Wine Advent Calendar: Is it worth it?

Do you find yourself standing in front of the shelf wondering whether a wine advent calendar is really a good investment? For €60 to €90 you get 24 mini bottles of wine — but is the value for money fair, or are you just paying for attractive packaging?

After years of testing various wine advent calendars, I can tell you: it depends. Some calendars are genuine journeys of discovery through the wine world; others contain interchangeable supermarket wines in miniature format. In this guide I will show you what to look out for, which calendars are really worth it and how to put together your own personalised wine advent calendar.

Let's find out together whether a wine advent calendar is the right gift for you or your loved ones.

What is a wine advent calendar?

A wine advent calendar contains 24 mini bottles of wine, one for each day from 1 to 24 December. Bottle size varies by calendar:

• 100 ml — the most common size, equivalent to about 1.3 glasses
• 187 ml — the piccolo size, ideal for one generous glass
• 250 ml — a rarer size, equivalent to about one third of a standard bottle

Most calendars contain a mix of red, white and rosé wines, sometimes including sparkling wines or special mulled wine varieties. The wines typically come from European wine regions such as Germany, France, Italy, Spain and Portugal.

Is a wine advent calendar worth it? The maths

Let's look at the numbers:

Example calculation:

• Price: €69.90
• Contents: 24 bottles of 100 ml each = 2.4 litres of wine
• Price per litre: €29.13
• Price per standard bottle (0.75 l): €21.85

For comparison: a good bottle of wine in a supermarket costs €8 to €15; at a specialist wine merchant €12 to €25.

What the maths shows: you pay a premium of around 30 to 50 percent for:

• The mini bottles (smaller fills are more expensive to produce)
• The elaborate packaging
• The curated selection
• The element of surprise

A wine advent calendar is not worth it for the value for money — it is worth it for the journey of discovery. You try 24 different wines without having to buy 24 full bottles.

When is a wine advent calendar worth it?

YES, it is worth it for:

1. Wine beginners — you get to know different grape varieties, regions and styles without committing to one
2. Curious enthusiasts — you want to broaden your horizons and discover new wines
3. Gifts — for wine lovers it is an original and thoughtful present
4. Tastings with friends — a different wine every evening makes the Advent season sociable
5. Couples — 100 ml is perfect for two people to try together

NO, it is not worth it for:

1. Bargain hunters — if you are only looking at the price per litre, buy regular bottles instead
2. Wine professionals — most calendars contain mainstream wines you already know
3. Heavy drinkers — 100 ml is too little if you like more than one glass in an evening
4. Fussy drinkers — if you only like red wine or only dry white wine, the mixed selection is not for you

The best wine advent calendars 2024

Based on tests and customer reviews, here are the top recommendations:

Premium category: €60 to €90

Geile Weine Advent Calendar

• Price: €69.90 (promotional price: €59.90)
• Contents: 24 x 100 ml
• Origin: Germany, Italy, France, Spain
• Special feature: lovingly designed with humorous sayings on the bottles
• Mix: red, white and rosé wines from reputable producers
• Best for: wine lovers with a sense of humour and a taste for discovery

Boxiland Wine Advent Calendar

• Price: approx. €75
• Contents: 24 bottles with a particularly high total volume
• Origin: international selection
• Special feature: above-average fill per bottle
• Best for: those who want more wine per day

WirWinzer German Wine Advent Calendar

• Price: approx. €70
• Contents: 24 x 100 ml, exclusively German wines
• Origin: Weinmanufaktur Gengenbach, Baden-Württemberg
• Special feature: focus on German winemakers and grape varieties
• Best for: Germany fans and Riesling enthusiasts

Special category

Bixnstoff Mulled Wine Advent Calendar

• Price: approx. €80
• Contents: 24 x 250 ml of different mulled wine varieties
• Special feature: perfect for winter, very generous portions
• Best for: mulled wine fans and cosy winter evenings

Basic category: €40 to €60

In this price range you will find solid calendars from retailers such as Lidl, Aldi or online shops. The quality is comparable to better supermarket wines — not spectacular, but perfectly drinkable.

What to look for:

• At least 100 ml per bottle
• Mix of different wine types
• Current vintages (no last year's leftover calendars!)
• Well-known grape varieties like Riesling, Chardonnay, Merlot

Quality criteria: What to look out for

1. Fill volume

• 100 ml: Standard, sufficient for 1–2 people to taste
• 187 ml (piccolo): Better, enough for one large glass or two small ones
• 250 ml: Ideal, equivalent to about one third of a bottle

The larger the fill volume, the better the value for money — but also the higher the total price.

2. Wine selection

Good calendars contain:

• Mix of red (40–50%), white (30–40%) and rosé (10–20%)
• Traditional and high-quality grape varieties (Tempranillo, Syrah, Pinot Gris)
• Different countries and regions (Bordeaux, Palatinate, Tuscany, Rioja)
• Interesting special features (organic wines, natural wines, rare grape varieties)

Avoid calendars with:

• Only no-name wines without winery information
• Exclusively mass production
• Unknown origins or vague labelling

3. Currency

Never buy last year's calendars or clearance stock. You do not know how they were stored and the wine quality may have suffered. Wine in mini bottles is more sensitive than in standard bottles.

4. Transparency

Reputable providers show:

• A list of all the wines included (at least the grape varieties)
• Countries of origin and regions
• Alcohol content and vintage
• Tasting notes or recommendations

5. Packaging

The packaging should:

• Be sturdy (glass bottles need protection)
• Have reclosable doors
• Look attractive (it is a gift!)
• Include space for tasting notes (in premium calendars)

DIY: Putting together your own wine advent calendar

A homemade wine advent calendar is more personal and often of higher quality than a bought one. Here is how to do it:

Step 1: Set your budget

• Budget option: €60 to €80 (approx. €3 per bottle)
• Standard option: €100 to €120 (approx. €5 per bottle)
• Premium option: €150 to €200 (approx. €7 per bottle)

Step 2: Choose the wines

My recommendation for 24 bottles:

White wines (8 bottles):

• 2x Riesling (Moselle or Rheingau) — dry and fruity
• 2x Pinot Gris (Grauburgunder) — creamy and rounded
• 1x Sauvignon Blanc — fresh and mineral
• 1x Chardonnay — with or without barrique
• 1x Gewürztraminer — aromatic and exotic
• 1x Grüner Veltliner — an Austrian speciality

Red wines (10 bottles):

• 2x Pinot Noir (Spätburgunder) — elegant and velvety
• 2x Merlot — soft and rounded
• 1x Cabernet Sauvignon — full-bodied and tannic
• 1x Tempranillo from Rioja — spicy and ripe
• 1x Primitivo — rich in fruit and full-bodied
• 1x Nebbiolo — complex with ageing potential
• 1x Syrah — spicy and peppery
• 1x Dornfelder — a German speciality

Rosé wines (3 bottles):

• 1x Provence rosé — dry and mineral
• 1x German rosé — fruity and fresh
• 1x Spanish Rosado — full-bodied and spicy

Sparkling wines (3 bottles):

• 1x Sekt or estate sparkling — for 24 December
• 1x Prosecco — Italian joie de vivre
• 1x Crémant — French elegance

Step 3: Source the mini bottles

Option 1: Buy mini bottles

• Many wine merchants sell piccolo bottles (187 ml)
• Online shops such as Hawesko, Vicampo or Ludwig von Kapff
• Local wine shops with a tasting selection

Option 2: Decant standard bottles

• Buy standard 0.75 l bottles
• Decant into small screw-top bottles (100–200 ml, available online)
• Label each bottle with grape variety, region and your notes
• Important: consume within 2–3 weeks!

Step 4: Design the packaging

Simple version:

• 24 numbered paper bags
• Hang from a string with clothes pegs
• Decorate with pine branches

Creative version:

• Wooden crate with 24 compartments (from a DIY store or online)
• Design each compartment individually
• Include tasting notes

Luxury version:

• Self-built wooden advent calendar with doors
• Each bottle wrapped in tissue paper
• Handwritten cards with wine information

Step 5: Create tasting notes

For each bottle, a small card with:

• Day (1 to 24 December)
• Grape variety and region
• Producer/estate
• Tasting notes (aromas, body, finish)
• Food pairing tip
• Your personal recommendation

Insider tips from the sommelier

Tip 1: Buy early The best wine advent calendars are often sold out by the end of October. Order by the beginning of November at the latest.

Tip 2: Pay attention to storage Store the calendar in a cool, dark place — not by a window or next to a radiator. Ideal: a cellar or cool hallway.

Tip 3: Enjoy together 100 ml is perfect for two people. Share a bottle every evening and discuss the flavours and aromas.

Tip 4: Keep notes Write down which wines you enjoyed. That way you can buy full bottles later.

Tip 5: Blind tasting Some calendars have unlabelled bottles. This makes the tasting more exciting — try to guess the grape variety and origin!

Tip 6: Serve wines at the right temperature Even mini bottles benefit from the correct drinking temperature:

• White wine and rosé: 8 to 12 degrees
• Red wine: 16 to 18 degrees
• Sparkling wine: 6 to 8 degrees

Tip 7: Use leftovers wisely If you do not enjoy a wine, use it for cooking. Red wine for sauces, white wine for risotto.

Avoiding the most common mistakes

Mistake 1: Buying too late The best calendars are gone by the end of November. Order by 10 November at the latest.

Mistake 2: Focusing only on price The cheapest calendar is rarely the best. Invest an extra €20 for significantly better quality.

Mistake 3: Wrong storage Next to a radiator or in a window, quality suffers. Store cool and dark.

Mistake 4: Opening all the bottles at once The temptation is great, but the surprise is lost. Stick to the advent calendar rhythm.

Mistake 5: Buying last year's models Even if they are on sale — the storage is often questionable and the wines could be oxidised.

Mistake 6: Giving without thinking it through Find out beforehand whether the recipient prefers red, white or rosé. Some calendars have a clear focus.

Alternatives to the classic wine advent calendar

If the standard calendars do not appeal to you, here are some alternatives:

Mulled wine advent calendar: 24 different mulled wine varieties — perfect for cold winter evenings. Usually with 250 ml bottles, so considerably more content.

Sparkling wine advent calendar: 24 mini bottles of Sekt, Champagne, Prosecco and Cava — for those who love bubbles.

Organic wine advent calendar: Exclusively organically or biodynamically produced wines — for eco-conscious wine lovers.

Regional advent calendar: Only wines from one specific region (e.g. Palatinate, Bordeaux, Tuscany) — ideal for regional enthusiasts.

Wine accessories calendar: Instead of wine, it contains 24 wine accessories (corkscrew, decanter, glass markers, etc.) — for true wine geeks.

Conclusion: Who benefits from a wine advent calendar?

A wine advent calendar is not a bargain, but it is a wonderful way to discover a new wine every day in Advent. You pay a premium for variety, surprise and a playful approach to the subject of wine.

My recommendation:

Buy a ready-made calendar if you:

• Do not have time for DIY
• Want a safe, curated selection
• Are giving it as a gift

Put together your own if you:

• Know exactly what the person likes
• Want higher quality for a similar price
• Enjoy the creative process
• Want to give a very personal gift

The best ready-made calendars 2024:

1. Geile Weine Advent Calendar (€69.90) — best overall package
2. WirWinzer German Wine Advent Calendar (approx. €70) — best German selection
3. Boxiland (approx. €75) — best fill volume

My DIY tip: Invest €120 in 24 high-quality piccolo bottles from a specialist wine merchant. With personal tasting notes, this becomes a gift that will never be forgotten.

Whether bought or homemade — a wine advent calendar turns the pre-Christmas period into a pleasurable journey of discovery. A different wine, new aromas and new stories every evening. And when you open the last bottle on 24 December — perhaps a special sparkling wine — you will know: this Advent was something special.

Cheers and a wonderful Advent season!