It’s a truth universally acknowledged in my friend group that when you aren’t sure what wine to buy, you ask Chloe. My friend’s chef-prepared 4-course birthday dinner was no different.

The menu was a bougie affair, with plenty of seasonal farmer’s market items and ingredients we couldn’t pronounce. I was asked to bring a few wines to have with dinner. Since I was heading to Trader Joe’s, I challenged myself to get everything from the wine section there.

And let me tell you, my bottles — which everyone kept calling “the fancy wines”(!) — didn’t disappoint.

I made sure to pick wines that could be versatile with a range of flavors — sweet, spicy, savory, the works. So even if you’re not making a gourmet feast, these would be great options for a chill dinner at home.

Here are the 4 wines I picked up at Trader Joe’s that were PERFECT for a fancy dinner party.

First Course: Seasonal Salads with Farmer’s Market Fruit
Paired with Castle Rock Rosé ($4.99)

Our chef somehow turned peaches and cucumbers into a magical plate of flavor. He made two salads: one with grilled peaches, shishito peppers, avocado, and lemon vinaigrette; one with melons, pink onion, espelette, and vinaigrette. Honestly so good I’m salivating thinking about it.

I wanted a wine that was fresh and acidic to balance the fresh fruit and vinaigrette. I also wanted a generous helping of fruity berry notes. This — on top of it being girls’ night — made rosé the obvious choice.

I love this Castle Rock Rosé because it’s pretty dry, has a hint of fruitiness that balances the acidity, and pairs beautifully with fruit. Crushable on its own and lovely with food. Also, did I mention it’s only $5 bucks?!

Second Course: Tagliolini Cacio e Pepe
Paired with Firesteed Pinot Noir ($11.99)

I mean, is there anything better than basically adult mac n cheese? This one was soooo cheesy and creamy, almost like fettuccine Alfredo but with extra sharp pepper flakes.

Now with creamy pasta, you can go a few different ways with the pairing. Some people will choose a creamy chardonnay to meld with the cheese, and that’s a great choice. A crisp Chardonnay is another nice option because the acidity will cut through the creaminess.

For me, I went with a peppery Pinot Noir. You want to be careful you don’t have a red wine that’s too heavy or it might overpower the cream sauce. So a light, fruity, and peppery Oregon Pinot Noir was perfect in my opinion.

This one was especially smokey (maybe too smokey, like to the point of having smoke damage from fires maybe?) but next to the pepper of this pasta, it was beautiful. The notes of smoke, pepper, and fruit added a great layer of flavor.

Third Course: Crispy Skinned Salmon with Fennel
Paired with Castle Rock Pinot Noir ($7.99)

Oops, not only did I bring two pinots, I also brought two Castle Rock wines. I like what I like, ok? I’ve loved Castle Rock ever since I discovered them at Wine & Spirits Mag where I noticed the critics kept loving them, despite them being so damn cheap.

Is this comparable to a $150 Burgundy? No. But is it perfect for a dinner party where everyone is definitely having more than 3 glasses and no one is a wine snob? Absolutely.

It’s fruity. It’s vibrant. It’s the perfect blend of cherry and chocolate and spice. And just divine with a rich cut of salmon. My hot take is that pinot noir and salmon is always the perfect pairing. Something about vibrant fruit notes and rich savory salmon just gets me. Try it, you’ll see.

Fourth Course: Flourless Chocolate Cake with Raspberry Coulis & Summer Berry Pavlova
Paired with Almond Sparkling Wine ($6.99)

Honestly, we were so spoiled. Two amazing desserts at once? This actually made my job hard. And I went with an unconventional choice, which some wine snobs may judge. So sue me.

First of all, chocolate cake is undisputedly perfect with vintage port wine. The pairing of rich chocolate notes is just heaven. But in this case, we ALSO had a lighter, berry-driven dessert, and port does not exactly work with that (would be too overpowering). So I went with a wine with a hint of sweetness, lots of acidity to balance the flavors, and bubbles to elevate everything.

This almond-flavored bubbly is just so good. Is it for fancy-pants wine drinkers? No. Is it just plain delicious and crushable for a summer evening, a day at the pool, or paired with sweet treats? Absolutely.

This is not the $4 Andre that you remember from college (or in my case, barely remember). This is crisp and refreshing, with a hint of sweetness on the palate that pairs beautifully with fruit, vanilla, and even chocolate. Think: a sprinkle of shaved almonds on top of chocolate or berries. Plus, with bubbles, it helps cut through a rich dish and wash everything down.

So there you have it, our 4-course feast paired with the “fancy bottles” from Trader Joe’s! The grand total for wine was $31.96.

Not bad for a flight that got a group of 8 ladies rather tipsy!