Costco’s wine and spirits department doesn’t get nearly the credit it deserves. The warehouse club is always stocking quality brands at really great prices, but some of the best buys in this part of the store come with a Kirkland label. Take Kirkland Signature vodka, for instance. Shoppers swear it rivals Grey Goose, and many believe it’s even better than the brand name at a much lower price point.
Personally, I’ve been known to stock up on Kirkland prosecco for celebratory occasions because it’s an affordable alternative to Champagne. But some news dropped on my desk that made me pause: Kirkland also makes Champagne. Or rather, Costco sells Champagne under the Kirkland label.
So who makes this stuff? And more important, is it any good? Keep reading as we pop the cork on this story.
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Is Kirkland Champagne really Champagne?
Indeed it is! For a beverage to earn the label “Champagne,” it has to come from the Champagne region of France. Located about 90 miles east of Paris and covering roughly 131 square miles of northern France, the region maintains cooler temperatures and a longer growing season. This allows the grapes to ripen slowly, resulting in higher acidity and lower sugar levels, both of which contribute to a great sparkling varietal.
Prosecco, on the other hand, needs to come from northeastern Italy—the regions of Veneto and Friuli-Venezia Giulia, specifically. You’ll know you’re popping the cork on the real thing if you see “Prosecco DOC” on the label. And if you spot a bottle of bubbly labeled simply as sparkling wine, you know it wasn’t made in either of these specific places.
So who makes it?
Whenever Costco tasks another company with making a product under the Kirkland label, the store doesn’t mess around—it’s quality above all else. So it shouldn’t be a surprise that Kirkland Champagne is made by a well-known luxury producer: Manuel Janisson of Verzenay, France.
You may not recognize Janisson’s name, but LVMH, the company that owns Moët & Chandon and Dom Pérignon, purchased his Champagne house, Janisson & Fils, back in 2019. Clearly, the guy knows what he’s doing. And what he’s doing is, at least in part, making Kirkland Champagne.
If you’ve ever scored a bottle of this bubbly, you know Costco isn’t trying to hide the brand behind the Kirkland name. It’s right on the back of the label for the world to see.
How much does Kirkland Champagne cost?
For the longest time, you could get a bottle of Kirkland Champagne for only $20. In 2025? The price has gone up, but not by a whole lot. Costco is still the king of low prices.
In my neck of the woods in Southern California, a bottle of the bubbly costs roughly $25. But this is still an incredible deal.
Compare that with a bottle of Veuve Clicquot Yellow Label Brut Champagne, which usually retails for around $65. Piper-Heidsieck Brut Champagne is a little more affordable, in the ballpark of $43 for a 750-milliliter bottle. But you aren’t likely to come across another true Champagne with the low, low price of $25.
But how does it taste—really?
Really good, actually. There are plenty of Champagne aficionados who would like it to be more complex or elevated, but pretty much everyone can agree that it’s a steal at its price point.
For the oenophiles in the crowd: The Champagne comprises pinot noir, chardonnay and pinot meunier grapes, and it has notes of green apple, minerals and lemon. For the rest of us: It’s a blend of grapes and tastes fresh and crisp.
“I love this sparkler,” said a Costco member on Reddit. “It’s bright and crisp and beautiful with a hint of yeast and oak. I wouldn’t be surprised to learn it’s made by Moët—just less than half the price of my erstwhile go-to sparkling wine.”
Another Redditor concurred. “I’ve had a couple of bottles, and it is good for the price,” they wrote. “I too got the bready hint and slight sweetness. Will buy again. Maybe a bottle every time I go. lol. My wife’s preferred is Moët Nectar, and mine is Ruinart BdB. Can’t have those every day!”
Do all Costco stores sell Champagne?
Sadly, no. Due to various laws at the state and local level, you can’t buy any alcohol at Costco warehouses in Pennsylvania or Maryland. Across other states, the kind of alcohol you can purchase at Costco varies. For example, some states permit only the sale of beer, while others permit sales of beer and wine. And of course, there are still others that allow you to stock your bar with anything at Costco.
That said, if your Costco sells wine but is out of Kirkland Champagne when you need it in a pinch (you can’t just reschedule New Year’s Eve!), the store often sells other brands too. You can typically find Moët & Chandon and Veuve in the warehouse club.
And if you happen to live in California and have $17,000 burning a hole in your pocket, Costco sells the Dom Perignon Champagne Collector’s Edition Vertical Set. It’s 24 bottles of the Champagne house’s most prized offerings.
Yep, it’s cool. Nope, I won’t be selling my left kidney to buy one of those anytime soon. It’s Kirkland Champagne for me.
RELATED:
- This Sweet Treat Is Back at Costco for the Holidays—And Fans Are Stocking Up
- This Beloved Kirkland Staple Has Disappeared from Costco’s Shelves—Here’s What’s Going On
- Shoppers Say This Is One of the Most Annoying Things About Costco—And No, It’s Not the Parking Lot
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Sources:
- Comité Champagne: “The Champagne region”
- Reddit: “Beautiful. Crisp. Bright. Kirkland Champagne is now on my approved list.”
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