The thirst days of Christmas: Aldi, Kroger to sell wine Advent calendars

Two grocery store chains are offering a spirited way to get ready for Christmas.

Aldi and Kroger will both sell limited wine Advent calendars in November, offering holiday revelers a way to drink in conjunction with the Advent, the religious days leading up to Christmas Eve.

Kroger’s first-ever “Oh What Fun! Holiday Wine Countdown Calendar” goes on sale Nov. 1 and contains 24 mini bottles of “festive blend of reds, whites and sparkling wines” for $79.99, the retailer said. Only 16,000 calendars will be produced and it will not be restocked once it sells out.

For Aldi, this is the second year its U.S. stores will sell the wine and cheese calendars, which sold out within minutes across the country last November. And this year, the discount grocer has a new addition: a beer Advent calendar.

Toy, cheese and chocolate calendars also will return along with a new Advent calendar with dog treats, according to the Aldi website, which says they will go on sale Nov. 6.

The wine calendar, which will have 24 bottles of wine, will cost $69.99, the beer calendar $49.99 and the cheese calendar $14.99. Aldi notes on the website that quantities are limited and items may not be available in all stores. Prices may also vary by location.

Last year’s wine calendar weighed in at 21 pounds and also cost $69.99. After calendars sold out in stores some appeared on eBay at a premium with at least one selling for $300 plus a $50.85 shipping fee.

Read more at usatoday.com