Some see Costco as the devil incarnate because when you shop there you give way to temptation; you begin to buy in bulk. For the wine connoisseur, this could mean a pallet of wine instead of a bottle or two.
Costco is the number one retailer in the U.S, according to Market Watch magazine, and so we’ve created a survival guide to spare you from impulsive spending while directing you to the best deals.
#1) Appreciate the “muscle of Costco,” as Dale Dinter puts it. The wine steward said the retailer offers wine at roughly 20% to 30% below the prices you’ll find at wineries. The downside is that product moves swiftly and you might not find certain wines. With this in mind, don’t go to Costco to shop for a particular brand. Instead shop for surprising finds.
#2) Search out budget-wise bottlings. On a recent shopping excursion at Santa Rosa’s Costco, I found these bottlings that definitely over-deliver at this $9.99 price point.
Kim Crawford, 2017 New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc
Kendall-Jackson 2016 Vintners Reserve California Chardonnay
Marietta Cellars Old Vine Red Lot 66 California
Brancaia Red Blend, Toscana, Italy
#3) Try Costco’s Kirkland brand because the producers behind it are respectable. For instance, Kirkland’s brut and rosé champagne are made by the reputable Champagne de Bruyne, according to the Wine Spectator. One smart bottling I spotted was the Kirkland, 2015 Old Vine Zinfandel, Sonoma County at $9.99.
#4) Allow yourself to do a little boutique wine shopping right there in the midst of this colossal retailer, knowing that the cost savings are on your side. Here are a couple of jewels I also came across on the shelves.
Carol Shelton, 2013 Old Vine Carignane at $22.99.
Seghesio, 2014 Sonoma County Old Vine Zinfandel at $32.99.
#5) Beware of the high priced bottlings. BuzzFeed reports this outrageous sighting at one Costco: the Bowmore Single Malt Scotch priced at $18,999. Do your best to lock your gaze on the deals.
Good luck on your next trip to Costco. Just remember to shop for budget-savvy surprises.
