Pumpkin Spice Lattes have come and gone at Starbucks, and your Halloween candy has all but been demolished. That means only one thing: Costco is going straight to Christmas with their merchandising. While it might not feel like it, December is right around the corner—and you’d better be prepared.
Whatever their reasoning, word on Instagram from Costcobuys is that the warehouse stores have started stocking at least some of their Christmas cheer a little earlier this year. According to one Arizona customer, the beloved wine advent calendars are out on the floor now.
“Celebrate the Season” commands the box of 24 half-bottles from around the world made by Flying Blue Imports. The collection, which retails for $99.99, earns its price tag with bottles from “coast to mountain and every corner in-between.” That averages out to about $4 per half-bottle, which is the perfect size for trying new wines these days, since there are no big parties happening where you can share among groups.
For those who want to know a little bit more about what they’re getting themselves into, the site WineAdvent-ure.com (catch that pun!) gives potential buyers a preview of what they’re getting—or drinkers a little guidance on how to plan a meal around that day’s bottle. Day one starts with a Merlot from Southern France, and the site describes it as velvety and seductive, with dark plum and licorice flavors; day 24 wraps up, appropriately, with a sparkling wine from Emilia-Romagna. In between, wines come from Moldova, Portugal, Argentina, Chile, California, South Africa, and Bulgaria. It tends to lean heavily on Europe, with a bunch from France and a number from Spain and Italy.
Even if you’re not an Advent calendar person, it seems like a great way to try a big variety of new bottles without much commitment or having to spend a ton of money on each one.
This post originally appeared at Kitchn. See it there: Costco’s Legendary Wine Advent Calendar Is Back in Stores! Here’s What You Need to Know
