Best Costco Value Wines – January 2020

Check out our latest list of Costco wines here.

Stumped about which wines to buy at Costco? Here are the best value bottles to bet your dollar on this quarter. As can be expected with the cold weather, the most exciting Costco wines at the moment are full-bodied reds. A surprising number of the red wines from our December 2019 list appear to already be sold out, so we’ve published an updated list below.

To assess wine quality, we researched each wine and also compared it against the largest wine review site, Vivino. Our philosophy is that every individual palate tastes wine differently, so thousands of customer ratings will yield a more reliable result.

Please note: wine selections vary by Costco store, check ahead to ensure availability at your local Costco. Some of these wines also go in and out of rotation, so if you don’t see them, keep an eye out during future visits. We’ve included a photo of the bottles on shelves to help you more quickly locate them.

Chateau Montus Madiran – $23.99

When we first saw Chateau Montus on Costco shelves, we weren’t sure if it would stay in stock long enough to merit including in this article. But now that we’ve seen it sell out and restock a few times, we’re optimistic it might be in more stores nationwide. Madiran is a red wine-producing appelation in the Gascony region of Southwest France. It is primarily known for Tannat, a grape known for its powerful tannins and aging potential. If you can wait 10 to 20 years before drinking your bottles, then Montus is your bet. Drinkers who popped the bottle early were certainly confronted by a “wall of tannins”. Nonetheless, they loved the wine’s intense dark fruit, robust acidity, and nuanced aromatics ranging from cigar box to licorice and clove. However, if you need a bottle ready to drink now, move on to some of our other recommendations below.


Black Stallion Heritage Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon – $23

These days, it’s rare to find a quality Napa Valley cab for just $23. Black Stallion produces one of the few bottles hitting the mark on both affordability and flavor. Drinkers loved its rich dark fruit, notes of cocoa and toasty vanilla, and smooth tannins. With its approachable, rounded profile, this is ready to drink now.


Château Vignelaure Red – $25

Chateau Vignelaure is produced in a region traditionally known for rosé, AOC Côteaux d’Aix-en-Provence, making it a great find for value-seekers. This blend of 70% Cabernet Sauvignon and 30% Merlot is beloved by drinkers for its unique profile of dense, dark fruit, earth, and liquorice. With its sinewy leather note, the Chateau Vignelaure would be excellent with game meats or lamb.


Seghesio Winery Sonoma Zinfandel – $18.89

It’s no wonder the Seghesio Sonoma County Zinfandel earned 91 points from both Wine Spectator and Wine Enthusiast. This classic, full-bodied California Zinfandel has drinkers raving about its lush, concentrated dark fruit and earthy, spicy aromatics. Deep, inky tannins and medium acidity keep the intensely rich fruit in check. At $18.89, the bottle is a steal. This wine is a blend of 87% Zinfandel, with 9% Petite Sirah, 2% Carignane, 1% Syrah and 1% Mixed Reds for added color and structure.


Craggy Range Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc – $18.19

Craggy Range has all of the vibrant tropical fruit that New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc lovers crave, without the herbaciousness that many dislike. Drinkers gave the wine high marks for its fresh passionfruit, grapefruit, and melon flavors, crisp acidity, and refreshing minerality.


Round Pond Estate Sauvignon Blanc – $21.99

Round Pond Estate’s Sauvignon Blanc is a reliable wine we expect to have wide distribution in many Costco stores nationwide. Across vintages, it consistently earns over 90 points from major wine authorities. Drinkers enjoyed the wine’s fresh peach, pear, and citrus flavors, crisp acidity, and light, delicate profile.