12 Best White Wines at Costco in 2023 [Wine Essentials]
Ah, Costco. Home of the wholesale bargain and some fantastic white wines if you’re willing to stalk the aisles and give new names a go.
You’ll find lots of Kirkland wine at Costco (because it’s made exclusively for them), and this label offers excellent quality.
You can also dabble in French, New Zealand, Argentinian, and South African wines from small wineries.
The sheer variety of white wines at Costco is impressive and my list of the best white wines at Costco in 2023 offers a cheat sheet for a great wine experience.
12. Kirkland Signature Premier Cru Chablis
Made with pure Chardonnay grapes from vineyards in the Chablis appellation of northern Burgundy, Kirkland Signature Premier Cru Chablis delivers the refreshing acidity we love, with summer flavors of green apple, lemon, and orange peel.
The nose is sweeter than the palate, with notes of honey underpinning citrus, grapefruit, and tangerine.
The palate explodes with Meyer lemon, tropical fruit, and pear, with chalk and minerals highlighting the dry, acidic profile.
This wine goes beautifully with pork, shellfish, tuna steak, and mild and soft cheeses and works as an aperitif to salmon tartare and French onion soup. It’s a classic Premier Cru – dry and crisp, with sweet, tropical notes.
This is a prime example of why you shouldn't overlook Costco wine. I'm fairly sure you won't find Premier Cru Chablis for less than 20 dollars anywhere else.
11. 2020 Kirkland Signature Pinot Grigio Friuli
If you want a bargain table wine or an introduction to Pinot Grigio look no further!
The Kirkland Signature Pinot Grigio is a snip under $5 but tastes twice as expensive. With bright citrus, lime, lemon, and grapefruit notes that pair beautifully with creamy cheeses.
The winemaking region of Friuli-Venezia Giulia is famous for its white wines. Wines are usually cheaper than in other regions due to a flat topography suited to mechanical farming, which is cheaper than more intensive manual farming.
A bouquet of citrus, pear and white flowers leads to summertime flavors of honeydew melon, ripe apple, and citrus.
Bright acidity keeps things crisp, with a refreshing finish with hints of white peach for a sweet kick.
10. 2017 Au Contraire Chardonnay
The 2017 Au Contraire Chardonnay is a beautifully balanced Chardonnay with medium acidity, medium dryness, and bold flavors.
It delivers swathes of oak, butter, and vanilla, with tropical fruit flavors carried by a creamy texture.
On the nose, expect pineapple, mango, green apple, and oak notes, with guava, pear, butter, and vanilla on the palate.
The profile is perfectly rounded, with no bright acidity to steal the show and a light finish perfect for sipping.
Pair this Costco white wine with pasta in cream sauce, gnocchi, mushroom dishes, and grilled vegetables. It also works with mild cheeses and crackers.
9. 2020 Kirkland Signature K Vine Chardonnay
Washington is famous for producing fruity Chardonnay. Kirkland Signature K Vine Chardonnay is no exception, with a delectable apple and melon nose and flavors of honey, pear, and melon.
The nose is a bouquet of Bosc pear, melon, and honey, with flavors of melon, pear, citrus, honey, and a twang of peach. The acidity is a touch below a typical Chardonnay, giving it an approachable profile.
In terms of food pairings, this wine’s high acidity and bold flavors make it a perfect match for barbeque chicken, pork, and prawns cooked in garlic butter. The honey and melon notes also bring out the best in mature cheeses.
I actually reviewed this wine very recently and it stood out for its value for money.
8. 2021 Westmount Pinot Gris
The 2021 Westmount Pinot Gris is a classic Oregon Pinot Gris with balanced acidity and bundles of minerals and green fruit.
It shuns bold flavors for subtle notes, delivering a dry and mildly acidic profile perfect alongside light seafood dishes.
The Willamette Valley Region produces exceptional Pinot Gris, with Westmount’s interpretation big on apple, pear, citrus, and mineral notes of chalk and graphite. A touch of smoke and honey underpins these.
The juicy palate reflects the nose, giving this wine an easygoing nature. It pairs wonderfully with scallops, oysters, prawns, and mussels, with the ripe citrus and apple notes complementing salmon, quiche, and veal.
7. Wairau River Sauvignon Blanc 2022
If you adore the aromatic nature of a crisp Sauvignon Blanc, the 2022 Wairau River offers unbeatable value. Dry and acidic with citrus and bold tropical notes, it’s a treat alongside salty cheeses and roasted vegetables.
This is quintessential Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc with those big tropical notes in overdrive. Think lychee, pineapple, and guava with a citrus undertone provided by passion fruit and grapefruit.
The vibrant acidity leads to a lip smacking and mouthwateringly long finish.
The high acidity and tropical flavors pair well with sweet dishes like duck breast in plum or oyster sauce.
6. 2021 Kirkland Signature Ti Point Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc
The Kirkland Signature Ti Point Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc brings slight effervescence and a light body to the table.
It’s a fantastic white wine for sharing, with green apple, pineapple, and citrus notes backed by tropical notes of kiwi.
Bright acidity and a smooth but grippy texture give this wine a kick. I love the big unapologetic tropical notes, but the citrus and zest provide a nice balance to the sweetness. It borders on bone dry, with a relatively long finish of grapefruit and citrus.
This wine goes perfectly with herby dishes, pesto, salsa, white sauce pasta, cod, sea bass, snapper, halibut, and other meaty fishes. Try it with Mediterranean-grilled stuffed peppers for a delicious and timeless pairing.
This is a fantastic introduction to Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc. At just $6.99 it's incredible value for money!
5. 2021 Kirkland Signature Sonoma County Chardonnay
California is the USA’s leading Chardonnay producer, with Sonoma County producing some excellent vibrant, oaky varieties.
The 2021 Kirkland Signature Sonoma County Chardonnay follows the lightly oaked trend with a pleasing toasty note arising from the wood.
You are greeted with oak, rich buttery notes, vanilla, and fresh pear and citrus lashings. The palate follows the nose with lime and apple, giving this wine a tart and pleasingly crisp profile perfect for parties.
You can enjoy Kirkland’s Sonoma County Chardonnay with mild and creamy cheeses, chicken, risotto, and vegetable dishes with bright, fresh flavors. However, my favorite way to enjoy it is with olives, capers, and salads.
But, did it make it onto our list of great Costco Chardonnay?
4. 2020 Groth Sauvignon Blanc
Groth Sauvignon Blanc is a Bordeaux-style wine fresh out of California, blending Sauvignon Blanc with 17% Sémillon and fermented in natural oak barrels. The result is a complex, light white wine with peach, pear, and brioche layers.
Slightly dense and chewy, Groth Sauvignon Blanc coats the palate with tangerine, mango, peach, lemon blossom, and buttery brioche. The nose is sumptuously floral, with lemon and kiwi notes that excite the palate.
Refreshing but not aggressively acidic, this Costco white wine goes wonderfully with shellfish, roast vegetables, and herby sauces. Sandwiches and crackers with soft cheese are also perfect pairings for this vibrant wine.
3. 2021 Duckhorn Decoy Sauvignon Blanc
The 2021 vintage of Duckhorn Decoy Sauvignon Blanc is the best but previous years are great too. Bright green apple and citrus fruit notes, a crisp acidity and a light mouthfeel make it perfect for sipping with friends and pairing with seafood.
Aromas of grapefruit, lemon, pear and green apple give way to a citrusy delight on the palate, with bold lemon, lime, and grapefruit flavors. It’s slightly denser than the average Sauvignon Blanc, with a long pleasant finish.
I love this wine with goat’s cheese, savory pastries, and salads topped with baby beats, quiche, and pesto. The long finish and crisp acidity also work well with smoked salmon and salmon en croute with green veggies.
Note: I've also seen this stocked at my local Whole Foods store.
2. 2021 Stag’s Leap Wine Cellars AVETA Sauvignon Blanc
Stag’s Leap Sauvignon Blanc is our favorite Costco Sauvignon Blanc of 2023. It has bags of juicy tropical fruit, bright acidity, and a light mouthfeel. It pours medium yellow with aromas of tangerine, lemongrass, passion fruit, and kiwi.
You can expect delicious guava, pineapple, papaya, grapefruit, and peach on the palate, with an undertone of grass. Those sweet tropical flavors are balanced by a slight minerality, giving the wine elegance and complexity.
Spicy Thai fishcakes, fresh fish ceviche, oysters, and grilled salmon pair really well with this wine. You can also try it with something savory like fried chicken. To be honest, this is a forgiving wine that works with most foods!
1. 2020 Schloss Vollrads Estate Riesling
The Schloss Vollrads Estate Riesling achieves the top spot on our list of the best white wines at Costco in 2023. Produced from late-harvest grapes, it’s a semi-sweet wine bordering on the tart side, with juicy flavors of yellow stone fruit, honey, and citrus.
The nose has delicate citrus, quince, yellow apple, and honey notes, with white melon and crushed minerals on the palate. A little lime on the finish with bright acidity gives this wine a perfectly balanced sweet profile with a tart kick.
Traditional food pairings include Bratwurst, Rouladen, and Käsespätzle, or you can hunker down with grilled seafood, pork, bacon, and chicken dishes. It also holds up well to spices, especially Cajun and oriental cuisine.
