Best Costco Red Wines (7 Red Wines To Keep An Eye Out For)
You can get many things at Costco to turn your home into a relaxing retreat, including oversized furniture, cozy sweatshirts, and enormous TVs. But did you know that you can get some fantastic red wine from the world’s fifth-largest retailer?
Costco is renowned for its low-price alcohol and, specifically, the wine selection. I’ve got seven of the best red wines to keep an eye open for the next time you’re looking to spend a little dough in Costco to make home a paradise on earth.
1. Kirkland Signature Carneros Pinot Noir, $9
It’s only fitting to start this list with one of Costco’s branded wines, Kirkland Signature Carneros Pinot Noir.
That’s right. If you didn’t know before, Costco’s house brand includes everything from snacks to paper products to various wines.
That said, this pinot noir is exemplary, with the Beverage Tasting Institute (BTI) giving it a score of 93 points and designating it an “Exceptional” option for less than $10.
Also, it claimed a spot in the Top Five for the 2021 World Value Wine Challenge as the best pinot noir in the bunch.
Moreover, BTi describes this Kirkland Signature wine as having a “garnet color” and “aromas and flavors of dried violet, fennel seed, and black cherry….”
Additionally, the finish suggests “elements of cranberry, tomato leaf, suede, and vanilla….”
It’s a beautifully complex New World style red that suits a rich, meaty home-cooked meal, like Easter ham dinner or weeknight lasagna and meatloaf.
2. Benzinger Sonoma Cabernet Sauvignon, $13
According to Wine Turtle, this $13 Cabernet, which hails from California’s Sonoma County, usually retails at about $20.
It is aged in oak barrels for over a year after the Benzinger family farms the Cabernet grapes on their sustainable farms.
As a result, you can taste the care put into farming this fruit, which grows luscious and bursts with juiciness.
Additionally, Wine Turtle reports that its flavors include ripe fruits, chocolate, and even vanilla, with spicy undertones.
Finally, just a bit of sweetness rounds everything out, ensuring a smooth-drinking wine that is made for sharing.
3. Kirkland Signature Ribera del Duero, $7
This Spanish red is another 93-pointer from the BTI, making it an exceptional purchase and a can’t-miss addition to your wine rack.
According to BTI, this wine is “dusty garnet” in color and has “aromas and flavors of strawberry, watermelon candies, cherry tobacco, and licorice….”
BTI continues, “The finish shows notes of black plum, mace, sun-dried tomato, and cocoa.” Additionally, they recommend this red with hearty meals of red meat—which is not surprising.
But what is interesting is how well it works with root vegetables and tubers. Meals like pot roast and beef stew make for perfect pairings, as they combine meat and veggies.
4. Francis Coppola Diamond Collection Claret, $13
The Francis Coppola Diamond Collection claret is top-notch.
That said, you may have heard of claret before but didn’t realize it’s a British term for a Bordeaux, and this one is an amalgam of Cabernet, Petit Verdot, and Petite Sirah grapes.
5. Kirkland Signature Barolo, $19.99
If you weren’t aware by now, Costco takes great care and pride in choosing which wineries to partner with to produce its house-brand wines.
For example, Barolo grapes come from the Province of Cuneo in Italy, in the Piedmont region at the foot of the Alps (its capital is Turin).
However, the actual maker of this wine is Fontanafredda, a well-regarded producer that has been in operation since 1858.
That said, Reverse Wine Snob remarks that it’s rare to find a Barolo for less than $20, but Costco does it – you can pick up a bottle for just $19.99.
On the first sniff, you’ll pick up notes of leather, black cherry, licorice, and spice; a sip reveals spiced cherries and raspberries and a “dry, chewy, tannic and long finish.”
Also, this is a must-try if you’ve never had a Barolo because you were intimidated by the price (who wants to spend $40 on something they don’t know if they’ll want to finish?).
6. Joseph Phelps Freestone Pinot Noir Sonoma, $34
Costco is known for its amazing deals, but this $34 bottle of wine doesn’t seem that affordable at first glance.
Well, the Costco Wine Blog is here to set the record straight. According to its author, this is actually an “amazing price…on an amazing wine.”
The fantastic price is because the bottle normally retails for $60!
Yes, buying it at Costco will net you almost half off, and it’s another highly rated pinot, with a 95 from James Suckling and a 96 from Wine Advocate.
Its medium-bodied mouthfeel imparts a deep berry flavor—blueberries, blackberries, cherries, and “dark chocolate notes and a little spice.”
Like some things at Costco, this bottle might give you an initial sticker shock, but it’s an excellent value when considering the maker and the price in a regular liquor store.
7. Pagodes de Cos St Estephe Bordeaux, $49
This wine is by far the most expensive on this list, but according to Costco Wine Blog, the first labels from this maker, Chateau Cos d’Estournel, sell for as much as $250 each.
Also, the Pagodes de Cos is a “second wine,” meaning it’s Bordeaux from a Cuvee (a vat of wine) that was not used for the first label – it wasn’t the most perfect, upper-tier quality.
But it’s still very, very good and very drinkable, as the reviews for this Bordeaux all put it in the 90s ratings-wise (anything 90 and up tends to mean “Outstanding” or “Exceptional”).
Additionally, the Costco Wine Blog remarks on its aroma of raspberry and plum, followed by black cherry and other dark fruits in the mouth.
It has a lingering finish that wine critics cannot get enough of. Most of the time, Costco carries items that initially cause sticker shock, and this bottle is no exception.
But wine enthusiasts will tell you that this is a fair price on a gorgeous second label that still contains many of the qualities of the first label.
Ian Colbeck is a writer for Costco Food Database. Born in Seattle and living in Salt Lake City. Ian enjoys everything outdoors.