Costco Recalls Kirkland Signature Prosecco Over Dangerous Glass-Shattering Risk

Costco recalls its popular Kirkland Signature Prosecco Valdobbiadene after discovering that unopened bottles may shatter without warning. If you live in one of the affected states, this is a safety alert you should act on.

What Costco is Saying

Costco has issued a product recall for its store-brand sparkling wine, specifically Kirkland Signature Prosecco Valdobbiadene. The retailer warns that bottles purchased between April 25 and August 26, 2025 may explode or shatter even when they are not being handled or opened. The recall applies to items sold under item number 1879870.

Affected bottles were sold in twelve Midwestern and Great Plains states:

• Iowa
• Illinois
• Indiana
• Kentucky
• Michigan
• Minnesota
• Missouri
• North Dakota
• Nebraska
• Ohio
• South Dakota
• Wisconsin

According to Costco’s notice, the risk is serious: the glass may shatter unexpectedly, which could lead to cuts, flying shards, or other kinds of injury. The company urges customers with such bottles to not open them, for any reason.

Key Facts You Need to Know

How Costco Tells You to Handle Affected Bottles

Because of the unpredictable nature of the hazard, Costco has laid out specific instructions for what owners of affected bottles should do:

1. Do not open the bottle under any circumstances. Even handling may increase risk.
2. Wrap the unopened bottle in paper towels or something similar to cushion it.
3. Place the wrapped bottle in a plastic bag to contain any fragments, should it break.
4. Dispose of it in household trash. Do not return the bottle to a Costco warehouse, as this poses risk for their staff or other customers.

To get a refund, customers are to bring the recall notice that Costco mailed or emailed to their membership account to their nearest Costco warehouse. With that notice, Costco will issue a full refund for the purchased bottle.

What Costco Has Not Yet Confirmed

While the recall is active, there are several open questions and gaps that Costco has not addressed publicly:

• The total number of bottles affected is not disclosed.
• There is no confirmed count of injuries resulting from bottles shattering.
• The precise cause—for example, whether it’s related to manufacturing defects, glass thickness, pressure during transport, or temperature fluctuations—is not detailed.

These uncertainties mean that consumers need to take the warnings seriously and assume that any bottle meeting the criteria is a potential hazard.

Why This Is Unusual

Recalls involving broken or defective wine bottles are not new. But this case stands out for several reasons:

• The risk arises without handling or opening — the bottles could shatter simply by sitting, which is rare.
• Costco is asking customers not to return the product for safety reasons, which is less common in recalls; usually, companies ask for returns or exchanges.
• The combination of wine, pressure (from carbonation), and potential glass weaknesses creates a precarious situation.

These factors make this recall both urgent and unusual in scale for a wine product under a store brand.

What Might Be Behind the Problem

While Costco hasn’t publicly detailed the root cause, experts and industry observers are speculating based on what is known:

• Internal pressure in sparkling wines can build up due to carbonation and temperature changes. If the glass is thin, has micro-fissures, or defects, that pressure may cause spontaneous breakage.
• Transport or storage conditions may have involved extreme heat, dampness, or rapid temperature swings that put stress on bottles.
• Glass quality and manufacturing variability, possibly including defects in the glass, flaws in seams, or other weak points.

Until Costco or the distributor (Ethica Wines) release more technical or quality control details, these remain hypotheses. Still, they help explain why unopened bottles could become dangerous.

Impact: Consumers, Costco, and the Wine Industry

For Consumers

• Anyone who bought Kirkland Signature Prosecco Valdobbiadene during the named period must check carefully. Even bottles in cool, seemingly safe storage may be affected.
• The recommended disposal method is designed to minimize risk of injury—both for the owner disposing and for others who might handle trash.
• Getting a refund requires holding on to the recall notice issued by Costco.

For Costco

• The recall could affect customer trust in both their wine department and private-label products broadly.
• There will be logistical and financial costs: processing refunds, communicating with affected customers, and removing any remaining stock.
• Costco may need to review its supplier quality checks, especially for items with pressure risks (sparkling wines, carbonated beverages, etc.).

For the Wine and Retail Industry

• This recall may prompt more scrutiny of pressure-sealed bottles (champagnes, proseccos, sparkling wines), especially from store brands.
• Suppliers, importers, and retail chains may tighten policies around shipping conditions, temperature control, glass quality, and safety checkpoints.
• There could be regulatory interest, or risk of legal exposure if someone is injured and claims negligence.

State-By-State Notes & Coverage

Because this recall is regionally focused, here are extra details by state to help readers in specific areas understand what’s going on in their region:

• Midwestern and Great Plains States like Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, South Dakota, Wisconsin are all included.
• Kentucky is also on the list, adding coverage from a more southern state border.

If you live in any of these states and shopped at Costco in that timeframe, your purchases may be impacted. If you’re outside, your risk is minimal for this specific recall—though it’s wise to stay tuned to local recall notices in your area.

Timeline of Events

Here is a simplified timeline to help you understand how the recall developed:

• April 25 – August 26, 2025: Costco sells Kirkland Signature Prosecco Valdobbiadene, item #1879870, in the twelve impacted states.
• September 12, 2025: Costco issues recall notice to members, informing them of the glass-shattering hazard.
• Shortly after: Notifications via email/mail go out, and recall details published on Costco’s website.
• Mid-September 2025: Media outlets and consumer safety resources pick up the recall, spreading awareness.

How to Check If Your Bottle is Affected

To know if you might own one of the dangerous bottles, check the following:

1. The label: Must be Kirkland Signature Prosecco Valdobbiadene.
2. The item number: 1879870.
3. The purchase date or sale label: On or between April 25 and August 26, 2025.
4. The store location: In one of the twelve states listed above.

If all match, assume the bottle may be unsafe and follow Costco’s disposal instructions.

What to Do If You Have an Affected Bottle

Here’s a checklist for what to do:

• Do not open the bottle. Avoid unnecessary handling.
• Wrap it in paper towels or soft cloths to contain potential glass fragments.
• Place it in a plastic bag before disposing.
• Throw it out in regular trash, not through return to warehouse or store.
• Locate your recall notice from Costco. Without it, you may not be able to get a refund.
• Go to your nearest Costco and show the notice to customer service for a full refund.

Also, if you notice damage, cracks, or any unusual behavior (corks popping, bulging bottles, etc.), keep pictures or evidence—this could help if Costco expands the recall or responds to individual injury claims.

Possible Outcomes & What To Watch Next

Going forward, these are developments to monitor:

• Public statements from Ethica Wines, the importer/distributor, regarding how the bottles failed (glass fault, pressure, etc.).
• If any injuries are confirmed—these could lead to stronger legal/litigation consequences.
• Whether Costco or others expand the recall (other states, other product lines) once more information becomes available.
• Changes in how sparkling wines are packaged, stored, or transported, especially for warehouse stores.
• Customer backlash or reputational cost, plus possible restocking of safe inventory once tests and quality controls are verified.

Why “Costco Recalls” Matters

When people search “Costco recalls,” they’re often looking for warnings, safety alerts, and products they may already own. Recalls are a major part of consumer protection. They:

• Prevent injuries by alerting people to dangers in everyday items.
• Hold companies accountable for safety standards.
• Promote transparency about supply chain, manufacturing, and quality control.

This Prosecco case is a vivid example: it involves a product many people may have in their homes, with risk not just during consumption, but even when bottles are simply stored.

Preventing Similar Issues

Consumers and retailers alike can learn from this recall. Some preventative ideas:

• Retailers could test random batches of sparkling wine for pressure resilience.
• Suppliers could improve glass manufacturing standards, ensure glass thickness and seam integrity are consistent.
• Transportation and storage protocols should ensure minimal temperature fluctuation.
• Customers should store sparkling wine in stable, cool environments—not exposed to heat (like cars, direct sunlight, etc.).
• Always check for recall notices, especially for consumables, beverages, and pressurized products.

Final Thoughts

The Costco recalls of Kirkland Signature Prosecco represent an urgent safety alert. If you live in one of the affected states and purchased those bottles during the identified period, acting immediately can protect you and your household. Discarding the bottle safely, securing your refund, and staying informed are your best steps.

This situation also underscores the importance of manufacturers and retailers maintaining rigorous safety checks—especially for products under pressure, where a failure isn’t just a disappointment, but a danger.

Have you already disposed of one of these bottles, or received a recall notice from Costco? Share your experience below so fellow readers know how widespread this issue feels in your area.