One year ago, Congress defunded public media. Now that we're 100% community funded, please become a sustaining member or increase your existing membership today.
This is an archival story that predates current editorial management.
This archival content was written, edited, and published prior to LAist's acquisition by its current owner, Southern California Public Radio ("SCPR"). Content, such as language choice and subject matter, in archival articles therefore may not align with SCPR's current editorial standards. To learn more about those standards and why we make this distinction, please click here.
How to Be a Budget Wino, Fresh & Easy Style
Photo by Lindsay William-Ross/LAist
Photo by Lindsay William-Ross/LAist
Times are tough, and if you've found yourself scrimping and pinching from the former bounty in your entertainment budget, you might have also found yourself spending more time at home (unless you're out heeding the wisdom of our own Recession Obsession, that is). But being at home doesn't mean you can't enjoy yourself, right? While Trader Joe's Two-Buck Chuck's era of novelty may be gone (although, as a reliable budget wine pick it still handily fits the bill) you can expand your wine rack without breaking the piggy bank via Fresh & Easy Neighborhood Market's selection of affordable wines.
The folks at F&E work with wine producers from all over the world, including New Zealand, Argentina, Australia, Spain, and Italy, as well as on the West Coast of the US in Washington and here in California. They've got 65 specially-selected wines available exclusively at their stores, and many of them have won awards, and can be had for under $11. The folks at F&E floated some samples our way, and we've been sipping our way through a $4.99 Ogio Primotivo, a $3.99 Northwood Cabernet Sauvingnon, a $1.99 Vista Point Chardonnay, and a $4.99 Pink Flamingo Rose. (Our fave pick of the four is, hands down, the Primotivo; also, read about LAist's Caroline on Crack's Wine Smackdown taste test.)
Learn more about how F&E picks their wines on the Fresh & Easy blog (where you can also download a .pdf of their wine list).
Not all locations carry wine, so consider calling ahead to your nearest location to be sure you can get what you're after. Follow Fresh & Easy on Twitter, too, to keep up to date.
One year ago, Congress voted to defund public media, eliminating a critical $1.7 million from our budget every year going forward. But they couldn’t silence us, and we’re not going anywhere. LAist is now 100% community funded and that means we’re taking our future into our own hands and turning to you to keep local reporting strong.
You come to LAist because you want independent reporting and trustworthy local information. Our nonprofit newsroom doesn’t answer to shareholders looking to turn a profit. Instead, we answer to you and our communities. We are free to follow facts wherever they lead and to hold power to account without fear or favor. Our only loyalty is to our readers and listeners and our mission: to inform, engage, and strengthen Southern California’s communities.
If this story helped you, please become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission. It just takes 1 minute to donate below.
You come to LAist because you want independent reporting and trustworthy local information. Our nonprofit newsroom doesn’t answer to shareholders looking to turn a profit. Instead, we answer to you and our communities. We are free to follow facts wherever they lead and to hold power to account without fear or favor. Our only loyalty is to our readers and listeners and our mission: to inform, engage, and strengthen Southern California’s communities.
If this story helped you, please become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission. It just takes 1 minute to donate below.
Senior Vice President News, Editor in Chief
