Who makes Kirkland Signature Red Blend (California / Napa Valley bottlings)?
As of August 10, 2026, evidence points to DC Flynt MW Selections as the manufacturer of Kirkland Signature Red Blend (California / Napa Valley bottlings), but no tier 1–3 source names the link directly.
The common claim
What’s commonly claimed, and what the evidence supports
Roundups and wine blogs disagree because 'Kirkland Signature Red Blend' is not one wine — Costco sells California, Napa Valley, and (as 'Columbia Valley Red Wine') Washington bottlings that change by vintage. The California and Napa red blends carry the negociant bottling statement 'Cellared and Bottled by DC Flynt MW Selections,' Costco's Modesto-area negociant, so the evidence points to DC Flynt MW Selections as bottler of record rather than to the winery that actually crushed the fruit, which the label does not disclose. For the Washington bottling, the Costco Wine Blog instead credits Long Shadows' director of winemaking, Gilles Nicault.
Evidence & sources
Each source is graded on the six-tier evidence rubric, where tier 1 is strongest. Sources are archived, so a citation still works if the original page moves or goes behind a paywall.
Tier 4
Reviewer transcribes the 2022 Kirkland Signature California Red Blend back label: 'Cellared and Bottled by DC Flynt MW Selections' (13.5% alcohol). That is a negociant bottling statement, not the crush winery, which caps this at probable: DC Flynt MW Selections is the bottler of record and the fruit's actual producer is not disclosed on the label.
Tier 4
Producer roundup states the Washington 'Kirkland Signature Columbia Valley Red Wine' is made by Gilles Nicault, director of winemaking at Long Shadows Winery in Walla Walla, and that the 'base level Kirkland Signature wines from California' — the inexpensive 1.5L bottlings — come from E&J Gallo. Evidence that the winery behind a Kirkland red blend depends on the appellation, not one fixed maker.
Tier 4
Review of the Washington red blend notes the back-label blend (Cabernet, Merlot, Syrah) and 'the same winemaker, Gilles Nicault as prior years' — a stable, named winemaker for the Columbia Valley bottling, in contrast to the negociant-only naming on the California and Napa red blends.
Frequently asked
Who makes Kirkland Signature Red Blend?
Is Kirkland red blend made by E&J Gallo?
Does the maker of Kirkland Red Blend change from year to year?
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