Costco Recalled Almost 1 Million Prosecco Bottles: What to Know

If your idea of a relaxing evening includes pizza, stretchy pants, and a chilled bottle of budget-friendly bubbly from Costco, this is one recall notice you don’t want to ignore. A large recall involving Kirkland Signature prosecco has made headlines because the issue isn’t about taste, labeling, or a minor packaging typoit’s about bottles that can break or shatter and potentially cause injury.

Yes, this is one of those “do not open it” recalls. Not “drink it quickly before your guests arrive.” Not “return it next weekend when you go for paper towels and impulse-buy a kayak.” Just: don’t open it.

Here’s what happened, which bottles are affected, what Costco members should do, and why this recall got so much attention across U.S. news outlets. I’ll also walk through practical, real-life scenarios so you know what to do if that bottle is currently sitting in your pantry, wine rack, or suspiciously overstuffed garage shelf.

What Happened in the Costco Prosecco Recall?

Costco’s recalled product is Kirkland Signature Valdobbiadene Prosecco DOCG, sold in certain Midwest Costco locations. The recall involves about 941,400 bottles, which is why many headlines described it as “almost 1 million” or “nearly 1 million” bottles.

The key concern is a laceration hazard: the glass bottles may break or shatter, including when unopened. That’s what makes this recall unusual and more urgent than a standard food quality issue.

According to the official recall details, the importer received multiple reports of bottles shattering or breaking, including one reported laceration injury. That moved the story from “odd product problem” into “real safety issue” territoryand explains why the recall spread quickly across major news and lifestyle publications.

Which Prosecco Bottles Were Recalled?

If you shop Costco regularly, don’t assume every Kirkland sparkling wine is affected. This recall is tied to a specific product and identifier details.

Recalled product details

• Product name: Kirkland Signature Valdobbiadene Prosecco DOCG
• Label wording on bottle: “Kirkland Signature Valdobbiadene Prosecco Superiore DOCG”
• Costco Item Number: 1879870
• UPC: 196633883742
• Bottle appearance: Green glass bottle with purple foil top and purple label
• Approximate price: About $8 per bottle

Where and when it was sold

The affected bottles were sold at Costco stores in these 12 states:

Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, North Dakota, Nebraska, Ohio, South Dakota, and Wisconsin.

The purchase window listed in Costco member notices is April 25, 2025 through August 26, 2025. The CPSC recall notice broadly describes sales as occurring from April through August 2025. In other words: if you bought this exact prosecco in that time frame and in those states, assume it is part of the recall unless proven otherwise.

Why This Recall Matters More Than a Typical Food Recall

Most shoppers hear “recall” and think contamination, allergens, or spoilage. This one is different. The hazard is the glass bottle itself potentially shattering, which means the risk is physical injury from glass and pressurenot just a quality complaint.

That distinction changes the advice. In many recalls, the instruction is “return the item to the store.” Here, customers were specifically told not to open the bottle and not to return the bottle itself. That’s rare enough to make even experienced Costco shoppers do a double take.

It also explains why coverage emphasized phrases like “spontaneous shattering” or “exploding bottles.” Media headlines love drama, but in this case, the practical takeaway is simple: treat the bottle as a pressurized glass hazard and handle disposal carefully.

What Costco Customers Should Do Right Now

If you think you may have the recalled prosecco, don’t panicbut don’t procrastinate either. This is one of those “I’ll deal with it later” situations that should move up the to-do list.

Step 1: Check the bottle without opening it

Look for the item number, label design, and product name. Do not shake it, uncork it, or “test” it. This is not the time for bravery or brunch prep.

Step 2: Do not return the bottle to Costco

Costco notices specifically instructed customers not to return the item. That protects you, store employees, and other shoppers from the risk of breakage during transport or handling.

Step 3: Dispose of it safely

Costco’s member notice instructed customers to dispose of unopened bottles immediately by wrapping the bottle in paper towels, placing it in a plastic bag, and then placing it in the garbage to reduce the risk of injury from shattered glass. If you’re being extra cautious (which is smart here), handle it gently and avoid crowded indoor spaces while moving it.

Step 4: Get your refund

Customers were told they are entitled to a full refund. Costco communications indicate that the refund can be processed by presenting the recall letter and/or through purchase verification at a Costco location (depending on the notice and store process). The bottle itself should not be brought back.

Step 5: Contact the importer if needed

If you have questions about the recall, customers were directed to contact Ethica Wines / F&F Fine Wines International. If you received a Costco notice, use the contact details listed there for the most current guidance.

Can You Drink It If the Bottle “Looks Fine”?

Short answer: Nodon’t risk it.

The core issue in the recall is that bottles may break or shatter even when not handled or in use. That means visual inspection alone is not enough. A bottle can look perfectly normal right up until it isn’t.

If you already drank a bottle from the same product line and had no issue, that does not mean the remaining bottle in your house is safe. Recalls often apply to a batch range where some units fail and others don’t. Think of it like a car recall: your car may feel fine today and still be part of a recall tomorrow.

If someone is injured by broken glass, seek appropriate medical care. Even small cuts from glass can become more serious than they look in the moment (especially when adrenaline is involved and everyone is saying, “It’s just a little nick,” while bleeding on the kitchen towel).

Why the Story Became Big News

This recall checked all the boxes for wide media coverage:

• Huge volume: roughly 941,400 bottles
• Popular retailer: Costco and its Kirkland Signature brand
• Unusual hazard: shattering glass bottles, not just food quality
• Low-cost, high-volume product: many households may have purchased multiple bottles
• Holiday and hosting relevance: sparkling wine is often stored for parties and celebrations

Another reason the story felt confusing to some consumers: there were Costco member notices and later broader recall coverage through federal and news channels. So a shopper might have seen an earlier warning, ignored it, and then later read “nearly 1 million bottles recalled” and think, “Wait, is this a new problem?” In practice, the headlines were often covering the same product issue at different stages of public communication.

Also worth noting: a few media reports contained small inconsistencies (for example, some stories referenced the wrong state count while listing 12 states). When in doubt, rely on the official identifiersproduct name, item number, UPC, and affected states listed in Costco/CPSC notices.

How to Check Your Home Bar, Pantry, or Garage Without Making It Weird

Let’s be honest: a lot of Costco purchases do not live in neat, labeled bins. They live in “temporary” spots that become long-term storage. If you’re not sure whether you bought this prosecco, here’s a practical way to check:

Quick household search checklist

1. Check wine racks, bar carts, and holiday storage shelves.
2. Look in garages, basements, and utility rooms where bulk purchases often get parked.
3. Ask other household members who may have bought it (including add-on members on the Costco account).
4. Search old Costco emails for recall notices.
5. Check purchase history or receipts if available.

This is especially important if you bought the prosecco for a party and forgot about leftover bottles. Sparkling wine tends to hide in plain sight until New Year’s Eve, a birthday, or “we should celebrate making it through Tuesday.”

Consumer Safety Takeaways From This Costco Recall

Beyond this specific prosecco, there are a few useful lessons here for any shopper:

1) Read retailer recall emails

Yes, most inboxes are chaos. But retailer safety notices are worth openingespecially when they mention a specific item number and purchase dates.

2) Keep at least basic purchase records

You don’t need a spreadsheet worthy of a forensic accountant, but receipts, digital purchase history, or membership purchase records can make refund and recall verification much easier.

3) Don’t improvise with potentially hazardous items

When a notice says “do not open” and “do not return,” follow it exactly. This is not the moment for a DIY pressure test in the backyard.

4) Share recall info with family members

If you shop for parents, roommates, or a partner, make sure they know. Recalls are most dangerous when one person reads the notice and forgets to tell the person who actually reaches for the product.

500-Word Experience Section: Real-Life Consumer Scenarios and Lessons

Note: The examples below are realistic, composite experiences based on how shoppers commonly store products and respond to recalls. They are included to help readers think through what to do in everyday situations.

Scenario 1: The “I bought it for a party and forgot” household. A shopper picks up several bottles of Costco prosecco in summer for a graduation party. Two get chilled and used; one ends up on a shelf in the laundry room next to paper towels and a box fan that hasn’t worked since 2022. Months later, they see a headline about a Costco prosecco recall and think, “No way, that can’t be the same bottle.” It is. The biggest lesson in this situation is that leftover party products are easy to forget, and recalls often matter long after the original event. A quick storage-area check can prevent a risky surprise later.

Scenario 2: The shared membership mix-up. Costco’s notices often mention purchases made by the member or an add-on member. In real life, that means one person may receive the alert while another person actually bought or stored the product. A common experience is someone saying, “I never bought that,” while a spouse, sibling, or adult child definitely did. The practical fix is simple: forward the email, send a photo of the bottle, and confirm together before anyone handles it. Recalls don’t care whose turn it was to shop.

Scenario 3: The “It looks fine, so it’s probably fine” temptation. Many consumers are used to checking for cracks, leaks, or obvious damage. With this prosecco recall, the risk is that the bottle can still be hazardous even if it appears normal. A shopper may feel silly throwing away a bottle that looks perfectly intactespecially if it was purchased for a celebration and seems “too nice to waste.” But recalls are about risk reduction, not visual perfection. Following disposal instructions exactly is the safest choice.

Scenario 4: The refund confusion. Some shoppers assume a refund always requires returning the product. This recall is a great reminder that safety-related recalls can work differently. A person might delay action because they think, “I don’t want to drive across town with a dangerous bottle.” In this case, the notices specifically said not to return the bottle. Once people understand that the bottle stays out of the car and the refund can still be processed through the recall process, they’re much more likely to act promptly.

Scenario 5: The social media panic spiral. Someone sees a dramatic post using words like “exploding” and imagines every sparkling wine bottle in the house is a cartoon bomb. Then another person shrugs it off as “internet exaggeration.” The balanced response is in the middle: take the recall seriously, but focus on the actual affected product identifiers. Not every bubbly bottle is a problem. The recalled Kirkland product can be identified by item number, label details, and purchase window. Calm, specific action beats panic every time.

These experiences all point to the same takeaway: recall notices work best when shoppers act quickly, verify the exact product, and follow the stated safety steps without improvising.

Final Takeaway

The Costco prosecco recall became a major story because it combines scale, a popular private-label product, and an unusual safety hazard. If you purchased Kirkland Signature Valdobbiadene Prosecco DOCG (Item #1879870) in the affected states during the listed 2025 dates, don’t open it and don’t return the bottle. Follow the disposal guidance and complete the refund process through Costco’s recall instructions.

It’s not the most glamorous fate for a prosecco bottle, but it’s a lot better than turning happy hour into an urgent-care anecdote.