The $7 New Zealand White Is the Best Wine at Costco, According to a Wine Expert - Dining and Cooking

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Taste-testing wine, as I’ve found over the years, can be a true occupational hazard. I was a wine buyer for two years, and have sampled my way through many wine aisles to find the best bottles at Aldi and Trader Joe’s, but Costco’s warehouse-sized wine selection seriously tested the limits of my corkscrew.

In fact, I opened so many bottles over the last few weeks that my trusty wine key essentially imploded. (It was as dramatic as it sounds, but well-worth it.) My cart rattled so loudly through the store that I was repeatedly referred to as “the party” by employees and fellow customers.

I sampled 23 wines in total from my local warehouse in Southern California, and invited a dozen friends over for a secondary tasting. Wine selections can vary wildly throughout regions and times of year, so I focused primarily on Kirkland Signature brands, and some other impressively delicious winemakers snuck onto my list. All in all, I found seven special bottles that I’d absolutely buy again — all under $25.

White Wine1. Kirkland Signature Ti Point Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc, $6.99 for 750 mL

A runaway hit at my informal tasting, this perky Sauvignon Blanc was the first bottle that was drained. This bright, sunshine-y wine is everything you want in a New Zealand Sauvy B; It has plenty of tart apple flavor to mellow out the moderate minerality, which makes this a real crowd-pleaser. (I love to taste rocks, but I’m definitely in the minority, and still I got my mineral-fill here.) It might even be a bit too easy to drink.

2. Kirkland Signature Chablis, $14.99 for 750 mL

I will always argue that we each have a denser white wine that’s perfect for us. Maybe it’s not an oaky Chardonnay, fair enough, but one shouldn’t cast away the whole category. This Chablis (which is unoaked Chardonnay, technically) just might be the one for you. Heck, it might be the medium-bodied white wine for everyone.

This bottle manages to coat your tongue with some salty-lemony notes, yet with enough crispness and acidity to keep it from making your tastebuds feel bogged down. It’s sort of like drinking a breezy day at the beach. And whoa, that library e-book you’ve been waiting on for, like, six months is finally ready to check out, to boot! Oh hell yeah.

Champagne & Sparkling Wine3. Kirkland Signature Champagne Brut, $24.99 for 750 mL

Remember that one time you had bad bubbly? For me, that’s when Champagne tastes a bit … burnt or cloying, and just plain not fun to drink. But Kirkland’s Champagne Brut? It is certified very fun to drink.

This bottle had me thinking, how did I get away with this? I’m sure Costco loses money on this (like other grocery loss-leaders; ahem, rotisserie chicken), as it very much tastes well beyond its $25 price tag. With plentiful bubbles, a bit of toastiness, and a refreshing citrus backbone, this Brut Champagne is reason enough to make a Costco run.

4. Gran Campo Viejo Cava Brut Reserva, $7.99 for 750 mL

Even though this bottle is likely a familiar sight in many grocery stores (and not exclusive to Costco), it still became an instant favorite amongst the bubbles I sampled. Sometimes Champagne can be a bit too subtle (or too dry) for me, and I want a bit more fruitiness to my bubbles.

For that mood, I typically turn to cava, a Spanish sparkler that’s way more affordable than Champagne (and great for mimosas). Think of this particular cava as Champagne’s flirtier cousin, with a touch more citrus and pear flavor (and sometimes even more bubbles). And I love more bubbles for my buck.

Red Wine5. Kirkland Signature Chateauneuf-du-Pape, $20.99 for 750 mL

As fun to drink as it is to pronounce, Kirkland’s Chateauneuf-du-Pape, which translates to “the pope’s new castle” in French, is a delightful mouthful. This lighter, not-too-dense, and inky varietal is an ideal summer red for me. It reminds me of two of my favorite summer activities, actually: roasting plums into a spiced fruit butter, and the floral notes that pop when making iced Earl Grey tea.

6. Daou Cabernet Sauvignon, $19.99 for 750 mL

Upon first sip, I deemed the Daou Cabernet Sauvignon my “desert island red.” If I could be so lucky to be shipwrecked (perhaps via a wine boat? Stay with me here) and left with cases upon cases of this particularly delicious Cab, I think I’d be OK. In fact, it might make most people feel OK.

After sipping on this just-oaky-enough-for-traditionalists bottle, one of my friends even said she guesses she’s “a Cabernet person now.” I think what really makes this such an approachable Cab is that it’s jammy and cherry cobbler-adjacent enough to lure you in and butter you up for the smoky, albeit softer, tannins.

7. Louis Jadot Bourgogne Pinot Noir, $16.99 for 750 mL

It takes a lot for me to give a Pinot Noir a seal of approval (often it’s a bit watery and one-note for me), but this French bottle had me considering if I had enough space in my studio apartment for a whole case. One of my new favorites to chill prior to drinking, the Louis Jadot Pinot Noir has a concentrated berry jamminess (with a bit of dense earthiness) that still manages to be light and drinkable, and, dare I say it? It’s got a lot going on.

Did your favorite wine at Costco make the list? Tell us about it in the comments.