After a year many would like to forget, there’s never been a more apt time to treat yourself, and we have a couple of suggestions. Read on for our pick of the best foodie advent calendars to buy this year and make this Christmas one to remember.
Everyone’s favourite spice retailer, Gewürzhaus, is launching its very first (and limited edition) advent calendar. Each day you’ll be treated to a new spice and recipe, plus a host of digital content just for calendar owners. With three exclusive new spice blends, and four never-before-published recipes, this advent calendar is as spicy as they come. Cook your way through the Christmas season and order yours now for $85 gewurzhaus.com.au.
On the first day of Christmas, Treasury Wine Estates gave to me, a miniature bottle of pinot grigio! Australia’s leading wine company is helping you count down the days with its new 12 Wines of Christmas advent calendar. The limited-edition gift case is packed with miniature bottles from all its top brands including Penfolds, Wolf Blass, Squealing Pig, Wynns Coonawarra Estate, and more, spanning varietals such as pinot noir, shiraz, chardonnay, rosé, cab sav and pinot grigio. The 12 Wines of Christmas is currently available to pre-order via Booze Bud for $159.99.
Artisan chocolatiers Koko Black have something for the whole family this Christmas, with their kids advent calendar and Twelve Starry Nights gift box. While the kids dig into 25 bite-sized Koko treats, adults can delight in a selection of limited edition Chrissy treats – from Magic Pudding Bites and Prancing Prawns to tiny bottles of Starward Nova Single Malt Whiskey and Four Pillars Bloody Shiraz Gin. Grab a kids calendar for $39 and twelve nights box for $299 from kokoblack.com.
De Bortoli is making a bid for the best dressed category, with their wine advent calendar inspired by the humble Christmas sweater. Each box is totally unique, featuring an array of colours and prints, but all embodying the Christmas spirit. The calendar itself features a selection of red, white, sparkling and rosé wines – including the best-selling De Bortoli King Valley Prosecco, Rosé Rosé, and some newly released drops. Order yours now for $139.95 debortoli.com.au.
Sleigh the silly season hangover with Brunswick Aces’ non-alcoholic beer advent calendar. As Australia’s first non-alcoholic bar, we wouldn’t expect anything less than a full-scale flavour bomb from Brunswick Aces, and they’ve delivered in spades. Expect 25 days of non-alcoholic beer goodness from all your favourites, plus international newcomers and more. Christmas Day has a bumper treat of 4 cans, making it the tastiest day of the month. Order now for $99 brunswickaces.com.
Liquor Loot is upping the ante with an advent calendar for spirit lovers, the first of its kind from the brand. You’ll be treated to a selection of 24 sip-sized spirits, sourced from 12 different countries across six continents, for a truly diverse range of drops. This global collection shows off the very best from each destination, with spirits representative of their country of origin, including Africa, Mexico, Peru, Martinique, Jamaica, Venezuela, Japan and Poland. Order yours now for $299.00 and receive your 2021 Mixed Spirits Advent Calendar by November 20th, giving you time to spare before Christmas countdown begins. Order whiskyloot.com.
Have a very merry ginmas with Gintonica’s advent calendars packed full of local gins from around the country. Each day in the lead up to Christmas you’ll get to sample a superb Aussie craft gin in a highly-drinkable format – from all kinds of G+Ts, to negronis and martinis. On each day’s reveal you’ll get tasting notes and serving suggestions to go with each gin, the perfect way to build on your cocktail repertoire. You’ll also get a stunning Australian Art Deco-style box – the ultimate gin lover’s gift. Choose from 30mL ($199) or 50mL ($279) and order gintonica.com.au.
Treat yourself to some premium drops this Christmas with Qantas Wine’s 12 days advent calendar. A mixed case set to surprise and delight, amidst the dozen is a multiple gold-winning sparkling wine, a highly rated cabernet sauvignon and a vibrant, juicy shiraz. Peel back the number to discover the stellar wine for the day, then invite your friends over to share it. Buy it for the wine aficionado in your life or simply gift it to yourself – we won’t judge. Order yours for $270.00 wine.qantas.com.
Perhaps the greatest incarnation of all Christmas calendars, you can now grab a Thomas Dux 12 Days of Cheese Advent Calendar from Woolworths, allowing you to count down the days ’til Cheesemas with all your favourite curds. That is, if you don’t end up scoffing the lot on day one. Priced at $20, the 2021 cheese advent calendar contains 12 portions of cheese, made up of six varieties from around the world. Each calendar includes 2x Double Gloucester Cheese with Spring Onions & Chives, 2x Cheddar Cheese with Black Pepper, 2x Double Gloucester Cheese, 2x Mature Cheddar Cheese, 2x Red Leicester Cheese and 2x Cheddar Cheese with Chilli. Pick up yours now from Woolworths.
Have a wine-derful Christmas with Good Pair Days’ Twelve Wines Of Christmas advent calendars. Ultra customisable, you can pick from three different price points (classic, fancy or extra fancy) plus the type of wines you’d like to sample – mixed, sparkling, chillable or red. Regardless of your choice, each box will feature twelve of the highest-rated wines from the range, so a delightfully drinkable Christmas is guaranteed. Order a classic ($295), fancy ($495) or extra fancy ($795) calendar today for delivery by December goodpairdays.com.
Alcohol-free pioneers, Craftzero, have created a snazzy Christmas calendar packed full of the team’s favourite low-alcohol RTDs. With an assortment of 25 G+Ts, spritzes and seltzers all coming in at less than 0.5% ABV, this is the perfect way to acquaint yourself with the impressive range of low-alcohol spirits on offer in Australia. The drinkable treats are sourced from far and wide, with contributions from local favourites Naked Life & Lyres. Dodge the hangover this festive season and order yours for $99 craftzero.com.au.
Pop the kettle on and grab a cup for Santa, T2’s new advent calendar is set to be the cosiest addition to your home this Christmas. With 24 individually wrapped tea bags, it’s the perfect way to taste test the very best teas and tisanes in the range – an easy way to lock down your favourite stocking stuffers. Teas include Christmas Breakfast, French Earl Grey, Pumping Pomegranate, Sticky Date Delight and Tummy Tea – individual delights for every day of the Christmas countdown. Order yours now for $45 t2tea.com.
Celebrate Christmas with everyone’s favourite jams and conserves, from the French artisans at Bonne Maman. With 23 unique flavoured mini conserves, plus one special surprise, breakfast this December has never looked so good. There are also several conserves exclusive to this year’s calendar, so don’t miss out on the limited edition selection. Pick up yours for $130 amazon.com.au.
Dan Murphy’s Christmas Gift Guide is back in 2021, along with their beloved 12 Nights of Wine Advent Calendar. Embrace the festive season and take your palate on a journey each evening with a selection of international and domestic drops. From a juicy Pinot Noir to a hearty Shiraz and a crisp, summery Sauvignon Blanc, this is an explorer pack for the ages. Say ‘yes’ to adventure and grab this delicious dozen for $50 from BWS here.
