I love a beauty advent calendar but the Laithwaites wine one has officially converted me

I love a beauty advent calendar, but after trying the Laithwaites Wine Advent Calendar, I think I may have found another festive tradition I’m very happy to get behind.

The Laithwaites Mixed Wine Advent Calendar is back for 2026 and, having tried it before, I was excited to see what this year’s selection would bring. At the moment, it’s £89.99, reduced from £99, giving you £10 off.

If previous years are anything to go by, this is one advent calendar that won’t hang around forever. It’s already available to buy, well ahead of the first door being opened on December 1.

Inside are 23 mini bottles of wine, each around 200ml, alongside a full-size bottle of Prosecco behind door 24. The selection includes reds, whites, rosé and, for the first time, a small bottle of Port. And yes, having a full-size bottle for Christmas Eve does make opening that final door feel a little more exciting.

What I liked about the Laithwaites Wine Advent Calendar

The best thing about this advent calendar is that it gets me to try wines I probably wouldn’t pick up myself. I’m very much someone who tends to stick to the wines I already know I like. I’ll find a bottle I enjoy and happily keep buying it, rather than taking a chance on something completely different.

There’s a mixture throughout the calendar, from smooth reds and crisp whites to rosé, Port and Prosecco. It makes opening each door a bit of a surprise because you don’t necessarily know what you’re going to get next.

I also like that the bottles of wine are a decent size for trying something new. At around 200ml, they’re more than just a tiny taste, so you can actually get a proper idea of whether a wine is one you’d buy again.

What I didn’t like about the Laithwaites Wine Advent Calendar

My main criticism is the balance of the selection. I completely understand that this is a mixed wine advent calendar and that the whole point is to get a variety. But looking at the contents, I would have liked to see a little more variety within that variety.

There are 11 bottles of red, 10 bottles of white, one rosé, one Port and one Prosecco.

For me, just one bottle of rosé feels a little disappointing, particularly when there are 11 reds. I would have happily swapped a couple of the red wines for more rosé so there was a bit more of a balance between the different styles.

Overall verdict

The 2026 Mixed Wine Advent Calendar gives me something I really enjoy from an advent calendar: the chance to discover products I wouldn’t necessarily choose myself.

I like that there’s a genuine mix of wines to try, including the new addition of Port, and finishing with a full-size bottle on Christmas Eve is a nice touch. The Laithwaites Advent Calendar is currently £89.99, reduced from £99 and there are separate red wine and white wine calendars available if you already know which type you prefer.

Natalie Dixon is our Lifestyle reporter, if you liked this article and want to read more about fashion, beauty and lifestyle you can follow Natalie Dixon on X here