A Screaming Good Merlot Deal from Costco, Dissected

Bottle and glass of 2017 Chateau Ste. Michelle, Merlot, Columbia Valley, WA - $8.69 at Costco

Fast facts: 2017 Chateau Ste. Michelle, Merlot, Columbia Valley, WA ($8.69* @ Costco, California – Item #160933) *net price after $4.00 in store discount   Here is the news that those of us in the wine business woke to on July 12 of this year:  “Ste. Michelle Wine Estates, the largest winery in the Pacific … Read moreA Screaming Good Merlot Deal from Costco, Dissected

A Delicious Riesling – A Wine for Hard to Pair Foods – from Costco

Bottle and glass of Dr. Loosen 2020 Blue Slate Riesling Kabinett from Costco

Fast facts: 2020 Dr. Loosen Blue Slate Riesling Kabinett, Mosel, Germany ($14.99 @ Costco, California – Item #249109) Dr. Loosen is one of the most highly acclaimed wine estates in the world, especially in the world of German wines, and specifically the Riesling grape. In the family for over 200 years, Ernst “Erni” Loosen assumed … Read moreA Delicious Riesling – A Wine for Hard to Pair Foods – from Costco

A Nice $9.99 Sonoma/Alexander Valley Cabernet from Costco – Perfect for Food

Bottle and glass of Kirkland Signature 2018 Alexander Valley Cabernet Sauvignon.

Fast facts: 2018 Kirkland Signature Cabernet Sauvignon, Alexander Valley, Sonoma Valley, California ($9.99 @ Costco, California – Item #223343)   Long term readers may have detected a slight bias we have in favor of Sonoma Valley vs. Napa Valley.  There is no disputing that both Valleys produce world class wines, but the sheer diversity that … Read moreA Nice $9.99 Sonoma/Alexander Valley Cabernet from Costco – Perfect for Food

Dualing Red Blends from Costco – Both Under $10 if You Act Fast

Bottles and glasses of 2018 Simi Winery red wine blend and Hook or Crook Cellars 2018 red field blend from Costco.

Fast Facts: 2018 Simi Winery, Red Wine Blend, Sonoma County, California ($9.99* @Costco in California – Item #1487627) 2018 Hook or Crook Cellars, Field Blend, Lodi, California ($5.79* @Costco in California – Item #1529759)   We love the in-store discounts that Costco is known for.  Here are two wines that would be good values before … Read moreDualing Red Blends from Costco – Both Under $10 if You Act Fast

A TJ’s Prosecco Rosé Find and an Easy Recipe for a Fancy Aperol Spritz

Prosecco+Aperol+Seltzer+tangerine garnish=Aperol Spritz or, summer in a glass!

Fast facts: 2020 Cecilia Beretta Prosecco Rosé ($9.99 @Trader Joe’s, California)   Prosecco is a deliciously dry sparkling wine with crisp acidity, low sugar and plenty of fruit character – all at a fraction of the cost of traditional Champagne.  Traditionally produced in Veneto in North Eastern Italy, it is fermented almost exclusively from the … Read moreA TJ’s Prosecco Rosé Find and an Easy Recipe for a Fancy Aperol Spritz

A Yummy 90-point Wine Surprise from Costco

Bottle and glass of Zaca Mesa 2018 Viognier from Costco.

Fast facts: 2018 Zaca Mesa Viognier, Santa Ynez Valley, California ($12.99 @ Costco, California – Item #27950)   Being less than an hour away, Santa Barbara County (which includes the Santa Ynez Valley AVA) is our “local” wine region. So we were pretty excited to find this 90 point (Galloni and Wine Enthusiast) 2018 Zaca … Read moreA Yummy 90-point Wine Surprise from Costco

Costco’s Wine Advent Calendar Comes but Once a Year, Get on It!

The perennial Wine Advent Calendar at Costco.

Fast Facts: 2021 Edition Costco Wine Advent Calendar  ($99.99@Costco in California – Item #1357643)     I know, we have to get past Halloween – and Thanksgiving, for that matter – before we get to the year-end holidays.  But we are on CST (Costco Standard Time) here at Vinopointer.com and they have their year-end holiday … Read moreCostco’s Wine Advent Calendar Comes but Once a Year, Get on It!

Is this Costco wine the Best $10 Pinot Noir in America?

Bottle and glass of Kirkland Signature 2019 Carneros Pinot Noir from Costco.

Fast facts: 2019 Kirkland Signature Pinot Noir, Carneros, Napa Valley, California ($9.99 @ Costco, California – Item #505074)   The back label of this bottle provides a pretty good introduction to this wine and the Carneros wine growing region as well: The Carneros AVA is the first wine region in California to be defined by … Read moreIs this Costco wine the Best $10 Pinot Noir in America?

Costco has a great 90 point Chardonnay – for under $10

Costco bin display of Laguna 2017 Russian River Chardonnay

Fast Facts: 2017 Laguna Chardonnay, Russian River Valley, Sonoma County, CA  ($9.99* @Costco in California – Item #575261)                                              * net price after $10 discount at store.   Almost exactly a year ago we … Read moreCostco has a great 90 point Chardonnay – for under $10

The Two Most Popular Wine Varieties in the US – via Costco

Glasses and bottles of Kirkland Signature 2019 Russian River Valley (Sonoma County) Chardonnay and Kirkland Signature 2019 Columbia Valley (Washington State) Cabernet Sauvignon

Fast Facts: 2019 Kirkland Signature Cabernet Sauvignon, Columbia Valley, Washington ($8.99 @Costco in California – Item #1226845) 2019 Kirkland Signature Chardonnay,  Russian River Valley, Sonoma County, California ($12.99 @Costco in California – Item #789895)   What were the two most popular wine varieties sold in the US in 2020?  That’s easy.  Cabernet Sauvignon and – not far … Read moreThe Two Most Popular Wine Varieties in the US – via Costco