Costco’s wine secrets

Experts dish out the real reasons Costco’s wine’s sell for such a good deal.

Business Insider spoke to Costco Wine Blog Editor Andrew Cullen and contributing reviewer Erin Reyes about what sets Costco apart, in terms of its wine section.

Both reviewers stressed the fact that the blog is completely independent of the members-only warehouse club.

"I really felt it was important to retain the freedom to do and say whatever we want, however we want, whenever we wanted," Cullen said. "We're trying to help people find good stuff and avoid bad stuff."

But according to Cullen and Reyes, most of the offerings out of Costco's wine section qualify as "good stuff."

Reyes said that the power Costco wields over suppliers is a key factor in its ability to provide members with an array of high-value wines.

"Costco has a unique purchasing power for wine because they're able to buy so much at one time," Reyes said. "And, for the most part, anyone would want their wine to be stocked in Costco. There's so many people who go through looking for the wine."

That purchasing power often shows up at the cash register.

"Just in my experience, their wine prices are from 0 percent to 40 percent better than other outlets," Cullen said.

Beyond the price tags, Reyes said that Costco also takes care to provide a "good variety" of wines, and continuously adds new bottles every week.

Costco oftentimes partners up with major vineyards to create these Kirkland Signature offerings, so you might just be purchasing a particularly fancy or notable wine at a reduced price and under a different name.

To read the entire Business Insider article, click here.