10 Wines to NEVER Buy at Costco This Holiday Season (And What to Grab Instead)

10 Wines to NEVER Buy at Costco This Holiday Season (And What to Grab Instead) These are the wines to never buy at Costco this holiday season, and the better bottles to grab instead. Critics, sommeliers, and price checkers keep flagging the same ten bottles in the Costco wine aisle, from Meiomi Pinot Noir to the Kirkland Napa Cabernets. In this documentary-style countdown, we go from number ten to number one with the evidence behind each pick: the Seattle Times holiday tasting by critic Tan Vinh and sommelier Owen Bargreen, a sommelier's price check for The Daily Meal, and reviews from Tasting Table and Chowhound. Every wine comes with a swap, including the Kirkland Premier Cru Chablis, Gigondas, Malbec, Columbia Valley Red, and the Stags Leap District Cabernet. You'll also hear where the experts disagree, why the famous names fail while unfamiliar appellations win, and which Kirkland bottles belong on a holiday table, from the Brut Champagne to the Prosecco Rosé and Tawny Port. Prices and vintages come from published tastings and vary by store, so check the label before you buy. Subscribe to Cellar Atlas for more honest wine buying guides. #costcowine #costco #kirklandsignature #winetips #winereview #budgetwine #holidaywine #wineunder20 #sommelier #winebuyingguide #cellaratlas #redwine 1. 12 Wines You Should Avoid Buying At Costco (Tasting Table, Oct 2024) https://www.tastingtable.com/1693648/... 2. Costco Red Wines That Aren't Worth The Price, According To A Sommelier (The Daily Meal, Jan 2026) https://www.thedailymeal.com/2063828/... 3. The Best And Worst Bargain Wines To Buy At Costco (Chowhound, Jul 2025) https://www.chowhound.com/1911897/bes... 4. 20 Costco wines for the holidays, rated by a critic and a sommelier (Seattle Times via ADN, Dec 2024) https://www.adn.com/alaska-life/food-... 5. A critic and a sommelier rate 25 Costco wines for the holidays (Seattle Times via ADN, Dec 2023) https://adn.com/alaska-life/food-drin...