The $16 California White Our Wine Expert Is Buying at Costco All Summer Long

I used to manage a wine shop in the D.C. area, and I had a lot of wealthy clients who didn’t just entertain — they Entertained. For these types of luncheons, bridal showers, and charity events, high-end sauvignon blanc, like California’s Spottswoode and Merry Edwards, was a popular choice. And I can understand why: It’s crisp and refreshing, but a little weightier than its French counterparts. Its aromas also tend to fill out the whole spectrum of fruits rather than just screaming GRAPEFRUIT the way New Zealand sauvignon blanc sometimes can.

Citrus-forward varieties like sauvignon blanc are also perfect for summer, so I had my eyes peeled for a bottle or two on my last trip to Costco. When I’m scouting for wine at the wholesale grocer, I usually start with the Kirkland brand and then move on to more national brands, but I always do a quick check on wine-searcher to make sure the price is competitive. After tasting my way through all the whites, the Groth Sauvignon Blanc was the clear standout — both for quality and value!

If you’re stalking the aisles at Costco looking for a great value white this summer, do not leave without placing this bottle in your cart. At $15.99, it’s a great price — generally $3 to $5 less — compared to most other retailers I’ve checked out. In some places it goes for $22.

Like many classic Napa sauvignon blancs, Groth is made in a style created in Bordeaux, where it’s traditional to blend sauvignon blanc with semillon and age it in oak barrels. Groth does both, and the time in oak and the addition of semillon (a grape variety with a richer texture and less sharp citrus character than sauvignon blanc) give this wine a rounder, richer feel. Its more luxurious, you could say.

It has a weighty, sophisticated texture, and its flavors are a little less divisive than sauvignon blancs from other regions (think: ripe melon, green apple, and just a touch of grapefruit). It’s got refreshing but not overly aggressive acidity, so it’s the perfect cocktail-hour white to serve with appetizers. Basically anything Martha Stewart would recommend for a summer lunch would be great with this. Try it with an old-school chicken salad and break out your nicer dishes for your very own coastal grandmother moment.

Have you tried this white wine from Costco? Tell us about it in the comments!