Is Costco Champagne Real Champagne?
Costco shoppers know that Kirkland, Costco's signature brand, has a slew of alcoholic drinks and spirits available at its stores. And those loyal Costco followers have uncovered the secret that Kirkland brand alcoholic beverages provide an excellent bang for their buck. Part of the reason why Kirkland can provide a great quality product for a relatively low price is because it uses its own branding on products made by third-party companies. External breweries are responsible for Costco's Kirkland brand craft beer, and Costco uses a third-party distillery for its acclaimed Kirkland Scotch. Is this the case then, for Costco's signature brand of Champagne?
As the name firmly suggests, Costco Champagne is, in fact, real Champagne, as it is made in the Champagne region in France and follows the production methods required to claim the true status. According to the bottle labels, Costco's Kirkland Champagne is made by Manuel Janisson, based in Verzenay, France — squarely within the Champagne region.
What makes a true Champagne?
If you've read up on how Champagne and Prosecco are different from one another, then you'll know that there's more that goes into making an authentic bottle of Champagne besides geographic location. Though the location is a surefire factor in what can and cannot be called Champagne, there are several other factors in determining if a bottle of sparkling wine can hold the prestigious title. As it happens, Costco's signature Champagne does all of these things.
Like all Champagnes, this one must undergo two distinct fermentation periods, the second one adding sugar and yeast, and serving as the process by which the Champagne obtains its characteristic bubbles. And while it's true that Champagnes are often made with three main grape varieties — namely chardonnay, pinot noir, or pinot Meunier grapes — there are an additional four that can be used as well: arbane, petit meslier, pinot gris, and pinot blanc. If you can successfully check off all these boxes, and you can do so entirely within the Champagne region of France, then you've made a true Champagne. The label on the Kirkland Champagne claims to use the main three grape varietals and it follows the rules for second fermentation, maturing for at least 15 months. Therefore, Costco can rightfully place the "Champagne" label on these bottles.
Is Costco Champagne any good?
In short, yes — Costco's Champagne is delicious. Champagne has long been celebrated for its excellence, and Costco's is no different, having garnered some warm and positive reviews. Some blogs pay special attention to the citrusy notes in this Champagne, as well as a toasty quality that makes for a compelling offering from Costco. Fellow shoppers on Reddit echoed similar sentiments, with much focus on the wine's breadiness and its slightly sweet quality. All in all, it seems like a good deal when you consider that a bottle of Costco Champagne costs considerably less than other Champagnes, right around the $20 mark. As a result, the common consensus is that you can't get a higher quality bottle for such a low price.
While a fine bottle of real French Champagne is typically associated with special occasions, Costco has provided a bottle that you don't have to reserve for any particularly grand event. With its great affordability and well-reviewed taste profile, this is a Champagne to enjoy at any celebration. Like most sparkling wines, Champagne will only stay bubbly for so long. But with this quality Champagne from Costco, that's unlikely to become a problem.