Advent Calendar Festivities Guide

September 28, 2026

Let the countdown begin!

Consider this your invitation to 12 days of sipping, savoring, and celebrating the season. With each wine you discover in your Holiday Wine Advent Calendar, you’ll find something special waiting here to make the moment even more memorable. From cozy recipes and delicious pairings, to delightfully fun holiday activities, each day brings a new way to enjoy the countdown.

As you make your way through the calendar, simply click the corresponding box below to uncover what we’ve dreamed up for that day’s wine. Take your time, pour yourself a glass, and enjoy a little moment of holiday cheer before seeing what tomorrow has in store.

Cheers to making spirits bright, one perfectly portioned pour at a time.

Give Your Home Bar a Holiday Makeover

What better way to kick off 12 days of festive sipping than with a little holiday bar makeover? Pour a glass of today’s Rosé Bubbles, turn on your favorite holiday playlist, and add some seasonal magic to your bar cart or cocktail corner.

Set the Mood
Start with warm lighting from a small lamp or a few candles. Add fresh greenery or garland, then tie velvet or tartan bows around lamps, candlesticks, decanters, or anything with a little height. Finish with ornaments, festive cocktail napkins (these are our favorites), and seasonal citrus.

Stock the Bar
Keep a mix of alcoholic and non-alcoholic wines chilled so there’s something for everyone, plus a few cocktail and mocktail staples like sparkling water, bitters, fresh citrus, and simple syrup. For cozy nights, have the makings of a hot toddy or mulled wine on hand.

Create a Garnish Station
Fill small jars or bowls with cinnamon sticks, rosemary sprigs, dried orange slices, cranberries, cocktail cherries, and sugared citrus. They’ll dress up any drink and double as festive décor.

Add Something to Snack On
Keep an easy nibble within reach, like spiced nuts, fancy potato chips, chocolate truffles, or candied pecans. Nothing complicated, just something delicious for guests to grab between pours.

A few thoughtful touches are all it takes to make an everyday corner feel ready for the season. With a can of Rosé Bubbles in hand, consider the holiday countdown officially underway.

Savory Pastry Bites with Petite Truffle Brie from Marin French Cheese Co.

These Savory Pastry Bites with Petite Truffle Brie from Marin French Cheese Co. pack some of our favorite flavors of the season into one elegant little bite. Warm from the oven, they’re cozy enough for a night in, and gorgeous enough to serve at your next holiday gathering.

We’re pairing them with our 91-point (The Tasting Panel) 2025 Sauvignon Blanc from Paso Robles. The wine’s bright citrus and tropical fruit notes bring a refreshing contrast to the rich, creamy Brie and buttery pastry, while its crisp acidity complements the tart cranberry and savory truffle flavors. A touch of minerality keeps every bite feeling bright and balanced, making this a pairing you’ll want to bring back all season long.

Ready to make them? Head to Marin French Cheese Co. for the full recipe, then pop your Sauvignon Blanc in the fridge and prepare for a very festive pairing.

Lightened-Up Skillet Chicken Pot Pie from Ambitious Kitchen

Few things say cozy season quite like a chicken pot pie fresh from the oven. This Lightened-Up Skillet Chicken Pot Pie from Ambitious Kitchen brings together a hearty, veggie-packed chicken filling beneath a golden, homemade flaky crust. Warm, comforting, and made for lingering around the dinner table, it’s exactly the kind of meal we crave when temperatures drop and the holiday lights come on.

For the occasion, we’re pouring our 2025 Pinot Noir from Paso Robles. Its vibrant notes of fresh cherry and mixed berries add a beautiful brightness alongside the savory chicken and vegetables, while hints of warm baking spice feel right at home with the rich, flaky crust. Smooth, balanced, and approachable with an elegant finish, it’s just the pairing for gathering around the table and savoring a little extra holiday cheer.

Visit Ambitious Kitchen for the full recipe, pour your Pinot Noir into your favorite glass, and settle in for a deliciously cozy evening.

Photography by Eat Love Eats

A Craft for Year's to Come: Create Your Own Keepsake Ornament

There’s something extra special about an ornament with a story behind it. Set aside an evening to turn a favorite moment from the past year into a keepsake worthy of a spot on the tree. Start with a clear fillable bauble, then make it your own. Here are a few of our favorite ways to personalize it:

Capture a favorite memory: Tuck in a tiny photo, concert ticket, handwritten note, or another little memento from a moment you want to remember.
Mark the year: Paint the date alongside a word, phrase, or inside joke that instantly takes you back to this chapter.
Bring a place home: Fill the bauble with a small keepsake from a favorite trip, like sand, a pressed flower, or a tiny paper tag with the destination and date.
Add a handwritten touch: Write a favorite memory, milestone, or wish for the year ahead on a small slip of paper and tuck it inside.
Dress it up: Finish with velvet ribbon, a delicate bow, metallic paint, or a dusting of glitter to give it a little holiday magic.

Now, make a night of it. Slip into your favorite festive PJs, put on a holiday album, and pour a chilled Rosé. From sunny Paso Robles, our 2025 Rosé is dry and beautifully balanced, with vibrant notes of white peach and pink grapefruit, crisp minerality, and a refreshing finish.

Spread out the ribbons and paint, pour a glass, and settle into the craft. By the end of the night, you’ll have more than a new ornament for the tree. You’ll have a little piece of the year to unwrap every holiday season.

On the Mocks Holiday Spritz

Created by On the Mocks, a mocktail creator known for crafting beautiful, elevated zero-proof drinks, this festive sparkler is equal parts bright, bubbly, and seasonal. Pomegranate and fresh lemon bring a tart, jewel-toned twist to our 2024 Alcohol-Removed Brut Bubbles, with notes of apple, lemon, and brioche, while rosemary-honey syrup adds just the right touch of cozy sweetness.

Ingredients

½ can Just Enough Alcohol-Removed Brut Bubbles
1½ oz pomegranate juice
½ oz fresh lemon juice
2 tsp rosemary-honey syrup*
2 dashes alcohol-free aromatic bitters (optional)
rosemary sprig
pomegranate arils

To Make

Shake the pomegranate juice, lemon juice, and rosemary-honey syrup with ice. Strain into a chilled coupe and top with Just Enough Alcohol-Removed Brut Bubbles. Garnish with a rosemary sprig and pomegranate arils.

*Rosemary-Honey Syrup

Combine equal parts honey and warm water with a few sprigs of fresh rosemary. Stir until the honey has dissolved, then let the rosemary steep until the syrup reaches your desired flavor. Strain and cool before using.

Make Your Own: Very Merry Mini Charcuterie Boards

Consider this your new favorite holiday hosting trick. Instead of one big charcuterie board, surprise and delight your guests with a festive little spread right on top of their wine glass. It’s unexpected, easy to assemble, and makes even a casual holiday night feel a little more special.

Using wine glass toppers like these, layer a few of your favorite charcuterie staples. For ours, we added creamy cheese, cured meat, almonds, pomegranate seeds, and fresh rosemary for a festive finishing touch.

Before topping your glasses with the mini charcuterie boards, pour the Cab! Our 90-point-rated (Wine Enthusiast) 2023 Cabernet Sauvignon comes from California’s Central Coast, where plentiful sunshine and cooler evenings create ideal growing conditions for Cabernet Sauvignon. Notes of bright red cherry, vanilla, and sandalwood meet structured tannins and a long finish, making it a delicious match for these salty, savory snack pairings.

Make a few ahead of a holiday gathering, or set out the ingredients and let everyone build their own. Either way, it’s a festive little detail that brings an extra dose of holiday cheer to the table.

Build a Little Holiday Magic: Gingerbread House Night

Consider this your sign to bring back one of the sweetest traditions of the season. Pick up a gingerbread house kit (we love this one from Williams Sonoma) and let your imagination take over. Turn up the holiday music, light the tree, and spend the evening piping snowy rooftops, creating candy-covered pathways, and adding all the tiny details your gingerbread dream house deserves.

For your decorating companion, pour a chilled 91-point (Sunset International) 2024 Chardonnay from Monterey. Refreshing and beautifully balanced, its notes of melon, honeysuckle, and toasted brioche bring a cozy warmth to the occasion, while crisp minerality keeps every sip bright. The hint of toasted brioche feels especially fitting for an evening surrounded by gingerbread and sweet holiday treats. So pour a glass, sneak a candy or two, and get building. Your sweetest holiday masterpiece awaits!

A Little Note to the Future: Create a Holiday Time Capsule

Before the year wraps up, take a moment to bottle up a little of its magic. Find a beautiful envelope, keepsake box, or even a ribbon-tied bundle of notes, and fill it with a few pieces of the year you’ll want to remember. Write down your favorite memory, something you’re proud of, a moment that made you laugh, and one wish for the year ahead. Add a favorite photo, ticket stub, handwritten note, or tiny keepsake, then seal it all away with one important instruction: Do not open until next holiday season. Tuck it somewhere safe and make opening it a new tradition to look forward to each year.

And what better way to savor the memories of the year than with a glass of our 2025 Pinot Noir from Paso Robles? Beautifully balanced and effortlessly enjoyable, this smooth, elegant red brings together vibrant notes of fresh cherry, mixed berries, and warm baking spice, making it the perfect pour for a cozy evening of reminiscing. Settle in by the twinkling lights, pour yourself a glass, and raise a toast to the moments worth remembering, the memories you're tucking away, and all the wonderful things still to come.

Warm & Merry: Make Non-Alcoholic Mulled Wine

Few things make a home feel more like the holidays than a pot of mulled wine simmering on the stove. For this cozy classic, we partnered with Three Spirit to create a non-alcoholic version made with our Alcohol-Removed Pinot Noir and Three Spirit Nightcap.

It’s the perfect festive option for anyone choosing to moderate or skip alcohol this season, without missing out on the ritual of a special holiday drink. Want to see it come together? Head to our Instagram to watch us make the full recipe with Three Spirit.

Ingredients (Serves 4-6)

3 cans Just Enough Alcohol-Removed Pinot Noir
¼ cup Three Spirit Nightcap
1 orange, sliced
1 cup cranberries
8-10 whole cloves
2-3 cinnamon sticks
2-3 star anise
¼ cup honey or maple syrup, adjusted to taste

To Make

Add the Alcohol-Removed Pinot Noir, orange slices, cranberries, cloves, cinnamon sticks, and star anise to a pot. Sweeten with honey or maple syrup and heat gently for 15–20 minutes, allowing all those festive flavors to mingle without bringing the mixture to a boil.

Remove from the heat and stir in the Three Spirit Nightcap. Ladle into your favorite mugs or heat-safe glasses, garnish with cranberries and cinnamon sticks, and serve warm.

Slice, String & Sip: Make a Dried Orange & Ribbon Garland

A little citrus, a little twine, and plenty of holiday charm. This dried orange garland is the kind of old-fashioned holiday craft that instantly makes a space feel warmer and more magical. Drape it across the mantel, weave it through your tree, or use it to dress up a bar cart for hosting.

To make your own, start by heating your oven to 200°F. Thinly slice 3-4 oranges into rounds, about ⅛ to ¼ inch thick, and gently blot away excess moisture with a paper towel. Arrange the slices in a single layer on a parchment-lined baking sheet and bake for 3-4 hours, flipping every 30-45 minutes, until dry and slightly translucent. Let them cool completely. Cut a long piece of twine, then thread it through the dried slices, spacing them a few inches apart. Continue until your garland reaches the perfect length, then finish each end with a loop of twine for easy hanging, and tie bows from velvet ribbon between each orange slice for an added festive touch.

And because crafting is always better with something bubbly nearby, pop open a chilled 91-point (Wine Enthusiast) 2024 Rosé Bubbles from Monterey. Its delicate pink hue looks especially lovely alongside the burnt-orange citrus, while fresh notes of juicy strawberry, white peach, and red raspberry bring a bright, celebratory touch to the evening. When you’re finished, hang your garland somewhere special and admire your handiwork with a well-deserved cheers.

A Little Something Sweet: Build a Holiday Dessert Board

Who says charcuterie has to be savory? For a festive twist on the classic grazing board, gather all your favorite holiday sweets and turn them into a spread almost too pretty to eat. Start with a beautiful wooden board or platter and choose a mix of flavors, shapes, and textures. We love dark chocolate, chocolate-covered strawberries, buttery shortbread, jam-filled cookies, truffles, candied or spiced nuts, fresh raspberries and blackberries, and clusters of red grapes. Add a few sprigs of rosemary and dried orange slices between the treats for a little holiday flourish.

To build your board, place your larger items and small bowls first, then arrange cookies, chocolates, and fruit in little clusters around them. Let the ingredients overlap and mingle rather than keeping everything perfectly separated. Finish by tucking berries, nuts, greenery, or chocolates into any open spaces until the board feels wonderfully abundant. There’s no perfect formula here, so have fun with it. The more overflowing and whimsical, the merrier!

For the finishing touch, pour our 90-point limited-edition Petite Sirah from Chiles Valley in Napa into your favorite red wine glass. Big and bold with a deep purple hue, it offers notes of blueberry, vanilla crepe batter, and fresh peppercorn. Its rich fruit and vanilla notes feel especially at home alongside dark chocolate, berries, and buttery holiday treats. Set the board out after dinner, light a few candles, and let everyone pick, pair, and sip their way through dessert.

Make It Sparkle: Build a Brut Bubbles Tower

Nothing says celebration quite like a tower of bubbles. For an extra-festive finale, gather your coupe glasses and build a sparkling centerpiece that’s equal parts impressive and fun. In our video, we went big with a 40-glass tower, starting with 17 glasses on the base, followed by tiers of 12, 7, 3, and finally 1 glass on top. The secret to a smoother grand finale? Pour a small amount of Brut Bubbles into each glass before making your final pour from the very top.

Our 40-glass tower took six cans of Just Enough Brut Bubbles, but you definitely don’t need a crowd to recreate the magic. For a smaller celebration with two or three friends, build a petite version with just a few coupes and a few cans of Brut Bubbles. Once your tower is sturdy and your glasses are partially filled, slowly pour from the top and watch the bubbles cascade from tier to tier. Then raise a glass to making even the smallest gathering feel worthy of a little sparkle. Watch the video to see exactly how we built ours, then create a tower of your own!