Who Makes Costco's Kirkland Signature Rutherford Cabernet Sauvignon?

Some Costco runs go off script in the best way: you show up for paper towels and a rotisserie chicken, then somehow leave with an affordable bottle of cabernet sauvignon that cost less than a pizza delivery. One of the warehouse's most talked-about finds is the Kirkland Signature Series Rutherford Cabernet Sauvignon, which sells for about $19. Unlike many Kirkland products, this bottle names its winemaker right on the back label: Glenn Hugo, the longtime winemaker at Girard Winery in Calistoga.

Hugo's winemaking career began in the Napa Valley. After spending about 12 years working in restaurants, the Texas native moved there in 2003 with his wife, Pam, w no job lined up. He started in production at Provenance Vineyards in Rutherford, where he first learned how much Napa's growing regions differ. Girard Winery hired him as a harvest intern in 2006 and made him its winemaker in 2010.

"Rutherford" refers to the Rutherford American Viticultural Area (AVA) — a region of the Napa Valley floor whose cabernets are known for dusty, cocoa-like notes that locals call "Rutherford dust." Costco's take debuted with the 2016 vintage at $17.99, and recent releases have been priced at $18.99. New vintages tend to land between November and January and sell out fast.

On the label, Hugo calls Rutherford one of his favorite appellations and says the cabernet has notes of mocha powder mixed with red and black fruit. And sure enough, reviewers have noted the wine's particularly fruity flavors, including berries and plum, along with a touch of spice and vanilla.

Teaming up with established winemakers is how Costco gets expensive-tasting wine into Kirkland bottles at warehouse prices. Chad Sokol, who oversees wine and liquor at Costco, told The Drinks Business in 2026 that Kirkland bottles come from long-term partnerships with dedicated winemakers rather than spot-market purchases and should drink like a same-region name-brand wine at 30% to 50% better value. That's no exaggeration: Girard's least expensive Napa Valley cabernet can cost about $36 to $40 – about twice the price of Costco's offering.

That price gap is a big reason fans see it as one of the best value Kirkland Signature wines to buy in the store. CostcoWineBlog has rated recent vintages 91 or 92 points, and Reverse Wine Snob gave the 2022 a "Highly Recommended" rating. It's no surprise, then, that the bottle moves fast. Within weeks of the 2022 release, some shoppers were already finding empty shelves at their local warehouse.

While a quality red for the price, it's not everyone's cup (or rather, glass) of wine. A Delectable user called it "pleasant" but admitted that "what it lacks in character is made up in value." If you want to weigh in yourself, start watching the wine aisle in late fall, and check the Costco app for stock before making a special trip.