Kirkland Signature Grave Pinot Grigio
12.5%, $4.99
Owen: The 2020 shows off faint hay and kumquat rind tones aromatically. The palate is soft and shows good mouthfeel with layers of pink grapefruit and orange blossom. Its a bit out of balance with its unusual kiss of sweetness, but Tan, this delivers serious value considering the price point. Drink 2021-2024. Verdict: Recommended.
Tan: What the heck am I drinking here, Owen? It tastes like a Jolly Rancher green apple with a syrupy splash at the end. Verdict: Not recommended.
Kirkland Signature Bordeaux Superieur
Kirklands Bordeaux Superieur is always an interesting bottle. Some people love it, some dont, and our opinion seems to sway with every vintage. This new 2019 vintage changes things up a bit. First, the price actually decreased by $1, down to $6.99. It has always been $7.99, so a welcome change there. The blend changed
Who Makes Kirkland Brand Chardonnay
Kirkland is a brand of chardonnay that is made by Costco. Costco is a membership-only warehouse club that sells items in bulk at discounted prices.
This Chardonnay is a crisp, clean wine with a sweet, fruity flavor that is lightly oaked in the Russian River Valley. It is a very drinkable chardonnay that is both affordable and well-liked by a large audience. Because the wine is only available at Costco, it is an excellent value for those looking for great value.
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Kirkland Signature Russian River Chardonnay Sonoma
Kirkland Signature Russian River Chardonnay Sonoma is a wine aged in French oak. Like other chardonnay variants, it is cellared and bottled by DC Flynt MW Selections in American Canyon.
Glenn Hugo is the winemaker featured on the back label of the variant, and it contains 14% alcohol by volume.
It has elegant layers of flavors like pear, fig, and green apple with french oak, exotic spice notes, and a lingering finish.
Kirkland Signature California Pinot Grigio
12%,$12.99 for a 3 liter box
Owen: This comes off a lot boozier than the listed 12% alcohol. Delicate pear and green apple notes mark the palate alongside very little acidity and shades of Lemonhead candy. This is cheaper than some bottled waters. Drink 2020-2023. Verdict: Recommended.
Tan: Owen, this wine box works out to around $3 a bottle, the better value of the two grigios on this list. Its a good patio sipper or a wine to take to a tailgate or potluck. Its a table wine that even a novice wine drinker could enjoy because of the pleasant, sweet tropical finish. Verdict: Highly recommended.
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Tan Vinh And A Sommelier Pick The Best Costco Wines To Buy For The 2021 Holiday Season
Its time for our annual end-of-the-year roundup of Costco wines because we could all use a drink after this pandemic year, yes?
As wine lovers can attest, the big-box chain offers some of the best deals on reds and whites. But which one is actually worth buying a case of to squirrel away and which wine should you turn your nose up at and move on to the next aisle?
We asked two judges to taste the wines in Costcos large portfolio: Seattle Times food and drink writer Tan Vinh and Owen Bargreen, a certified Level Two sommelier and editor at Vinous.
Instead of a 100-point scale, we made the ranking more reader-friendly, grading each bottle highly recommended, recommended or not recommended.
What we found:
- The European and South American wines were much better value than the domestic bottles.
- Costco whites graded higher in our tasting than the reds.
- We hit branches in Issaquah, Seattle, Shoreline and Lynnwood in late November and early December and concluded that the branches in Sodo and in Issaquah offered the widest and best selection. Still, even the most sought after Costco red wine was sold out at those two branches, but we tracked down a bottle at the branch near Alderwood mall. Read on to find out more about that magical wine.
Kirkland Signature Ctes Du Rhne Villages
14.5%, $6.99
Owen: This 2019 was made by Patrick Lesec. A blend of mourvdre, syrah and grenache, the wine shows off high-toned guava and orange rind tones that combine with white pepper dusted bacon on the palate. The palate is fresh with lovely garrigue notes alongside a core of medium-bodied dark fruit flavors. While this says 14.5% alcohol, my guess is it rings in at closer to 15%. Drink 2021-2025. Verdict: Highly recommended.
Tan: But Owen, I thought this wine was crafted well enough that consumers wont notice how hot it is. Ive had so many glasses of Côtes du Rhône at restaurants priced at $18-$20, and none were as good as this. I had to check my receipt to be sure. Yep. The. Bottle. Is. Only. $6.99. The bad news: the Costco by Alderwood mall in Lynnwood was the only Seattle-area store that had any bottles left. Verdict: Highly recommended.
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Kirkland Signature Pauillac Bordeaux
Its a bummer that we havent seen a new vintage of this amazing wine appear in stores for more than two years. I hope its not gone for good. Please Costco, give us a surprise here. The Kirkland Pauillac Bordeaux is top notch for only $23 and it takes the cake at the top of our ratings with scores of 91 and 92. In the past it has appeared in stores in December-January.
Kirkland Signature Brut Champagne
12%, $19.99
Owen: Crafted by Champagne house Janisson, which is a grand cru site located in Verzenay, France, the Brut is a proprietary blend of pinot Meunier, pinot noir and chardonnay. Pretty nutty undertones combine with green apple and lemon blossom on the nose. The palate offers plenty of weight with shades of baking spice laced pear, challah bread and shades of kumquat. Drink 2021-2026. Verdict:Highly recommended
Tan: A Costco hall of famer, this is the best value in its wine portfolio every year. This Champagne should cost at least $40. This bottle is as good a deal as Costcos $4.99 rotisserie chicken. Speaking of chicken, Korean fried chicken has become the new pizza takeout around Seattle, and this Brut goes well with those sticky, umami wings. Verdict: Highly recommended.
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Costco Kirkland Brand Chardonnay Challenge
In honor of the most popular white wine in the US and the biggest wine retailer in the US, we undertake our very own Costco Kirkland Signature Brand Chardonnay Challenge! If you remember the Pepsi Challenge, this is a similar concept. We line up two Chardonnays that Costco sells under its Kirkland Brand and compare them to each other and a third well known Chardonnay that Costco also sells. We give you our honest opinions about these wines and help you pick the right one whether you are a Chardonnay fan or not. Spoiler alert, one of these wines was not good at all, and you may be surprised at which! We also discuss why Chardonnay is so popular in the US and the differences between oaked and unoaked or naked Chardonnay. Come join us – this ride is pretty fun and sometimes a little silly! Wines reviewed in this episode: 2020 Kirkland Signature Sonoma Chardonnay, 2020 Kirkland Signature K Vine Chardonnay Evergreen Vineyard, and 2020 Kendall Jackson Grand Reserve Chardonnay.
Contact The Wine Pair Podcast – wed love to hear from you!Visit our website, leave a review, and reach out to us: www.thewinepairpodcast.comFollow and DM us on Instagram: Send us an email:
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Upfromthecellar Wrote: 88 Points
May 18, 2018 – Much nicer than a 2015 I had about a year ago. The 2015 was sweet and flabby – way too much in the over oaked new world go for big butter California style. By contrast, this 2016 was much tighter, with a more acidic profile. Sure sure, there was still the unmistakable note of oak and butter but way dialed down. For the price, its an EXCELLENT buy. I think an earlier reviewer called this an OK wine to pour for casual company – I would go him one further – serve this wine and another higher end California Chardonnay blind to this “casual company” and see which one “wins”. I put my money on the Kirkland!! Once you cover the label its actually that good.
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Kirkland Signature California Cabernet Sauvignon
13%, $7.99 for 1.5 liters
Owen: This wine borders on communion wine. Sweetened figs and oak chips fill the nose. The cab comes off saccharin-driven as this is so poorly made I wouldnt make sangria from it. Drink 2021-2023. Verdict: Not recommended.
Tan: Also, this cab clocks in at a lot higher than 13% alcohol. Verdict: Not recommended.
Kirkland Signature K Vine Chardonnay
Winemaker Charles Smith makes Kirkland Signature K Vine Chardonnay, which is vinted and bottled by K Brands Mattawa, Washington, USA. The Kirkland Signature K Vine contains 14% ABV and amazing tasting notes of lemon, tropical fruit, and lime.
Every sip of K Vine reveals the tangy tropical fruit and baking spice. It is a medium-bodied wine with a good length and dry finish with a touch of oak and lemon notes.
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Kirkland Signature Marlborough Ti Point Sauvignon Blanc
12.5%, $6.99
Owen: The nose shows bright green bell pepper and dried herbs with gooseberry tones. Fresh and vibrant with great acidity, this might not have the best feeling of weight but delivers plenty of lip-smacking acidity with its lemon zest and melon tones. Drink 2021-2023. Verdict: Highly recommended.
Tan: Buy stock now. I would buy a case at this price. Owen and I agreed this is one of the best values in this tasting. Tastes like a dry Sprite with an earthy, clay finish. Verdict: Highly recommended.
What Brand Is Costco Chardonnay
There is no definitive answer to this question as Costco stocks a variety of chardonnays from different brands. However, some of the more popular brands of chardonnay that Costco stocks include Kirkland, Robert Mondavi, and Barefoot.
At Costco, you can get a great 90 Point Chardonnay for $10. The Wine Enthusiast awarded 86 points to this wine a year ago for $12.99. After a $10 discount at Costco, you could get this Laguna for $9.99. Pair it with hard cheeses, sushi, lean white meats, and fish. In the Russian River Valley, a long growing season and cool coastal breezes create ideal growing conditions for Chardonnay and Pinot Noir, both ripe and balanced. Wed also like to serve lobster, and, for most other types of seafood, its just fine.
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Kirkland Signature Sonoma County Chardonnay
If you like your Chardonnay buttery and slightly sweet, this is the one for you. The Kirkland Signature Sonoma Chardonnay from Costco.
Chardonnay from Sonoma County, California.
This Kirkland Signature wine is available exclusively at Costco for just $6.99.
Want to get an email reminder of the Kirkland Signature wines to watch for each month?
Kirkland Signature Sonoma County Chardonnay is elegant with rich, ripe, fruit flavors. The mid-palate has a wonderful zest coming from the grape’s natural acidity which provides a long multi-dimensional finish. Apple, pear and orange citrus notes are surrounded by hints of vanilla and spice from the subtle oak maturation.
Vinted & Bottled by Grape and Grain Imports13.5% Alcohol
The 2019 Kirkland Signature Sonoma County Chardonnay is made in the buttery, slightly sweet style that, to be honest, is not our favorite but it’s done so well it’s hard not to like. It opens with a pleasing aroma of microwave popcorn, apples and citrus.
The buttery theme continues when tasting this wine which is also filled with sweet apple and citrus along with a touch of tart tropical fruit. Featuring a smooth, slightly creamy texture this is quite easy to drink and a great representation of this style.
It ends with good length and some lingering buttery citrus notes. Butterlicious.
Kirkland Signature Prosecco Ros
11%, $6.99
Owen: Faint red rose petal tones combine with ripe red raspberry and green apple on the nose. The palate is soft and inviting with salty undertones alongside sweetened nectarine and Golden Delicious apple. Drink 2021-2024. Verdict: Highly recommended.
Tan: Ive never seen Costcos Prosecco Rosé in stores before. I hope this becomes part of their fall/winter rotation because this prosecco rosé is a much better deal than Costcos signature prosecco. Hard to find a prosecco rosé this good for under $15,
Verdict: Highly recommended.
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Kirkland Signature Series Russian River Chardonnay
Kirkland Signature Series Russian River Chardonnay is a 750 ml chardonnay with a light straw color.
On the nose, it is aromatic and fresh, and on the palate, it has hints of green apple with lemon, slight oak, butterscotch, buttery taste, and a soft finish. It is also cellared and bottled by DC Flynt MW Selections for Costco.
The Kirkland Familys 200
Kirkland chardonnay wine is produced by the Kirkland winery in California. The Kirkland family has been making wine in the Napa Valley for over two hundred years. The chardonnay grapes are grown in the vineyards on the Kirkland estate. The wine is made in the traditional method, using only the finest grapes. The Kirkland chardonnay is a full-bodied wine with a rich, buttery flavor. It is an excellent wine to pair with food, and it will complement any meal.
When it comes to white wine, Costco is known for its Kirkland Signature Chardonnay bottles. This chardonnay has an outstanding taste and is a fantastic value, making it an excellent choice for those looking for an inexpensive chardonnay. Glenn Hugo, a well-known winemaker, and Charles Smith, another well-known winemaker, produce the variants. Each bottle is marked with the winemakers name, as well as the cellar location. The Kirkland Signature K Vine, which is 14% ABV and has wonderful flavors of lemon, lime, tropical fruits, and tropical fruit, is a fantastic beverage. The wine has a medium body and a medium length, with notes of oak and lemon, as well as a touch of honey in the finish. In addition to being simple to drink, they are sweet and slightly buttery.
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We Each Tried Seven Types Of Kirkland Wine
Next, it came time to taste the wine. I’m no sommelier, and drinking alone in a conference room at work would’ve looked like a cry for help, so I arranged a casual wine tasting for Business Insider’s retail desk.
There were seven of us in the wine tasting. Everyone got a line of seven cups. I poured a little bit of each wine into the cups, which were all hastily marked with sticky notes.
The order that we tasted the wines went as follows:
- The Kirkland chardonnay.
- The Kirkland zinfandel.
- The Kirkland malbec.
Here’s my personal ranking of all the wines, along with some notes breaking down what we all thought of Kirkland’s boozy offerings:
Who Makes Kirkland Chardonnay Wine Answered
Last Updated on September 9, 2022 by Lydia Martin
Chardonnay is the worlds most famous white wine, and with Costco being a multi-billion dollar global retailer of wines and spirits, it is not surprising that they came up with their own under Kirkland Signature.
However, some of you may not know that Costco does not own a distillery. So, who makes Kirkland chardonnay?
Scroll down to find out.
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Costco Ftw: Kirkland Pinot Grigio Chardonnay And Cotes Du Rhone
In this episode, The Wine Pair tastes and reviews wines from Costcos own Kirkland brand. Listen to Joe and Carmela talk about why they love Costco, what they love to buy there, and why Joe has serious issues with Starbucks. In a nutshell, Starbucks sizes are too large, their bagged coffee smells like fish, they have created an alternate universe around the macchiato, mispronounce biscotti, and, most importantly, Howard Schultz sold the Seattle SuperSonics to another city! They review three Kirland wines, and rate them somewhere between 5 and 7 out of 10 on their rating scale. There are some winners in this group – and a few that they think are great for parties and cookouts! Wines reviewed: 2020 Kirkland Signature Friuli Pinot Grigio, 2020 Kirkland Signature Sonoma County Chardonnay, 2020 Kirkland Signature Cotes du Rhone Villages.
Contact The Wine Pair Podcast – wed love to hear from you!Visit our website, leave a review, and reach out to us: www.thewinepairpodcast.comFollow and DM us on Instagram: Send us an email:
Episode TranscriptHello! And welcome to the Wine Pair podcast. Im Joe, your sommelier of reasonably priced wine, and this is my wife and wine-pairing partner in crime. And we are the Wine Pair.
What do you love about Costco, Carmela?
Can we talk about a few things I really dont like about Starbucks coffee?
Wines
Region: Italy, Friuli
Producer:
Grapes: GSM: Grenache, Syrah, Mourvedre
Rating: Joe 7Carmela 6
Taste profiles expected
Well, that was super fun!
Kirkland Signature Wines: The Best Quality For The Lowest Price
Only Costco has a Kirkland Signature Alexander Valley Cabernet Sauvignon for $9. Alison Crowe is the winemaker of Kirkland Signature wines like Kirkland Carneros Pinot Noir. This Costco chardonnay is a delicious, crowd-pleasing wine that can be served with chicken or fish. It has a fruity, lightly oaked, and crowd-pleasing flavor. The wine in this wine is made from Sonoma County, California, and is aged in French oak. Costco also has it for $6.99.
About the author
Cathy is one of blacktialnyc.com founders. As an owner of multiple bars in the last 17 years, Cathy brings her experience into her writings, to educate our tasty readers.
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