Total Wine Advent Calendar 2024: What Most People Get Wrong

You’ve seen the box. It’s huge, festive, and promises "the most winederful time of the year." For many, the Total Wine advent calendar 2024 has become a sort of holiday rite of passage. But honestly? It's polarizing. People either love the daily surprise or they end up pouring half the bottles down the drain while complaining on Reddit.

If you’re wondering if it was actually worth the $79.99 price tag, you aren't alone.

The 2024 edition was a beast of a package containing 24 mini bottles (187ml each), which is basically a generous glass of wine per day. Total Wine marketed it as a global journey through vineyards in France, Italy, Spain, and even places like Hungary. But as the December days ticked by, a lot of buyers started noticing a pattern that the glossy marketing photos didn't mention.

The Reality of the "Winery Direct" Selection

Most of the wine in the Total Wine advent calendar 2024 comes from their "Winery Direct" program. This is basically Total Wine’s house-brand system. They work directly with producers to keep costs down. On paper, it sounds great. You get "expertly curated" wines from all over the world.

In practice? It’s a bit of a mixed bag.

The 2024 lineup featured several bottles from the Magic Box and Grand Sud labels. If you shop at Total Wine regularly, you know these are budget-friendly staples. For some, getting three different Magic Box variations (like their Sauvignon Blanc and Cabernet) felt like a bit of a letdown for an $80 purchase.

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One reviewer, who identifies as a "Wine Country Resident" in Sonoma, was particularly brutal, noting that many of the wines seemed to be bottled in the exact same facility in Landras, France. When everything tastes "samey," the "adventure" part of the advent calendar starts to feel a little like a commute.

What Was Actually Inside the Box?

If you're curious about the specific juice, here’s a look at some of the standouts (and the duds) from the 2024 collection:

• The Good: Many people actually liked the Jean Marcel le Rose Fizzy on Day 1. It’s hard to mess up a bubbly rosé. The Cavalys Pinot Noir also received decent marks for being smooth and drinkable.
• The Weird: There was a Summer Touch Peach sparkling wine tucked away behind one of the later doors. Opening a peach-flavored summer wine on December 21st—literally the first day of winter—felt like a weird choice by the curation team.
• The "Ugh": A significant number of users complained that the white wines, specifically the Sauvignon Blancs, were overly acidic or had a "vinegar" note.

The Plastic Bottle Controversy

One thing that catches people off guard is the packaging. These aren't glass bottles. They are unbreakable plastic (PET).

Total Wine does this for a few reasons. First, shipping 24 glass bottles would be a weight and breakage nightmare. Second, the plastic makes the "reveal" easier because the bottles are lighter.

However, wine and plastic aren't always best friends. While PET is fine for short-term storage, some purists argue it affects the taste, especially if the calendar has been sitting on a warm retail shelf since October. If you’re someone who can taste the difference between "canned" water and "bottled" water, you might find the plastic bottles a bit off-putting.

Why It Still Sells Out Every Single Year

Despite the critics, the Total Wine advent calendar 2024 sold like crazy. Why? Because it’s fun.

The holiday season is stressful. Coming home and just popping a window to find a pre-measured pour of BDX Claret or HXM Riesling is easier than choosing a bottle. It’s a low-stakes way to try varieties you’d never buy a full 750ml bottle of.

Plus, it makes a killer gift. If you give this to a friend who "likes wine" but isn't a sommelier, they’re going to be thrilled. The box is massive and looks expensive. It’s an experience, not just a product.

Better Alternatives for Wine Nerds?

If you’re a bit more particular about what you drink, you might find more joy in a DIY approach.

1. Go to Total Wine or a local shop.
2. Pick out 12 or 24 bottles of "half-bottles" (375ml) or high-end splits.
3. Wrap them yourself.

You’ll likely spend more than $80, but the quality floor will be much higher. Or, look into the Vinebox advent calendar. It uses glass tubes and generally features higher-end, boutique wines, though it costs significantly more.

Practical Advice for Your Next Wine Calendar

If you decide to grab the 2025 version or are still working through a backlog, keep these tips in mind:

• Chill them all: Even the reds. A slight chill can hide some of the "cheap" notes in lower-end wines.
• Don't wait for the date: If you open a window and it’s a heavy red but you’re eating fish, just swap it with another day. The Wine Police aren't going to break down your door.
• Check the caps: A common complaint in 2024 was that the plastic screw caps were incredibly hard to break. Keep a pair of pliers or a rubber grip pad nearby. No, seriously.

The Total Wine advent calendar 2024 wasn't a collection of award-winning vintages, but it wasn't trying to be. It was a $3.33-per-glass countdown to Christmas. If you go in with that mindset, it’s a blast. If you’re expecting a 95-point Malbec behind door number 14, you’re going to have a bad time.

For 2025, Total Wine is already hinting at expanded options, including "all-red" versions and more sparkling-focused sets. If you weren't a fan of the 2024 mix, checking out these specialized boxes might be the way to go.

Next Steps for Wine Lovers:
Before the next holiday season hits, take note of the labels you actually liked from the 2024 box. Labels like Magic Box or Grand Sud are available in full-size bottles at Total Wine year-round. If you found a winner, grab a 750ml bottle and see if the glass-bottled version tastes any better—spoiler: it usually does.