The One Kirkland Product I’m Buying Before Costco Sells Out for the Holidays

Come December, I start to fret about the wine I will serve with Christmas dinner. I'm a sommelier, so my guests have high expectations. I want to serve a crowd-pleaser, a delicious wine that begs a refilled glass or two. It needs to pair well with my holiday menu. Gravy-drenched roasted turkey, of course, but also roast beef and green bean casserole. My friend's iconic mac and cheese. Maybe even roasted Brussels sprouts, if that isn't too much to ask.

And—I don't want to break the bank. In a bid to be gentle on my wallet, I headed over to Costco. Let me tell you, once upon a time, I wasn't too impressed with the Kirkland Signature range, but these days? Consider me a convert.

For Thanksgiving, Christmas, and beyond, I'm stocking up on the Kirkland Signature Gigondas. This guy is 85% grenache, 10% syrah, and 5% mourvedre, which translates to tons of red fruit: strawberry, red cherry, raspberry, and cranberry. That touch of syrah brings blackberry, cherry, plum, fig, and spicy black pepper to the profile, while the mourvedre adds a gorgeous savory herbal note. Think along the lines of rosemary, marjoram, and thyme or an herbes de Provence mix.

It's easy drinking with medium tannins and a bright, food-friendly acidity. In other words, it's a must on any holiday table!

I can't tell you how excited I was to discover that the Kirkland Signature Gigondas is produced by Guillaume Gonnet, an ultra-talented third-generation winemaker based in France's Southern Rhone Valley, whose wines I've been drinking for ages.

We've already talked turkey, but this is one I'd also pair with baked ham, especially when opting for a not-too-sweet glaze. When Christmas rolls around, that combination of red and black fruit layered over dried herbs and spices effortlessly complements my pozole rojo or my dad's recipe for prime rib. If meat is off the menu, the KS Gigondas is a wine that goes with dishes for both the omnivores and vegetarians in your friends and family group. It's a winner with mushrooms' earthy, savory flavor, i.e., it's perfect for vegan mushroom stuffing.

If you manage to grab a whole case, I'd strongly recommend keeping the Kirkland Signature Gigondas handy in the summer when it's time to fire up the grill and cook up burgers and brats.

Folks in the know are painfully aware that the best Kirkland wines disappear from shelves fast. It's definitely worth stocking up before it's too late!

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