7 best wine advent calendars to savour in December 2023
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Advent calendars aren’t just for children anymore. Adults are now spoilt for choice each December, with a range of specially designed calendars stuffed with gourmet chocolates, pricey candles and high-end beauty products.
If you’d rather count down to the big day with a tipple or two, a wine advent calendar could be the perfect festive treat. One would even make a great present for any wine-lovers in your life.
While wine advent calendars used to be few and far between, more companies launch new versions each year, so, you can be sure every door will delight, and there won’t be any unwanted bottles left over by Christmas Day. Although most calendars feature a mix of red and white miniatures, some contain only one colour, while others even include sparkling wines for a daily surprise.
It’s worth choosing one from a brand you’re already familiar with, to make sure you’ll like the wine hiding inside. Some calendars have big-name wines that are readily available in supermarkets, and that most people will be familiar with already. Other calendars include bottles from smaller producers, and are a great way to sample new and unfamiliar wines before investing in a full-size bottle. Some even have bonus extras, including tasting notes, pre-mixed cocktails or details on the winemakers, so there’s more to each day than just enjoying a tipple.
Remember, all these calendars are larger and heavier than their traditional counterparts, so you will need to find room to store one during the festive season. They also usually sell out quickly, so, if you have your heart set on one, snap it up early and stash it away, so you’re not tempted to peek (or sip) before December.
How we tested
A selection of the best wine advent calendar we tested for this review
(Siobhan Grogan)
We ripped open all the doors on these wine advent calendars, to judge which ones are worth your investment. For each, we considered if the outer packaging delivered festive cheer, if the box was easy to store during December and, of course, if the wines inside were worth drinking. We also considered value for money, sustainability and any surprise elements in the calendar, to help us decide which ones would make the countdown to Christmas extra special.
The best wine advent calendars for 2023 are:
Best wine advent calendar overall – Virgin Wines wine advent calendar 2023: £87.99, Virginwines.co.ukBest budget wine advent calendar – J.P. Chenet wine and sparkling advent calendar: £74.99, Amazon.co.ukBest reusable advent calendar – Tipsy tree alcohol advent calendar, wine: £84.99, Gettingpersonal.co.ukBest fizzy wine advent calendar – Getting Personal prosecco and champagne advent calendar: £124.99, Gettingpersonal.co.uk
