kent]

I want to be able to top up carboys so the headspace is minimized. I'm new to winemaking so I don't have bottles on hand to use for this.

Trader Joe's has decent wines at good prices. I used this one (Petit Sirah) to top off a Nebbiolo, but dammit, I wanted to drink that!

 

[Trevor7]

I've wrestled with this question as well. In the end, I feel that I'm making a high-quality wine, so I always use a decent similar wine to top off with. I have read that some keep a box wine handy for this purpose as they last for some time after opening.

 

[sour_grapes]

I used this one (Petit Sirah) to top off a Nebbiolo, but dammit, I wanted to drink that!

I bet you if you go back to TJ's, they'll have another one for you!

 

[BigH]

I like using Woodbridge Cab in the big bottles to top off my reds if I don't have any wine of my own to use. Make sure you ponder the consequences of adding sweetened wine to a batch that has not been treated with potassium sorbate, or a batch that underwent MLF.

I also like using food grade glass marbles for this purpose.

H