Whether you’re a casual imbiber or an expert with the nose to prove it, having access to many wine options in one place is a lot of fun, which is why so many people enjoy shopping in Costco’s wine section.

1. The Costco Wine Selection is Surprisingly Broad

Costco has an impressive wine selection for a warehouse store that doesn’t specialize in any specific product or niche.

The Costco wine selection includes red wine, white wine, rosé, Prosecco, and champagne, and carries multiple varieties of each wine variation.

You’ll even find Costco’s store brand, Kirkland Signature, well represented among the liquor selection, as well as many recognizable name brands.

2. Kirkland Signature Costco Wine is Well Regarded

Buying generic brand wine doesn’t sound particularly exciting, but Costco’s Kirkland Signature vinos have received generous praise.

The retailer’s own wine tops many of the “Best Wines From Costco” lists. Kirkland Signature occupies six spots on the Eat This, Not That list of 30 best wines from Costco.

Additionally, numerous articles praise Kirkland Signature bottles specifically, singling out the Brut Champagne, the 2019 Cotes Du Rhone Villages, and the Malbec.

3. There are Some Costco Wines You Can Reliably Skip

While many Costco wines are popular, not all are hits, and there are some misses.

At Business Insider, the tasters stated that you’re well ahead to pass on the Kirkland Signature 2017 Pinot Grigio.

The Seattle Times also recommends passing by the 2019 Kirkland Signature Russian River Valley Pinot Noir.

These same reviewers also recommended skipping the 2019 Kirkland Signature California Cabernet Sauvignon, which left much to be desired.

4. You’re Buying Costco Wine From the Number 1 Vino Seller in the U.S.

Beating out even Walmart and the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board (the second-largest seller of alcohol in general in the U.S.), Costco sells more wine than any other entity in America.

When you consider that wine is just a part of the alcohol department, which is just one of many departments in entire stores, this is quite an impressive feat.

However, when you sell wine for as cheap as Costco does, customers will naturally end up buying more.

5. Costco Wine is an Amazing Deal

So how cheap is cheap?

Many of Costco’s Kirkland Signature wines sell for no more than $7 or $8 per bottle (and if that doesn’t sound super cheap, consider that they compare well to $15-20 bottles).

You can even get a box of Costco wine – four bottles worth – for just $13 (more on the boxed wine further down).

One thing you can count on for sure is that Costco wine is being marked up no more than 14 percent than the price the company pays to obtain it.

So, if you’re looking for a specific bottle of wine and Costco has it, chances are good that this will be the cheapest place to find it.

6. Be Vigilant For Extra Good Costco Wine Deals

Delish has stated that if you’re shopping at Costco, look for an asterisk in the “upper right-hand corner” of the shelf tag.

The asterisk means that the price has been marked down to its lowest and is very likely the last batch of stock for that product for a long time (or even forever).

If you see the asterisk in the wine section, chances are those bottles will be priced so they’re a super-great value.

7. Don’t Be Afraid to Splurge a Little On Costco Wine, Too

At the same time, even the more expensive bottles at Costco are still priced well, especially compared to other stores.

For example, it could be worth splurging on a $159.99 bottle of Dom Perignon, considering it can retail outside of Costco for $300-400.

Many others consider this price to be a good deal (Costco is also the country’s number one seller of Dom P).

8. You Might Find an Outrageous Costco Wine Splurge While You’re There

Some wine splurges in Costco might be too rich for almost anyone’s blood. For example, a bottle of 2007 Screaming Eagle goes for $1,180.

While it’s surely a deal (as these bottles are typically sold for $1,500 per bottle), you’re not alone if you push your cart past the crate and look elsewhere.

9. You Don’t Necessarily Have to be a Member to Purchase Costco Wine

Non-members can purchase Costco wine in Arizona, California, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Indiana, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, New York, Texas, and Vermont.

Some stores even have the alcohol section in its own wing, with a special entrance that members and non-members can access.

10. You Don’t Always Have to be In-Store to Buy Costco Wine

Other states allow you to receive Costco alcohol through grocery delivery using the app Instacart.

If your Costco is in the following areas, your wine is eligible for delivery:

• California
• Florida
• Hawaii
• Idaho
• Illinois
• Massachusetts
• Minnesota
• Missouri
• Nebraska
• North Carolina
• Ohio

11. Costco Wine Selections Rotate Throughout the Year

The Costco wine you enjoyed in one month might not always be there year-round, as the company regularly rotates its stock on a store-by-store basis, so what you find in Ohio might be very different from what’s in California, for example.

You can even see on this comprehensive list of Kirkland Signature wines that the author marked when certain wines were released.

12. Some of the Costco Winemakers Have Been Outed

People love to guess the maker of Costco’s alcohol offerings, and wine is no different.

Sometimes, the actual maker/manufacturer behind the Kirkland Signature label is even printed on the label, removing all the guesswork. In contrast, others have simply stated they were voluntarily involved in the process.

For instance, it’s common knowledge that Manuel Janisson actually makes the highly rated Brut Champagne, Tracy Haslam of Ti Point Vineyard produces the Ti Point Sauvignon Blanc, and Odil Van Der More makes the Premier Cru Chablis.

13. Other Times, the Costco Winemaker is More Obscure

In some instances, Costco’s secrets regarding its wine and winemakers remain unknown to the public.

For example, while we know that the Kirkland Signature prosecco is genuine (it has the quality-assurance label to prove it), there are few clues about who makes it.

Misa Imports imports Kirkland prosecco from the Veneto region’s vineyards, but the true vintner remains a secret.

14. You Can Buy Costco Wine by the Box

Buying wine by the box appeals to many because you don’t have to worry about finishing a bottle in one sitting. Costco began selling Kirkland Signature wine by the box some years ago, which is quite a steal compared to other name brands.

For example, you get four bottles worth $13 in a box, compared to rival Black Box, which sells for $25 for the same amount.

The Costco Wine Blog found the wine itself to be “mediocre,” but if you enjoy boxed wine for the quantity and not the quality, there’s not much else to complain about.

15. Just Try and Get Your Hands On The Costco Wine Advent Calendar

People in the United States go nuts for a good Advent calendar, and Costco’s wine advent calendar is on another level.

In 2021, Costco released the calendar earlier than ever in September, and even that far out from Christmas, the boxes have sold in large quantities.

These calendars are sold for $100, but you get 24 half-bottles to try throughout December (if you can wait that long).