Each year, as the advent calendar season rolls around, it becomes increasingly difficult to select which one you’ll be using to mark down the days till December 25.
The market has exploded with so many different iterations of the Christmas classic that the task feels impossible. From beauty to booze, sex toys to jewellery, there is truly something for every interest and every gifting preference.
The only solution? Double or triple down on your advents with a combination of chocolate, keepsakes and tipples.
‘Tis the season to be jolly and there are few things as joy-giving as a seasonal surprise for 25 days straight. For those that live and die by the dram, whisky advents will rock your world, while those who like things more tropical, see the rum varieties. For those with a penchant for a killer martini, there are vodka-filled calendars aplenty, while drinkers who like their gins will be delighted with the selection in store. There’s not a booze category in town immune from calendar form and that includes the grape varieties too.
If you subscribe to the motto of ‘eat, drink and be merry’ throughout the Christmas period, do so with a mini bottle of wine in hand at all times - always responsibly, of course. The vino-filled advent calendars spotlight red, white, rose or bubbly beverages or a combination of all the above. Why not treat yourself to a cheese one too and see where the pairings will take you?
These advent calendars will tickle your tastebuds with lesser-known varieties that will expand your repertoire and impress your fellow diners the next time you’re at a fancy restaurant. You may also discover a new producer to reorder in bulk to solve the gifting woes for the person who has everything or else use these seasonal treats as the perfect present for the oenophile in your life.
For the best wine advent calendars to enjoy for 2023, see our picks below.
Freixenet And Friends Wine And Fizz Advent Calendar
There are 24 mini bottles of grape-based booze in this ultimate sample set. The festive wine cellar combines 12 still of the white, rosé and red variety and 12 bubbles to toast to the festive season.
For those trying to cut down their alcohol consumption, there is a selection of 0 per cent wines - and all the above are housed in a suitably festive blue box with gold detailing. Brands include Freixenet, i heart, Mionetto and Mouton.
Buy now £110.00, NOTHS
Virgin Wine Advent Calendar 2023
An advent calendar with a few tweaks, you'll find mini bottles of wine behind each door of Virgin Wines' advent calendar, which beats chocolate in our book. The sizeable box also contains a full-sized bottle, to be enjoyed on the big day. This calendar offers a mix of red and white, but if you prefer one over the other, there are additional wine advent calendars to suit.
Reserve yours for a tenner now, and pay the balance in November before dispatch.
Buy now £79.99, Virgin Wine
Prosecco O Clock Advent Countdown Calendar
It’s officially prosecco o’clock and let the celebrating begin with a mini bottle of the celebratory fizz every day for 12 in the lead-up to Christmas. The satisfying selection includes bottles from the likes of Bottega, Freixenet, and Mionetto. The clock can be refilled the following year.
Buy now £114.95, NOTHS
Tipsy Tree Alcohol Advent Calendar
Countdown to Christmas in the best way with this refillable tree advent calendar. The free-standing wooden tree will fit seamlessly with your seasonal décor and can become the focal point for your presents if a real tree is not feasible or space-efficient.
It comes alongside a box filled with mini 20cl bottles of fizz for you to pop in the numbered holes in the order of your choice. The selection includes the likes of Bottega, Accademia Moscato Spumante and Laurent Perrier Brut for the big day. Re-use the tree for next year.
Buy now £189.95, NOTHS
Wine Down To Christmas Advent Calendar
You’ll need to clear some room for this advent calendar, but if you’re serious about wine, that will be no trouble. Behind each of the 24 windows sits a 187ml - 200ml bottle of world-class red, white or rose wine, enough for a glassful with which to close the day.
Buy now £99.95, NOTHS
