The Kirkland Wines That Taste More Expensive Than They Are

Just because you like to open a bottle of wine to drink with your dinner every once in a while doesn't necessarily mean that you have the budget to spring for a super impressive, expensive bottle on a random weeknight. But choosing more budget-friendly options doesn't mean you have to settle for a subpar wine. If you don't have many good local but affordable wine shops in your area, Costco can be a solid place to find great wines that won't break the bank. In fact, Costco's store brand, Kirkland Signature, sells a surprising number of quality wines that can keep your wine rack stocked all year long.

These wines aren't all available at the same price point, but they all have one important thing in common: They offer great value. These Kirkland Signature wines taste more expensive than they are, so you can enjoy what you're sipping on a budget. Plus, there's something here for everyone, whether you're looking for a white or a red, a boxed wine or something that feels a bit higher-end (despite being on a budget). The next time you're at Costco, you might want to give these wines a try. Pick out the grapes and styles you already know you like, or switch it up and experiment with something new. You know you'll be getting your money's worth.

Kirkland Signature's Champagne has to be one of the better wine deals that Costco offers. Champagne prices vary, depending on the producer, vintage, and other winemaking details. However, on the low end, you can expect to spend around $60 on a bottle of bubbly that's actually made in Champagne. But at Costco, you can snag Kirkland Signature Champagne for around half that price, depending on location. I almost never see Champagne prices this low, so it really feels like a steal if you're committed to drinking actual Champagne and not some other type of sparkling wine.

With a blend of pinot noir, pinot meunier, and chardonnay, it's a classic Champagne blend, which gives the wine fresh, fruity notes like green apple and pear. In this wine, you might also pick up on notes of bread or brioche, which are what give Champagne its beloved complexity and what sets the style apart from simpler sparkling wines like prosecco. Kirkland Signature's version of the wine isn't the most interesting I've ever tasted, but it's excellent for the price point. Have a few bottles on hand, so you're always ready for a celebration, or buy a bottle as an affordable gift for someone who's just starting to get into wine.

There are a few places in the world that are known for pinot noir, and Oregon's Willamette Valley is one of them. Because of its relatively cool climate, the region can grow this finicky grape well. If you've bought plenty of pinot noir before, then you're probably aware that it's generally not the cheapest wine out there. Since the grape can be quite difficult to grow, pinot noirs can command exceptionally high prices, even when you're buying an entry-level bottle. That's what makes Kirkland Signature's Willamette Valley Pinot Noir such an incredible deal. Prices will vary by Costco location, but I haven't seen many other decent pinots at this price point.

In this wine, you'll find some of the red cherry notes that this grape is known for, along with the sort of mushroom-y, forest floor flavors that you don't always find in lower-quality bottles. It may not be the most exciting or complex pinot noir you've ever tried (which shouldn't be surprising, considering just how low the price point is), but it has enough of what I love about the grape. It's a solid option when I'm craving pinot noir but don't want to spend standard pinot noir prices.

Trying to learn more about wine? Well, if you're a total beginner, Kirkland Signature's Pinot Grigio Friuli Grave is a great place to start. This bottle can be downright cheap, which makes it an excellent option when you're just trying to pick up something that's simple, dry, and easy to sip on. Lemon and green apple are some of the most prominent tasting notes, for an easy-drinking, fruity style that should have some appeal amongst most casual wine drinkers. Again, this wine may not represent the pinnacle of what pinot grigio can be when it's at its best, but you're getting a quality bottle for the price.

Because the wine is light and refreshing, it pairs well with just about anything. If you're at a loss for what to serve with it, you can always consider picking up some cheese at Costco to make a tasty charcuterie board — the acidity in this wine can easily cut through fatty meats and cheeses. It's also not very heavy or intense, which means that it's a bottle you can also enjoy all on its own.

I love a good sauvignon blanc, but I don't always want to pay a premium for it. That's why I adore Kirkland Signature's Ti Point Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc. In fact, it's featured as one of the best sauvignon blanc bottles under $15. How has it earned this distinction, you ask? According to one reviewer, it's a classic expression of Marlborough sauvignon blanc, featuring the iconic vegetal note that this grape and style are known for. You may also pick up on flavors of grapefruit, lemon, or herbs in your glass, offering a much more expressive wine than you may expect from its low price point.

Per another reviewer, the wine has a nice minerality and touch of tartness, which I think makes a wine that much more refreshing. Considering that this style of sauvignon blanc is known for its bold, bright, and racy acidity, that's just what you're looking for in a bottle. Sauvignon blanc is just getting more and more popular, so it's a great grape to learn more about. This bottle is the perfect entry point for all of the more budget-focused wine lovers out there.

Craving some bubbly but don't want to spend as much as you would on a bottle of Champagne? This is when prosecco comes in clutch. Generally, most bottles of prosecco are at lower price points than Champagne, and the same holds true for Costco's own line of wine. Although the brand's Champagne is quite affordable for what it is, Kirkland Signature's Asolo Prosecco DOCG is an absolute steal of a wine. 

At my local Costco store, it's available for under $10, which is a prosecco price point I don't see everywhere. And although it may not be the most complex wine I've ever tasted, it's quite delicious, refreshing, and easy to drink, whether you're celebrating something special or you just want a wine to sip on that everyone around the table can enjoy. This is why I consider Kirkland Signature's take on this wine better (and cheaper) than most name brand proseccos out there.

So, what should you expect from this wine? Again, this is a pretty simple bottle; you may pick up on flavors of green apple, citrus, and lime. There's also a subtle minerality there that makes it even more lip-smacking. Keep a few bottles of this stuff on hand, so you're always ready to celebrate.

If you're into complex red wines that can stand up to intense, decadent dinners, then you absolutely have to check out Barolo. It hails from Italy's Piedmont region, and it's one of the most beloved red wines in the world. But if you've had much Barolo before, then you're probably aware that it's not among the cheapest wines in the world. In fact, it's usually considered quite expensive, since the aging requirements for this wine are so extensive. If you're on a budget, you might assume that Barolo is completely out of your price range, but that's not necessarily true if you shop at Costco. Kirkland Signature's Barolo is very competitively priced, which makes it a feasible option any night of the week.

Reviewers highlight a range of complex flavors in this wine, ranging from leather and cedar to vanilla and cherry. This is a medium-bodied wine, which means it can stand up to heartier, richer dishes, but it's not so powerful that it can't be enjoyed on its own. While you could probably age this wine for a few years, it's ready to drink as soon as you buy it. And considering how inexpensive it is, this is a fun wine to pop open when you feel like treating yourself but don't want to overspend in the process.

Now, if you do like a wine that's a bit more intense than other reds but still offers nuance and balance, Bordeaux is a region worth checking out. Unfortunately, though, good Bordeaux can demand very high prices — prices that may be out of the question for a lot of drinkers out there. Luckily, though, Kirkland Signature St. Emilion Grand Cru Bordeaux is for the more budget-minded drinkers among us. The exact blend changes year by year, but regardless of specific percentages, this wine is made from merlot, cabernet franc, and cabernet sauvignon grapes (which is standard for Bordeaux).

The flavors you'll encounter in this wine are bolder and more intense than you'll find with some other reds. Reviewers mention both red and black berry flavors, with notes of dark chocolate to make every sip that much richer. One reviewer also mentioned the wine's nice structure and its long finish (or how long it lingers on your palate after taking a sip). All of these traits point to a surprisingly high-quality wine for the price. Another reviewer claims that this wine is quite tannic, so keep that in mind if you're sensitive to tannin (although if you are, you're probably not buying Bordeaux in the first place).

I get that boxed wine isn't for everyone, and honestly, the quality of some boxed wine isn't great. But that doesn't mean that boxed wine is bad across the board or that there aren't great winemakers putting their wine in a box. And when it comes to convenience and longevity, it's hard to beat what a boxed wine can offer. Generally, when I'm choosing a boxed wine, I look for varieties that look light, refreshing, and relatively simple, and that's exactly what you'll get from Kirkland Signature's California Pinot Grigio Box Wine. 

Admittedly, there's not a lot going on here that's particularly interesting, but that's okay — you get a nice dose of fresh acidity, along with some typical fruity notes that will keep you going back for another sip. Pear, green apple, and a subtle hint of nectarine come to the forefront of the palate for me.

This wine comes in 3-liter portions, which is equal to four typical bottles of wine. At my local Costco, the whole box is available for roughly the same price I'd pay for a standard, single weeknight bottle of wine at another retailer — seems like an incredible deal from my perspective. Store it in your fridge to use for cooking or for sipping at your convenience. No need to rush through a bottle so it doesn't go bad, since boxed wines can last for several weeks at a time.

I love bubbly of all types, but there's something about a rosé sparkling wine that's especially fun. Not only do you get that gorgeous pink hue, but the added carbonation makes every sip feel celebratory. While I've already mentioned how much I love Kirkland Signature's Asolo Prosecco DOCG, this rosé prosecco is another must-try value bottle from Costco. This wine is made predominantly from the grape glera, which is the grape most commonly used in most prosecco bottlings. However, this wine also contains a small amount of pinot noir, which is responsible for that lovely, salmon-colored hue.

This dry rosé features notes of red fruit with a floral quality that sets it apart from other, simpler sparkling wines. Like its non-rosé cousin in Kirkland Signature's lineup, it doesn't offer much complexity. But when you look at its price and taste how solid the wine is despite that low price point, you'll understand why I think this wine offers one of the better values at Costco. Although I love this stuff for celebrations, its cost-effectiveness means you can open a bottle for any casual occasion.

I already discussed the fact that pinot noir is one of the most expensive types of wines on the market, so it's not super common to find a budget version of this grape that tastes particularly good. But Kirkland Signature's Russian River Valley Pinot Noir is pretty great for how cheap it is, according to some reviewers. One reviewer said they picked up notes of cherry, mint, herbs, and cranberry, also calling out some earthy and licorice notes. Another says they like some vintages (years) better than others, but regardless, the quality is good for how low the cost of this wine is. For those who appreciate red fruit flavors and the complexity and earthiness pinot noir is known for, you can keep this approachably priced wine stocked in your wine rack.

If you're a serious pinot lover, you might want to try Kirkland's take on the grape from both the Russian River Valley and Willamette Valley together. These bottles are both relatively cheap for pinots, and drinking them side by side can help you compare how this grape tastes from different regions.

I picked Kirkland Signature wines that I have either tried myself or that have widely favorable reviews online. Many of these wine styles can be relatively expensive, and all of the wines listed here are available for prices that I, as a WSET level 3 wine writer and frequent wine buyer, rarely encounter outside of a few retailers' store-brand lines (like Kirkland Signature and Trader Joe's). I believe all of these wines punch above their price point, whether that's a simple boxed white wine or a Grand Cru Bordeaux.