Who Makes Kirkland Zinfandel? (Are They Good?)

Do you know who makes Kirkland Zinfandel wine? Well, you are at the perfect place to find the answer to such a question.

If you’ve been to Costco recently you’ve likely noticed their private label “Kirkland.” Kirkland makes a variety of top-quality products, one of which is the famous Old Vine Zinfandel. We’re all aware that Costco doesn’t operate their own vineyard, so who does make Kirkland Zinfandel? 

Old Vine Zinfandel is produced in Sonoma County, California! It is made at Kunde Family Winery and bottled by DC Flynt MW Selections. 

This article will present all the information you need to know about Sonoma County,  Kunde Family Winery, DC Flynt MW Selections, and conclude with a description of the famous Old Vine Zinfandel. 

What Is Sonoma County Wine? 

Sonoma County wine encompasses all wine produced in Sonoma County, California. Sonoma County is the largest producer of wine grapes in California and actually contains thirteen approved “American VIticultural Areas”!

An American Viticultural Area, or an AVA, is an area of land designated as a wine-grape growing area. There are strict regulations regarding an AVA designation on wine, which includes a requirement that 85% of the grapes used in the wine were grown in the AVA, and the wine must be finished within the same state the AVA is located. 

Certain AVAs are well known for their specific varieties of wine grapes and consumers will often pay more for a wine with an AVA designation in order to ensure that it is high quality.

Within Sonoma County there are more than 400 different wineries that produce a wide variety of wines. The area predominantly produces Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Pinot Noir, Merlot, and Zinfandel.  

And of course, among the many wineries in Sonoma County is the Kunde Family Winery!  

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The Kunde Family Winery 

The Kunde Family Winery was established in 1904. Their family has been farming their 1,840 acre vineyard in Sonoma County for centuries, producing top-quality wine. They only produce wine from their own estate in order to exercise greater control and provide consistency each year.

This is one reason the Old Vine Zinfandel is a well-known variety.

They sell eight different wines across the country and have additional varieties available to try in their private wine tasting club. 

The winery produces more than 75,0000 cases of wine every single year! Around 60% of their wine is sold under their own name, while the remaining 40% is produced for retail corporations such as Trader Joes and Costco! 

Although the wine is produced and cased at the Kunde Family Winery, there is one more step before it reaches Costco stores.

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How Is DC Flynt MW Selections Involved? 

Well, we’ve already presented that the Old Vine Zinfandel is grown and produced at Kunde Family Winery, so how exactly does DC Flynt MW Selections fit into the process? 

DC Flynt MW Selections is simply a company that specializes in importing, exporting, producing, and distributing wines in the United States. They are also involved in wine importing and distributions in Puerto Rico, Mexico, UK, Australia, Spain, and many other countries. 

The wine is bottled at DC Flynt MW Selections and distributed to Costco stores across the United States. 

Is Kirkland Zinfandel Worth It?

The Old Vine Zinfandel produced by Kunde Family Winery and sold through the Kirkland brand is an exceptionally good deal. Costco is able to sell top quality products under their Kirkland brand for slashed prices, and their zinfandel is no different.

The Old Vine Zinfandel is sold for only $9.99 a bottle, which is an exceptionally good deal.

The “old vine” portion of the name comes from the fact that the grape vines used to produce this zinfandel are on average around 45 years old! Since the Kunde Family Winery has been around for so long they are able to produce these old vine wines. 

The great thing about old vine wines lies in the fact that the vine is a mature plant and only produces the amount of grapes that it can sustain.

This means that although old vines may technically produce less grapes than newer vines, the quality of the grapes is consistent. 

How Does Old Vine Zinfandel Taste?

If you’ve read this far you’re likely wondering how good the $9.99 bottle of Old Vine Zinfandel really is. Well, considering where it is produced, every year Kirkland Zinfandel is fairly consistent. 

It is a medium, deep purple color and has notes of different fruits including blackberry and blueberry. There are light notes of anise, mocha, and a slightly peppery finish. 

Since Kunde Family Winery is known for its consistency, you’re likely to be impressed year after year with this wine. It is a fan favorite at Costco for a reason!

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Conclusion

Kunde Family Winery has created a great partnership with Costco. Consumers are able to enjoy their high quality wine selections under the Kirkland label at reduced prices. 

Although some are hesitant to buy private label products due to the lack of quality that other retailers may have, Kirkland is well known for its quality products. 

Understanding where your products are coming from can help you make the choice on whether or not to purchase a private label or name brand product. 

In this case, we can highly attest to the quality of Kirkland Old Vine Zinfandel, and you should feel good knowing that you are supporting a family run business out of Sonoma County.

References

https://costcowineblog.com/2018-kirkland-signature-sonoma-county-old-vine-zinfandel/

https://zinfandelchronicles.com/2021/02/2018-kirkland-old-vine-zinfandel-sonoma-county-bottle-notes/