Here's Who Supplies Costco's Kirkland Signature Chardonnay

It's no coincidence that shoppers find affordable yet tasty wines at Costco. The warehouse chain employs expert beverage buyers to choose Costco's wine selection. They use their industry knowledge to keep the shelves stocked with bottles that are bound to appeal to regional markets. One favorite across the country is the Kirkland Signature chardonnay — but who supplies it?

If you follow a sommelier's advice on picking the best wine from Costco, you'll take a good look at the wine's label before buying. You can somewhat infer its quality from information the label provides, like the vineyard name, grape variety, and geographical indicators. The front of the label says the chardonnay is from California. The back says it's cellared and bottled in Modesto, California, by DC Flynt MW Selections, a wine and spirits importer, exporter, and broker founded by Master of Wine DC Flynt. The company has been behind other Costco wines too, including the Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon and Napa Valley red blend.

According to Costco, this particular chardonnay is ripe with notes of tropical fruit and sweet citrus. It boasts the oaky nuance modern chardonnay has become famous for, due to commonly being fermented or aged in oak barrels. The 1.5-liter bottle has a 13.5% ABV and costs about $10, although prices vary by location.

Despite chardonnay's reputation as a fruit-forward white wine with a buttery, round finish, chardonnay grapes can produce a variety of tasting notes depending on the terroir and the wine-aging process. Old World chardonnays of Europe have more minerality and acidity, while New World winemakers tend to go the oak-aged buttery route. The type of oak barrel, plus its aging time and toasting, produces different flavors. For instance, American oak imparts more vanilla notes, whereas French oak gives off a hint of spice. Winemakers can also use malolactic fermentation to convert the tart, crisp profile of malic acid to lactic acid, creating butteriness for a full-bodied chardonnay.

Costco's Kirkland Signature chardonnay is a New World option, and shoppers say it's worth buying. "I really like it. Bought it several times. It's not too dry or 'over-oaked' (there are some that taste borderline bitter)," one Reddit user writes.

Wondering what to pair with Costco chardonnay? There are endless options. It's a surefire win with anything buttery, and complements all sorts of poultry, fish, and vegetable dishes. In fact, we'd argue that chardonnay is the best wine to pair with lobster rolls. It's also a luscious match for foods that are silky or creamy in texture, like pasta Alfredo or clam chowder. Avoid serving it with bitter, acidic, pungent, or robustly seasoned items, as these could make the wine taste "off" or drown it out completely.