2025 State of Wine Collection

Wine · Collection Review

2025 State of Wine Collections

From Trader Joe's to Costco — a cellar refined by value, consistency, and a few happy discoveries

31

Bottles on Hand

$393

Collection Value

~20

Planned Additions

Table of Contents

① The Gigondas Discovery

② Red Wines — Current

③ White Wines — Current

④ Sparkling Wines — Current

⑤ Future Additions

Section I

The Gigondas Discovery

Finding a few bottles of Kirkland Gigondas 2023 for just $14.99 prompted a reflection on how much this wine journey has evolved over the past few years. French GSM blends have long been a favorite, and learning that Gigondas borders Châteauneuf-du-Pape — a region whose wines have also earned appreciation from Costco's shelves — only deepened admiration for high-quality bottles at accessible prices.

This discovery highlights a broader shift in buying habits. After many years of relying on Trader Joe's for everyday wines, Costco has now become the primary source. The combination of value, consistency, and surprising depth — especially from the Kirkland Signature lineup — has made the switch both rewarding and economical.

With Gigondas added to the shelves, the goal is to explore more from Costco's selection and continue refining the collection.

Section II · Current Collection

Red Wines — 20 Bottles

Wine	Price	Bottles
Priorat	$40	1
Reignac	$30	2
Kirkland Pauillac	$20	1
Kirkland Gigondas	$15	3
Kirkland Bordeaux Supérieur	$7	11
Kirkland Malbec	$7	1
Trader Joe's Côtes du Rhône	$7	1
Total	$256	20

Section III · Current Collection

White Wines — 6 Bottles

Wine	Price	Bottles
Trader Joe's J. Handler Riesling	$7	2
Kirkland Friuli Pinot Grigio	$5	1
Mainstay Riesling	$30	2
Kirkland Ti Point Sauvignon Blanc	$8	1
Total	$87	6

Section IV · Current Collection

Sparkling Wines — 5 Bottles

Wine	Price	Bottles
Kirkland Champagne	$20	1
Kirkland Asolo Prosecco	$8	2
Kirkland Rosé Prosecco	$7	2
Total	$50	5

Overall collection value as of December 2025: $393 across 31 bottles — red, white, and sparkling.

Section V

Future Additions

Red Wines — 12 Bottles

• → Kirkland Côtes du Rhône — $7 · 12 bottles

White Wines — 7 Bottles

• → Kirkland Chablis Premier Cru — $20 · 4 bottles (if available)
• → Kirkland Ti Point Sauvignon Blanc — $8 · 1 bottle
• → Santa Margherita Pinot Grigio — $20 · 2 bottles

Sparkling — 1 Bottle

• → Bollinger Champagne — $80 · 1 bottle

Planned total additions: approximately 20 bottles at ~$292 — bringing the projected collection to 51 bottles.

31 bottles · $393 current value · 20 planned additions · a cellar built on Kirkland and curiosity.