Skip to main content
  1. Home
  2. Food & Drink

The Manual may earn a commission when you buy through links on our site.

Costco sells a $3,700 bottle of Screaming Eagle Cabernet Sauvignon, which usually has a 12-year waitlist

Screaming Eagle at Costco?

By
Wine bottles
Hermes Rivera/Unsplash / Unsplash

Reddit can be a weird and wonderful place, full of mystery, debates over things that were never worth debating, and a neverending supply of information of every variety. Sometimes, that information is utter nonsense, but in other cases, one can gain a plethora of valuable knowledge actually worth having. One such recent instance is this Reddit post by user r/Costco_alcohol, who posted a photo of a bottle of Screaming Eagle Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon for sale at Costco. Of course, we love Costco for its wide array of great wines, but this one has us pretty shook. 

Screaming Eagle wine
Benchmark Wine Group

Screaming Eagle

If you know wine, then you know that Screaming Eagle is a big deal. Known for its low production, high-quality wines, and religiously dedicated following, this prestigious Napa Valley winery only makes 500 cases of this rare wine annually from its modest 57-acre vineyard. The average waitlist time for those hoping to add a bottle to their collection is about 12 years and will cost several thousand dollars. And that’s if you happen to live in the right place. Screaming Eagle wine only ships to a limited number of states, so getting your hands on a bottle is a trickier matter than just expense and time. Counterfeit bottles have also been a problem for Screaming Eagle. Since 2010, the winery has embedded its bottles with a bubble-coded security system between the foil and the bottle so that authenticity can be verified.

Recommended Videos

In 2019, a single bottle of the prized wine regularly sold for $3,647, classifying it as one of the most expensive wine bottles in America. Back in 2000, a 6-liter bottle of Screaming Eagle 1992 Cabernet Sauvignon sold for half a million dollars. Adjusted for inflation, that’s more than $891,000 in 2023. Costco’s price? A steal at just $3,699.99 — no waitlist necessary, just your trusty Costco membership card. 

Related

And while we absolutely adore Costco for its $1.50 hot dog deal and great deals on laundry detergent, it does come as quite a shock that a bottle of this prestigious wine was spotted in the popular warehouse store, one aisle over from the bulk toilet paper.

One Reddit user commented, “That is actually a great price.” Another followed with, “I don’t see a limit. Clean them out.” Our favorite comment came from one user who posed a humorous question in light of Costco’s generous return policy, asking, “Can you return it if you don’t like it???”

Of course, while we certainly understand the prestige and joy of precious wine collecting, not everyone has a decade to wait or thousands to spend on a beautiful bottle. No matter your favorite varietal or your budget, these are some of our top recommendations for readily available, delicious Napa Valley wines you can enjoy by tonight.

Editors' Recommendations

Lindsay Parrill
Lindsay Parrill
Contributor
Lindsay is a graduate of California Culinary Academy, Le Cordon Bleu, San Francisco, from where she holds a degree in…
How to grill the steak of your dreams: An aspiring steak master’s guide
Grill up your steak just like a pro with these tips
Sirloin steak on a grill

With summer coming faster than expected, you’re likely firing up that grill every day to cook ribs, grill vegetables, or smoke a brisket. We love them all, but to be frank, nothing beats a perfectly grilled steak. Its succulent, smoky flavor alone is enough to bring your loved ones together for a protein-packed cookout in the backyard. And that makes grilling steak a rewarding culinary experience.

Grill masters have probably mastered the art of grilling. But if you just purchased your first grill or are looking for some beginner-friendly pointers, we’re here to help. We enlisted the expertise of Dusmane Tandia, executive chef at Mastro’s Steakhouse in New York City, for some expert tips on how to grill a restaurant-quality steak. Light up your grill, don your best apron, and read on to learn how to grill a perfect steak.
How to grill the perfect steak

Read more
The iconic Benjamin Steakhouse shares its best meat cooking tips
Executive chef imparts decades of steak cooking knowledge from top NYC steakhouses
Benjamin porterhouse whole

Cooking a great steak requires both technique and practice to get it right. Although it appears straightforward, there are a plethora of choices and decisions that go into proper steak cooking. What's the best cut? How do you season a steak properly? What temperature should the grill be at? For the best advice, why not seek the help of a steakhouse professional?

As a steak expert, Executive Chef Arturo McLeod of Benjamin Steakhouse has a wealth of knowledge on beef. Possessing over 30 years of preparing meat between Benjamin Steakhouse and Peter Luger, McLeod knows his beef. Benjamin Steakhouse is a family-owned restaurant that prides itself on high-quality steaks and fantastic service. Besides New York City, the restaurant has locations in Tokyo, Japan.
Porterhouse, the steakhouse classic

Read more
The secret to gauging meat tenderness is easier than you think
This simple trick is easy to learn
A plate of grilled meat and vegetables on a rustic wooden platter with a black background

Forget temperature guidelines or cooking time constraints. The best way to gauge meat tenderness is by way of an old culinary school trick. Turns out, you don't need much when assessing the doneness of steak. You can detect its status simply by comparing how it feels to certain parts of your hand. Dubbed the touch test, it's a handy way to quickly see how ready your meat is.

We first heard about the test through Dan Thiessen over at Walla Walla Steak Company. He's made a career out of cooking steak and uses the touch test often. What it may lack in exacting precision it more than makes up for in convenience and efficiency. Plus, it doesn't require any tools or expensive gadgetry. It's easy to memorize and a fun little party trick for your next backyard gathering.

Read more