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The Definitive Guide To Costco's Kirkland Signature Wines

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costco kirkland wine

Costco's Kirkland branded products are synonymous with high quality at super low prices, and the wine aisle is no exception.

In some cases, Kirkland wines can be the shining example of the ridiculous quality to price ratio you can find under these private branded products.

We've been tasting and reviewing Kirkland wines since before we even launched this website more than 15 years ago. In fact, our reviews of Kirkland wines are a huge reason we've acquired our loyal fan base over the years and they serve as the cornerstone to all of our content.

Some of the most common questions we get are around timing for certain bottles to hit stores, pricing and ratings compared to prior years, and interest in new Kirkland wine offerings.

We created this post a while back and continue to update it with current ratings, prices and timing to answer these questions, as well as help us keep track of it ourselves for managing this site.

Note: We are not including the Kirkland Prosecco or Champagne, as those are non vintage, widely available, and pretty consistent in taste and price year to year.

Now...The Definitive Guide to Costco's Kirkland Wines

Here is the full historical data we pulled to base these calculations on. This will also show the price increase/decrease year to year. We did our best to approximate the target month, erring on the side of early rather later when it wasn't clear with the data.​

Here's a PDF download of the chart that some readers requested so they can save it to their phones.

WineVintageRatingPriceMonthAv RatingAv Release
Vacqueras20228811.49July88July
Chianti Classico2022868.99Mar86Feb
2021868.99Jan
2020858.99Feb
2019878.99July
2018877.99May
2017868.49Oct
2016878.49April
 2015888.49June
 2014888.49Apr
 2013888.49Mar
Ti Point Sauv Blanc2023887.49Dec88Wide Avail
2019876.99Apr
 2014887.99May
Sonoma Old Vine Zin2021879.99Jan88Wide Avail
2019889.99July
2018899.99Oct
2017889.99Apr
 2015909.99Jan
 2013879.99Mar
Suscol Napa Cabernet20229317.99Mar92Apr
20219217.99May
20209116.99Apr
20199116.99June
20189116.99Apr
Oakville Cabernet20228919.99Feb90Feb
20219219.99Jan
20209019.99Feb
20199119.99Mar
20189119.99Feb
20179019.99Mar
 20169018.99Feb
 20159118.99Apr
Barolo20209319.99Jul93Jun
20199319.99Jun
20179319.99Feb
20169219.99Mar
20159219.99Mar
Mendoza Malbec2022876.99Mar87?
2021886.99Dec
2020886.99Dec
2019876.99Oct
2018876.99Feb
 2017856.99Sept
 2015866.99Aug
Russian River Pinot Noir20238811.99Oct87Nov
20228611.99Nov
20218911.99Dec
20198612.99Jan
20168712.99May
20158512.99Apr
20148612.99Apr
Willamette Pinot Noir20218812.99Feb89March?
20208912.99Apr
20198912.99May
20189014.99Apr
20178914.99Feb
Gigondas20228913.99Jan89Jan
20218913.99Dec
20209013.99Nov
20198614.99Jan
20188814.99Dec
20178614.99Feb
 20168814.99Oct
 20158714.99Sept
Brunello di Montalcino20199319.99Sept90Sept / Oct
20189119.99Jan
20179019.99Nov
20169119.99Sept
20158926.99Nov
20148826.99Nov
 20138826.99Nov
 20128724.99Oct
 20118624.99Sept
 20109224.99Jan
Stags Leap Cabernet20229122.99Aug91Aug
20219122.99Aug
20199123.99Aug
20189123.99Sept
20178923.99Oct
 20168921.99Sept
 20148819.99Aug
 20139019.99Sept
Cotes du Rhone Villages2023897.69Sept88Sept
2022886.99Oct
2021886.99Oct
2020856.99Mar
2019896.99Nov
2018896.99Oct
 2017886.99Oct
 2016876.99Sept
 2015876.99Sept
 2013886.99Aug
Napa Valley Cabernet20208814.99Aug88?
20198814.99Mar
20188814.99Apr
Napa Red Blend20218910.99Feb88?
20209010.99Sept
20198910.99Oct
20188610.99Oct
20168610.99Sept
 20158610.99Nov
 20148610.99Apr
 20128710.99Dec
Pinot Grigio Friuli2023864.99Jun87Wide avail.
2020874.99Jan
2019865.99May
2018885.99Sept
 2017855.99Aug
K Vine Cabernet20208913.99May89May
Columbia Valley Red Blend20218916.99Jul89?
20208816.99Dec
Columbia Valley Cabernet2022889.79Dec88?
2021889.79Jul
2020888.99June
2019888.99Apr
2018888.99Dec
2017888.99Aug
 2016888.99Aug
Sancerre20229015.99Mar90March
20208914.99Mar
20199015.99Mar
Russian River Chardonnay20218612.99June87June
20198912.99June
20188712.99June
20178712.99July
 20168612.99June
 20158712.99Dec
 20148812.99May
 20138712.99Jun
Kirkland Boxed Cabernet20178412.99Jun
Carneros Pinot Noir2022859.99Jun87June?
2021869.99Sep
2020859.99Aug
2019899.99May
2018899.99July
2017909.99May
 2016899.99Aug
Cotes de Provence Rose2023897.99May89May
2022897.99May
2021908.59July
2020908.69July
2019899.99May
2018898.99May
 2017909.49Apr
 2016908.99Apr
Rioja Reserva2019897.89Mar88Mar / Apr
2018897.89May
2017897.99Apr
2016887.99Mar
2015887.99July
2014886.99Apr
 2013886.99May
 2012876.99Feb
 2010886.99Jan
Premier Cru Chablis20219018.99Feb90Feb
20209017.49Jan
20199017.79Mar
20188919.99Jan
20168817.99Feb
 20148714.99May
Chianti Classico Gran Selezione20209317.99Dec93Dec
20199317.99Dec
Bordeaux Superieur2022876.89Jan87Jan
2021876.00Dec
2020876.99Dec
2019886.99Feb
2018857.99Jan
2016877.99Jan
 2015877.99Dec
Rutherford Cabernet20229118.99Dec91Dec
20219118.99Nov
20199218.99Jan
20189218.99Dec
20168917.99Jan
Ribera del Duero20149013.99Dec90Dec
20129013.99Dec
 20119012.99Sept
Chateauneuf-du-Pape20229319.69May90May
20219019.69May
20209019.99June
20198821.99May
20189020.99June
20169017.99July
 20158919.99May
 20148819.99Sept
 20139319.99May
 20129119.99July
 20119219.99July
Alexander Valley Cabernet2021879.99May87?
2018889.99Aug
2015879.99July
 2014879.99Aug
 2013869.99Oct
 2012838.99Oct
Moscato d'Asti2022887.99Jan88Wide Avail
Toscana20218613.99Aug87Aug
20208613.99Aug
20198714.99Oct
20148813.99Apr
Saint-Julien Bordeaux20219017.49Nov91Nov
20209217.99Nov
20199118.69Jan
Pauillac Bordeaux20159222.99Jan92Dec
 20149122.99Dec
Download PDF of this chart.

Here are two more fun stories we wrote about Kirkland wine you might enjoy:

New Kirkland Signature Wines We'd Like to See at Costco

Who Are the Real Producers Behind Costco's Kirkland Signature Wines?

Don't forget to sign up for our emails (2X/week) so you can be the first in the know on new Costco wine reviews. We value you as a subscriber and won't share or spam ever.

Cheers everyone.

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Comments

  1. Dave says

    As usual for your blog another great article and recap of some amazing Costco bottles.

    Having lived in many areas known for wine (Ca, Bordeaux, Porto and Montepulciano in southern Tuscany) I am always excited to see what new gems Costco has to offer - and I often reference your latest emails before heading out to shop. The expected In store month info is also very helpful.

    Keep up the great writing!

    • Editor says

      Awesome. Glad to hear it.

  2. Ed biancarelli says

    Great review. Thanks. If you could post this in an index card format or some easy to print summary it would be great to carry when in Costco shopping.

    • Editor says

      Great idea. I could probably make the chart a downloadable PDF pretty easily. I created it in Excel for ease of use and could create the PDF from there. Give me a day or two and I’ll report back.

    • Dave says

      If using an IPhone you can download app called Instapaper for free. Any articles you can “print” and keep on your iPhone to read anytime, offline too, searchable by keyword. Great for things you want to keep for later (this blog, recipe’s, etc).

  3. Ramon Arevalo says

    Thank you for making the reviews clear and consice for a beginner like myself who has slowly started from only drinking white wine like Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc. After reading your reviews I finally wet my appetite on some beautiful reds. The Napa Red blend was wonderful. I also enjoy the Merlots so hopefully you'll treat us to a review on Merlot in the future which is fruity and easy drinking. Someone recommended Stella and can honestly say not the fruit forward wine I was looking for.
    Thanks again for treating us to such honest reviews of Costco's great wines. Cheers!!

    • Editor says

      Cool. Here are our Merlot archives. You still can find a few of these. I like the Markham and Coppola at Costco for a reasonable price. http://costcowineblog.com//category/merlot/
      Let us know if you come across any good Merlot buys in your Costco shopping.

  4. Donald Dunn says

    Thanks for the summary of the reviews. Helpful hand tool.
    I only wish the Costco in Charlotte,NC did a better job carrying and stocking many of these wines. Recently they carry very few.

    • Editor says

      Thanks. We’re not too far away from you in Atlanta. I hope so more turn up for you.

    • Pat says

      @Donald Dunn, Same here in STrongsville, OH. It is maddening. As far as I know, we all pay the same membership fees. Maybe we should get a discout on our membership fees since we are "underserved."

  5. mcclainra says

    Thanks for some excellent information, and I, too, would be interested in something to take with me when I do go to Costco.
    I use the Costco Hacks Cross, south, in Memphis. There is one other in Memphis, but we prefer this one. When I see one of your reviews that I might like, I take a screenshot, save it to the NOTES app on my mac, into a folder "Costco Wines". Usually my wine friend there, can look at it and immediately tell me if it is available, but still miss a lot of your recommendations. I know all Costcos don't have the same, but still love your newsletter. TY.

  6. Brian says

    Is there a way to check which wines are in particular stores?

    • Editor says

      Unfortunately, there’s not really a good way. I know that some readers of the blog will use the item number that we list at the end of the reviews. They will either call the store and ask if they have that item number in stock.  Or they will use the online chat at ‪Costco.com‬ to ask about the availability of the item numbers near them. 

    • Noah says

      @Editor, FYI the new Costco app has a feature where you can search what's in stock at your warehouse.

  7. Brian says

    I have been looking how to chart these without creating my own spreadsheet to have available on my phone, and now have copied and paste into the spreadsheet, saved a tremendous amount of time and effort. Can you do this for your other reviews??

  8. David says

    Hi Folks. I frequently look at the ratings of the wines and believe the gold standard is Wine Spectator. The others, i.e.. Wine Enthusiast, and others just don't seem credible/accurate to me. I'd love to hear my fellow wine drinkers opinions.
    Thank you
    David

    • Pat says

      @David, I agree re Wine Spectator. But there are so many wines they don't cover. I also use Wine Enthusiast. They seem to cover more wines than Wine Spectator and are pretty good with their ratings.

  9. Richard Smit says

    What about Costco’s 10 year old Tawny Port??

  10. John Jannis says

    Your Kirkland wines historic roundup is very useful and appreciated. However, it reflects a Costco wines imbalance (IMO), a much lesser emphasis on white wines. Here in SC the imbalance is not only in terms of whites vs. reds but that about three quarters of their white wine stock is west coast chardonnay, not a favorite in our house. This is a pretty extreme tilt and not one that I would have thought was conducive to max overall sales. Anyway, we are strong fans of their red wine selections and also the French chardonnays. I guess we will have to buy most of our whites elsewhere. Would like to have your thoughts on this.

    • Editor says

      Hi John, totally agree. The intro of the Kirkland Sancerre was a step in the right direction. I'd love to see some more Kirkland whites appear from Spain and Italy. Also a Kirkland Gruner Veltliner and Riesling would make really nice additions.

  11. Colleen says

    I’m new to Costcowines. Whose wine rating do they use for their wine ratings? I couldn’t find a citation. Thanks for your help!

    • Editor says

      Hi, Costco uses quite a few different critics on their placard signs that accompany the wines in store. That includes James Suckling, Decanter, wine Spectator, Wine Enthusiast

  12. Barbara says

    Does Costco have a time of year for Kirkland Signature 10 year Tawny Porto? I have been unable to find it for the past 4 months.

    • Hugh says

      Hi Barbara,

      I've stocked up on that the past of couple of years - I seem to remember getting it over the holidays so look out for it from Oct onwards.

  13. Matt says

    Love this list, thanks!

    • Editor says

      Thanks for following us Matt!

  14. Kevin Knox says

    This is a fantastic resource. Really grateful to you for putting this together and thoughtfully including a PDF cheat sheet.

    • Editor says

      Cheers Kevin!

  15. ozzy21 says

    A big thank you for spending your time so we can make more educated decisions

    • Editor says

      Absolutely. Thanks for following the site.

  16. Tim says

    The 2021 Saint Julien (Bordeaux) is available now at least here in Oregon! Nice wine with 12.5% ABV.

    • Editor says

      Awesome news. Glad to hear it’s back and hope to find soon.

  17. Janice says

    I look forward to your posts on Wednesday and Friday! Thanks for this PDF, which is now in my phone. We also live in metro Atlanta, and I'm always surprised at the items you find in Kennesaw that I don't see at Perimeter.

    • Editor says

      Hi Janice, I’m jealous of what Perimeter has. It’s maybe the best selection around ATL IMO. Send in any recommendations you find there.

  18. David says

    Great links, thanks. A useful addition would be the current Costco item #.

  19. Vic says

    Does anybody know if and when there will be a new vintage of Kirkland branded Chianti Classico released? Can’t find any vintage in stores in DC-VA-MD. Btw, thank you for compiling all this great info on this page.

  20. Greg says

    The definitive guide to Costco’s Kirkland wines is helpful. Thanks for the PDF version as well. Keep it up. thx

  21. Ken says

    While the Costco Wine Blog is really helpful, I wish the reviewers would include notes on cellaring. I have found that many Costco wines should be consumed within a year of purchase. Others, however, have greatly improved after 5 or even 10 years in my cellar.

    Looking at this guide to Kirkland Signature wines, I see some (such as the Alexander Valley Cabernet and the Willamette Pinot Noir) that I found aged beautifully. Others, not so much.

    If the Blog could include a “drinking guide” with a simple “drink now,” “drink now or cellar for up to 5 years,” or “cellar for 5 – 10 years” that would be a great help.

  22. Peggy Manny says

    First of all I want to thank you for your twice weekly wine blog articles. I have learned a lot.
    WhenI shop for wines in a traditional wine store I get a kick out of some of the snooty “ wine experts “ that correct my pronunciation and question my wine back ground ( I’ve been around the block )but the most important thing I have learned is that the tastings of wines are a “ preference pallet “ and that everyone has different opinions and tastes preferences.
    I will read your descriptions and if I’m lucky enough to find that particular wine to try ..and our local Costco has it available … and if I like/love it I will RUSH back and hopefully be able to stock up. Up here in the Northern Midwest we don’t have the choices that I’ve seen in (for example) Naples FL🫤…. I am currently enjoying the Kirkland Côtes du Rhône that you were spot on about !!

    If I could have you evaluate two particular wines it would be Sauvignon blanc that do not have the grapefruit taste and Chardonnay’s that are un-Oaked…there again is that darn pallet differences 🙂 Thanks again for your blog !! 🍷