You walk in for a rotisserie chicken and a 48-pack of toilet paper, but you leave with a bottle of Bordeaux that looks way more expensive than it actually is. It’s the classic warehouse trap. So, does Costco sell wine? Yes, absolutely. In fact, they aren’t just selling it; they are arguably the biggest wine retailer on the planet.
Costco’s wine business is a behemoth. We're talking billions of dollars in annual sales. But the way they sell it is weird. It’s not like your local boutique shop where a sommelier walks you through the terroir of a specific hillside in Napa. At Costco, it's about the "treasure hunt." You see a bottle today, and by Tuesday, it’s gone forever.
People often think Costco is just for bulk buying cheap jugs of fermented grape juice. That's a mistake. While they have the big bottles, they also stock some of the most prestigious labels in the world, including First Growth Bordeaux and high-end Champagne.
The Legal Quirk: Can You Buy Wine Without a Membership?
Here is the thing that trips everyone up. In many states, Costco technically cannot require a membership for alcohol purchases. This stems from old, post-Prohibition laws that prevent public liquor licenses from being restricted to private clubs.
If you live in a state like California, New York, or Texas, you can literally walk up to the door, tell the person checking cards that you are only there for alcohol, and they have to let you in. It’s a loophole. You won't be able to buy a giant tub of pretzels or a new TV, but that bottle of Kirkland Signature Malbec is fair game.
However, this isn't universal. States like Pennsylvania or Maryland have much stricter control over who can sell what. In some places, you won't find a drop of wine inside the warehouse because the state keeps a tight grip on liquor sales through state-run stores or specific licensing caps. You should always check your local laws before making the trek just for a bottle of Cabernet.
Why Kirkland Signature Wine is Actually Good
If you see the name "Kirkland Signature" on a wine bottle, your first instinct might be to assume it’s generic swill. It’s not. Costco doesn't own vineyards. They don't have a massive "Kirkland Winery" in Washington state. Instead, they source their wine from incredibly reputable producers.
Take the Kirkland Signature Champagne, for example. It’s a true AOC Champagne, meaning it has to be made in the Champagne region of France using the traditional method. For years, rumors and trade data have linked these bottles to respected houses like Manuel Janisson. You’re getting $50-quality bubbles for about $20.
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Then there is the Kirkland Series tier.
- Kirkland Signature Series: These are often small-lot wines from high-end AVAs.
- The Sourcing: They’ve worked with legendary winemakers like Glenn Hugo (of Girard Winery) for their Napa Cabernets.
- The Quality Control: Because Costco moves so much volume, they have massive leverage over suppliers. They demand high quality because if a wine flops, it’s a massive logistical headache for them.
The margins are thin. While a traditional liquor store might markup a bottle by 30% or 50%, Costco generally caps their markup at around 14%. That is why you see such a price discrepancy.
How to Read a Costco Price Tag Like a Pro
If you want to master the wine aisle, you have to look at the signs, not just the labels. Most people just look at the price, but the real info is in the corners.
If you see an asterisk (*) in the top right corner of the price sign, that is the "Death Star." It means the item is discontinued or it’s the last of the current stock. If you like that specific vintage of Kim Crawford Sauvignon Blanc and you see the star, buy it now. It won't be there next week.
Prices ending in .97 are also special. These are usually manager markdowns. They want that pallet space for something else, so they’ve slashed the price to move it. I once found a high-end Brunello marked down to almost half price because the store was clearing out space for the holiday gift sets. It was a steal.
The Logistics of the Treasure Hunt
Costco’s inventory management is brutal. They carry fewer than 250 unique wine "SKUs" at any given time. Compare that to a Total Wine & More, which might have thousands. Because the selection is so curated, the turnover is lightning fast.
This creates a sense of urgency. The wine buyers at Costco, led by figures like Annette Alvarez-Peters for decades, built a system where exclusivity drives sales. They might get a shipment of Opus One or Sassicaia, but it will only be distributed to a few "high-volume" locations.
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If you live near a "fancy" Costco—think Scottsdale, Arizona or the Bay Area in California—your wine selection is going to be vastly different than a warehouse in a rural area. The buyers tailor the selection to the local demographic's spending habits.
Dealing with the Storage Issues
One downside to buying wine at Costco is the environment. Most wine professionals will tell you that light and heat are the enemies of wine. Costco warehouses are massive, brightly lit boxes with concrete floors.
Most of the wine is sitting on open pallets under fluorescent lights. For a $12 bottle of Pinot Grigio you plan to drink tonight, this doesn't matter. But if you are buying a $200 bottle of Bordeaux to cellar for ten years, you have to be careful. Check the bottle for "seepage" around the cork or a "pushed" cork, which indicates the wine got too hot during shipping or storage.
Usually, the really expensive stuff is kept in a wooden "bin" or a glass case near the front. Those are safer bets. The turnover is so fast that the wine usually isn't sitting on the floor long enough to get light-struck, but it’s something to keep in mind if you see a bottle that looks like it’s been gathering dust.
Does Costco Sell Wine Online?
This is a common point of confusion. In most states, no, you cannot order wine from Costco.com and have it shipped to your house. Shipping alcohol is a legal nightmare involving 50 different sets of state laws.
However, you can often use third-party services like Instacart to have wine delivered from your local warehouse. The pricing is usually higher to cover the service fees, but it’s an option if you can't make the trip.
Some states also allow "special orders" through the warehouse, but that’s becoming increasingly rare. For the most part, if you want the deals, you have to physically go into the warehouse and hunt through the wooden crates.
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Real Examples of Recent Deals
To give you an idea of the value, let's look at some real-world price comparisons from early 2026.
A bottle of Veuve Clicquot Yellow Label usually retails for $55 to $65 at most liquor stores. At Costco, it’s consistently priced around $48. That’s a decent savings, but where you really win is the Kirkland version. The Kirkland Signature Brut Champagne is often $19.99. You are getting a similar profile for a third of the price.
Another example is the Kirkland Signature Rioja Reserva. This wine is aged for years before it even hits the shelves. It’s often priced under $8. Finding a Reserva-level Rioja anywhere else for under $15 is almost impossible.
What to Avoid in the Costco Wine Aisle
Not everything is a home run. Avoid the giant 3-liter boxes unless you are throwing a massive party where people are mixing the wine with soda or juice. While the price per ounce is unbeatable, the quality of the boxed stuff is significantly lower than the bottled Kirkland offerings.
Also, be wary of the "second labels" of famous wineries that aren't actually second labels. Sometimes wineries create a specific brand just for big-box retailers. It might have a fancy-sounding name and a gold-embossed label, but the juice inside is often mediocre. Stick to the Kirkland Signature labels or recognizable names where you can verify the market price on an app like Vivino.
Actionable Steps for Your Next Trip
- Download Vivino: Before you put a bottle in your cart, scan it. It will show you the average retail price and user reviews. If Costco’s price is only a dollar cheaper than the local shop, it might not be worth the bulk buy.
- Check the "Ending": Look for the .97 or the asterisk. These are the true bargains.
- Talk to the Wine Lead: Most Costcos have a specific employee who manages the wine section. They often know when the next shipment of a popular wine is coming in.
- Check the Vintage: Because Costco moves stock so fast, they often have the newest vintage before anyone else. This is great for crisp whites, but for heavy reds, you might want to let them sit in your own cellar for a year before opening.
- Don't Forget the Rosé: In the spring, Costco releases its Kirkland Signature Côtes de Provence Rosé. It’s usually around $10 and sells out incredibly fast. It is widely considered one of the best value rosés on the market.
Ultimately, does Costco sell wine? Yes, and they do it better than almost anyone else in the discount space. Just remember that the selection changes weekly. If you find something you love, buy a case. If you wait until your next trip, it will likely be replaced by a different pallet of something else. That’s just the nature of the warehouse beast.
Keep an eye on the wooden bins in the center of the aisle. That is where the high-end, "one-off" bottles live. You might find a rare Italian Barolo or a boutique Napa Syrah tucked away between a pallet of Chardonnay and a stack of crackers. That is the real Costco wine experience. It’s not about browsing; it’s about the catch.
If you’re serious about building a collection on a budget, the warehouse is your best friend. Just don't get distracted by the $5 rotisserie chickens on your way to the checkout. Or do—they pair surprisingly well with a crisp Kirkland Chardonnay.
Check your local warehouse's specific hours and liquor laws before heading out, as some states have Sunday blue laws that might prevent you from buying alcohol even if the store is open. Once you're there, head straight for the back-middle section where the "wine oasis" usually sits. Happy hunting.