Invented in the early 20th century, printed Advent calendars were initially meant to serve as a countdown to Christmas for children during the Christian liturgical season. Each calendar featured little numbered flaps that contained a Bible verse or devotional image (and, later, a special treat) on the other side and would be opened once a day starting on the fourth Sunday before Christmas and ending on Christmas Eve. However, while still used by Christians, the significance has since expanded to simply extending a little extra holiday cheer throughout the month of December, regardless of your religious beliefs. Though many of us grew up with those cute little Advent calendars filled with little chocolates and toys, adults, for whatever reason, don’t seem to be targeted as needing holiday spirit (or rather, spirits). In recent years, the question has been raised: Why should kids get to have all the fun of opening their little Advent calendars to sweet treats while adults get stuck with boring booze gift bags? Alcoholic options have seen an increase in popularity, with wine and beer options readily available and even whiskey, gin, and hard seltzer options becoming more prevalent as consumers latch onto popular cocktail trends and expand their palates. Wine advent calendars are great for a variety of festive occasions, whether you’re splitting a half bottle with friends and family or wine-ing down by yourself with a quarter bottle in your favorite holiday-themed glass—whatever brings those tidings of comfort and joy for which the holiday season is known. If all that impending family time has you in need of a little extra “holiday cheer” or you’re in search of a gift that will wet the whistle of your favorite wine drinker, we’ve got you covered. Read on for our top 18 picks for the best wine Advent calendars. Here at Parade.com, we’re all about sharing products we love with our audience. When you make a purchase on an item seen on this page, we may earn a commission, however, all picks are independently chosen unless otherwise mentioned.
18 Best Wine Advent Calendars
Give Them Beer Wine Advent Calendar 2021, $169, GiveThemBeer.com
Though their name may suggest otherwise, Give Them Beer has more to offer than, well, beer. Specifically, you can pick up their classic 2021 Wine Advent Calendar, which features twelve 350 ml bottles for $169. Each box contains an array of red, white, and sparkling wines from acclaimed vineyards around the world. Whether you’re a wine aficionado or a novice, this calendar is bound to make your days merry and bright. Give Them Beer Wine Advent Calendar, $169, GiveThemBeer.com
12 Nights of Wine, $129, Vinebox
Have you been naughty or nice? For its past wine Advent calendar options, Vinebox has given customers the option of choosing between “naughty” and “nice” boxes, and each features twelve bottles of single-serving vials of red and white wine for $129. This year’s 12 Nights of Wine collection isn’t available just yet, as the retailer usually releases their much-anticipated calendars in November, but they always sell out quickly, so be sure to sign up for email updates so you can dash away, dash away, dash away to their website once they’ve dropped. 12 Nights of Wine, $129, Vinebox
Craftpeg Snowflake Christmas Wine Advent Calendar, $31, Etsy
Hosting a party between now and Thanksgiving? There’s snow better time to treat your guests with Craftpeg’s Snowflake Christmas Wine Advent Calendar. Constructed from sturdy Baltic birch, this $31 non-denominational DIY option has enough room for you to fill it with your twelve favorite mini wine bottles. It’s good to note, though, that this Etsy shop is located in Canada, so be sure to order early and factor any additional shipping costs into your budget. Craftpeg Snowflake Christmas Wine Advent Calendar, $31, Etsy
Aldi 2021 Collection Wine Advent Calendar, $60, Aldi
Run, run, Rudolph! Aldi’s Wine Advent Calendars are so popular that in past years, the grocery store chain has seen them sell out in minutes. Unlike others on our list, this option is not available online, but if you want to snag one for yourself (and we highly recommend you do!), they’re scheduled to hit shelves on November 3 for $60—$10 cheaper than last year. Each package contains 24 mini bottles of a variety of wines, from classic reds and whites to festive sparkling and rosé options. Aldi 2021 Collection Wine Advent Calendar, $60, Aldi
Vintage Wine Estates 12 Wines Advent Calendar, $108, QVC
If you’re a wine lover looking to get more bang for your buck, we think the Vintage Wine Estates 12 Wines Advent Calendar is an Advent-ageous deal. The true holiday miracle is that this calendar costs only $108 for twelve half bottles of wine—that’s $9 per bottle! This boozy box boasts an impressive assemblage of six red and white wine varietals: cabernet, chardonnay, merlot, Moscato, pinot grigio, and pinot noir. QVC will start shipping this collection on November 29, so you can be sure your order will arrive just as you’ve finished decorating. Vintage Wine Estates 12 Wines Advent Calendar, $108, QVC
In Good Taste 2021 Wine Advent Calendar, $150, In Good Taste
Forget walking on Cloud 9—you’ll be walking in a wine-ter wonderland with In Good Taste’s 2021 Wine Advent Calendar. With 24 miniature bottles of premium wines, its lineup features reds, whites, and rosés from well-known vineyards right here stateside all the way to French and Italian wine country. These $150 calendars are set to ship on November 1, so you can be sure they’ll arrive in time for the Festivus festivities to begin. In Good Taste 2021 Wine Advent Calendar, $150, In Good Taste
Honey Badgers Shop Adult Wooden Advent Calendar, $55, Etsy
Of course, slapping a bow on a bottle of wine and calling it a day isn’t exactly the most elaborate gift, but what if you added a little razzle-dazzle? Enter this $55 Frosty the Snowman-themed Adult Wooden Advent Calendar by Honey Badgers Shop, which will have any recipient feeling like a jolly happy soul in no time. This 22-inch tall tipsy snowman comes with 24 openings to place your favorite nips (wine or spirits), plus it includes features like a chalkboard hat and an included storage bag. Honey Badgers Shop Adult Wooden Advent Calendar, $55, Etsy
Playful Press 12 Days of Winemas Advent Calendar, $4, Etsy
If you want to devote more of your wine Advent calendar budget to the wine itself rather than the calendar, consider the 12 Days of Winemas Advent Calendar by Playful Press. Each $4 purchase nets you twelve tags to attach to each bottle and a wine list so your true love can write down which wines they’ve received and keep track of their new favorites. Plus, you can instantly download these tags as soon as you purchase them, so there’s no need to worry about additional fees or shipping delays—you just need to remember to print them on time! Playful Press 12 Days of Winemas Advent Calendar, $4, Etsy
Wine Holiday Sweater Advent Calendar, $46, Gopuff
What better gift to bring to an ugly sweater party than a Wine Holiday Sweater Advent Calendar? Available for $46, this Advent-garde calendar boasts twelve 187 ml bottles of red, white, and blush wine varietals, as well as some delectable blends. If you’ve always dreamed of a white (sand beaches) Christmas, consider this collection of Californian wines the next best thing. Wine Holiday Sweater Advent Calendar, $46, Gopuff
Costco Wine Advent Calendar, $99, Costco
Costco devotees will tell you that any of their three memberships is well-worth it for their bulk prices and rotisserie chickens alone, but did you know they also have great deals on alcohol? The warehouse club’s highly-anticipated wine Advent calendar, which you can only get in stores, is scheduled for full release during the first week of October, according to USA Today. With exquisite wines from premium vineyards around the world, including Argentina, France, Italy, and South Africa, members only have to pay $99 for 24 half bottles of reds, whites, rosé, and even some sparkling wine, meaning you get that famous Costco discount at $4 per bottle. Costco Wine Advent Calendar, $99, Costco
Give Them Beer 2021 Sparkling Wine Advent Calendar, $119, GiveThemBeer.com
Sleighbells ring, are you listening? In this box, wines are glistening… Or, technically sparkling, but the sentiment is there. Regardless of your reasons for celebrating, you can pop some bottles and pour some bubbly with Give Them Beer’s Sparkling Wine Advent Calendar. Each box contains 12 187 ml. bottles of hand-selected champagnes and sparkling wines, such as brut, cuvée, prosecco, and rosé. You won’t know what you’re getting unless you manage to sneak a peek beforehand, Give Them Beer assures customers that this calendar features curated selections from well-known vineyards around the world, including Chandon, Gemma di Luna, Ruffino. Though these boxes don’t ship until November, it’s best to order them now before this curated collection sells out, but be aware that there’s a $15 shipping fee tacked onto the $119 price tag. Give Them Beer 2021 Sparkling Wine Advent Calendar, $119, GiveThemBeer.com
Kustom Kraft Laser Tipsy Tree Mini Wine Bottle Personalized Advent Calendar, $76, Etsy
Oh Christmas tree, oh Christmas tree, how boozy are your branches? If Kustom Kraft’s Tipsy Tree Advent Calendar could talk, it would probably say the answer is “very” (or it would ask us to stop singing). We can’t stop singing the praises of this splendid, $76 faux fir, though—not only is it handmade from durable Baltic birch but you can also personally stock it with your 24 favorite 187 ml wine bottles and have it customized with your name for free. Kustom Kraft Laser Tipsy Tree Mini Wine Bottle Personalized Advent Calendar, $76, Etsy
Raise a Glass of Good Cheer 2021 World of Wine Advent Calendar, $140, Lathwaithes
Looking for a gift that is sure to impress your boss this holiday season? With a fancifully festive gift like the Raise a Glass of Good Cheer 2021 World of Wine Advent Calendar, you’re bound to be the toast of the office. Available for $140 and stocked with 24 mini bottles of wine, this is sure to have something for everyone, from the classic reds and whites to even some rosé, sparkling, and port wines thrown into the mix. Though Laithwaites is an alcohol retailer based in the U.K., they work with U.S.-based distributors to fulfill your order—just be sure you double-check their list of order deadlines for each state if you want yours to arrive on time. Raise a Glass of Good Cheer 2021 World of Wine Advent Calendar, $140, Lathwaithes
Maiden Design LLC Tipsy Camper Advent Calendar, $20, Etsy
If you or a loved one is going full National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation this year by taking the ole RV out on the road, what better way to count the days while celebrating your Advent-ures than with this Tipsy Camper Advent Calendar from MaidenDesignLLC? This handmade wine caravan holds eight 187 ml wine bottles and can even be personalized with a cute message or the recipient’s name on the door. You can pick it up for $20, not including shipping. (Pro-tip: For a fun twist, try filling this calendar with your favorite wines from past, present, and future destinations.) Maiden Design LLC Tipsy Camper Advent Calendar, $20, Etsy
Cost Plus World Market Wine Advent Calendar, Price TBA, Cost Plus World Market
Winter is coming… And so is Cost Plus World Market’s annual wine Advent calendar. While you may not have to travel across Winterfell to snag one of these coveted calendars, you will have to go to one of the store’s physical locations, as they don’t offer online sales. (However, some areas may allow you to buy online and opt for in-store or curbside pick-up—do with that information what you will.) World Market is keeping its lips tightly sealed regarding the details of this year’s calendar, but given that last year’s featured 24 split bottles of red, white, rosé, and sparkling wines, we’re feeling like little kids on Christmas morning just thinking about it. They continue to update their website with their Advent provisions, so keep checking back because their wine calendars frequently fly off their shelves like the down of a thistle.
Virgin Wines Wine Advent Calendar, $122, Virgin Wines
White beard… Likes the color red… Could probably fly all around the world in a single night if he wanted to… Look, we’re not saying Richard Branson is definitely Santa Claus, we’re just saying we’ve never seen them in a room together. But we do know there isn’t much that the business tycoon can’t do, and that includes wine. If you or a loved one lives in the U.K., you can snag Virgin Wines’ Advent Calendar for £90 (or $122 USD)—just put £10 (or $14) down now, and then pay the remaining £80 (or $109) later after your order ships this November. Each box includes 25 miniature bottles from premium and even some limited edition wineries from around the world, plus a free, full-sized bottle on Christmas Day. Customers can choose from three calendar options: all red, all white, or a mix of both. Virgin Wines Wine Advent Calendar, $122, Virgin Wines We have good Riesling to think these celebratory wine Advent calendar recommendations are good, for goodness’ sake. Whether you’re looking for a thoughtful gift for your favorite wine enthusiast or you want to treat yourself this holiday season, it doesn’t matter if the glass is half empty or half full when it’s filled with any of the sumptuous wines from these calendars. And if you miss out on any of our picks because they’ve sold out, don’t be crushed—sip happens! Up next, 30 crazy-good holiday cocktails.
