Our Wine Advent-ture: Epilogue

Now that we have completed our Wine Advent-ure, it's time for a post-mortem.

First and foremost, an Advent Wine Calendar is a thoughtful and novel gift for anyone on your list who appreciates wine. I'm certainly not a wine expert but I know what I like, and there was a lot to like in this year's wine calendar.

The Remains of the Day(s of Advent)

Especially the reds.  As my wife observed, the reds were all very drinkable and some were downright outstanding. 

Second, there's a nice variety.  Reds and whites, of course, but also a sake from Japan and a Calimocho from Portugal -- a blend of new (and generally inexpensive) red wine and cola. Reminiscent of a sangria, I could see it as a pleasant summer beverage accompanying a burger, seafood, and other summer fare.

Which brings me to the whites. Many of the whites were very light and suited best of consumption when the weather is warm. Advent is always in December, which is not noted for its warm weather in the Northern Hemisphere. Perhaps that's why some of the whites were a bit disappointing; if we'd saved them for the summer months, we might have appreciated them more than we did.

THE DRAWBACKS

24 half-bottles of wine may be overwhelming to someone who enjoys wine infrequently. But then, whether you follow the "rule" of opening one bottle per day is strictly up to you. There are no wine police who will cite you if you decide to keep one or two aside for the weekend or lay the whites down until next summer. It's yours; do with it whatever works for you.

Finally, most of the wines in our advent wine calendar are available only from the calendar's purveyor, Flying Blue Imports. I could find only a couple that were available through big-box wine and spirits retailers. And that's OK if you consider the calendar a way to sample wines you might not otherwise find. If you're hoping to find your new favorite among the offerings, be aware of what may be limited availability.

In any event (or Advent), enjoy!  We certainly did.

Visit my main page at TheTravelPro.us for more news, reviews, and personal observations on the world of upmarket travel.

Photos by Carl Dombek
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