(Gothamist) - Trader Joe's is beloved by the wine-drinker-on-a-budget for their Two Buck Chuck (or is it three bucks these days?). The wine goes down pretty easy, and even your dinner party guests with a more refined palate will think they're drinking at least a $6 bottle. But how is this stuff so cheap, anyway? Unfortunately, someone had to ask.

First, Two Buck Chuck (technically, Charles Shaw) is owned by Bronco, which is owned by the Franzia brothers. You know them for the low-alcohol sugar water they pawn off as wine—you probably had it in college, it's one reason why box wine got a bad rep. In an online comment, wine shop owner Chris Knox alleged how Franzias manage to keep Two Buck Chuck at such a low, low price:

"These large tractors with huge claws go down the rows of vineyards grabbing the grapes and depositing them in its huge receptacle. And it not only grabs ripe grapes, but unripe and down right rotten ones as well and throws them all together. Add to that leaves, stems and any rodents, birds, or insects that may have made those vines their home—they all get thrown into the bin as well. And guess what? You think there's going to be any sorting when that truck arrives at the winery (or should I say processing facility)? Nope. Everything, and I do mean everything (including all those unripe grapes, rotten grapes, leaves, stems, birds, rodents, and insects) gets tossed into the crusher and transferred to large tanks to ferment.