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Around the World in 24 Wines Box – Same As New 2023 Wine Advent Calendar?

Around the World in 24 Wines Box – Same As New 2023 Wine Advent Calendar?

We heard from several readers that the Costco Wine Advent Calendar box for 2023 was at Costco so made a quick trip to the store looking for it, only to find a different, but very similar, box.

So of course we had to pick it up for further exploration and to report back here. And what we discovered is quite interesting.

Around the World in 24 Wines Box

There seems to be two boxes this year, this one, as well as the new 2023 Wine Advent calendar. And what we learned is that they feature the same exact wines, just different packaging on the outside. Interesting…let’s dig in.

This Around the World box is a similar concept to many of the other boxes including the Advent calendar. You get an assortment of wines from around the world in half bottle size. There’s white, reds and rose wines.

Around the World in 24 Wines Box

The box is $99.99 (same as years past) and you get an unbelievable amount of wine for the money. Each box comes with twenty four 375ml bottles (1/2 size of regular wine bottles) for what nets out to about $4 for each 1/2 bottle.

As we’ve noted in our previous write ups on the Wine Advent calendar, the wines can sometimes be hit or miss, but the handiness of the smaller size bottles is the winning element for us. They are just convenient to have when you want just a glass of a certain style, or a glass of rose before dinner.

If nothing else, they give you an opportunity to taste wines from areas you might not normally seek out or have easy access to, like Bulgaria, Hungary and Luxembourg. Most of the other wines in the box are from Italy, France and Spain.

Around the World in 24 Wines Box

The full list of wines is at the bottom of this post (to give people a chance to keep them a surprise if they like).

The packaging is great as always, and here’s where it started to get interesting for us…when you visit the website for this box. The first thing you see is a mention of the new Wine Advent calendar with a note that both boxes will be available in Costco stores starting in Sept.

OK, but then as you click on all the links to see the details on the wines included in each box, it becomes apparent right away, that the wines are the same, and in the same order 1-24, with the same labels. So the only difference is the outside packaging from what we can tell.

Around the World in 24 Wines Box

Well I guess that makes our job easier only having to review one box. And as we do with each box review, we’ll pull a few bottles out and sample them. This time we have a white, a rose and two reds, all to varying degree of quality, in our opinion.

Around the World in 24 Wines Box

Palloncini Rose Italy

This is a Rose made with 51% Sangiovese and 49% Merlot; it pours a medium salmon color, not a lot on the nose, kind of a strawberry sherbet, feels good in the mouth but finishes with a bit too much fruit punch for us. Just ok.

Around the World in 24 Wines Box

Brass Rabbit Pinot Blanc Luxembourg

Here’s one of the more unique wines in the box; medium yellow in the glass, aromatic, citrus fruit, a little peach, honey, not super acidic; this is a pretty good, easy going white.

Around the World in 24 Wines Box

Secrets Revealed Red Blend Portugal

This wine is a medium purple; dark fruit on the nose, with flavors of blueberry, plum; dusty and dry, tastes really young; drinkable but nothing memorable for us.

Around the World in 24 Wines Box

2022 Lightning Strikes Again Cabernet Sauvignon Chile

This wine pours a medium ruby with a nose of earth and red fruit; it is medium bodied and a pretty enjoyable Cab all around.

So just an ok showing right out of the gate for us on these four random bottles (the Pinot Blanc and Cab being the best of the four). You have to remember the price you’re paying per bottle, which is extremely low, and set your expectations accordingly.

Around the World in 24 Wines Box

We don’t view these boxes as a chance to score unbelievable wine at an amazing price, but rather a fun chance to have a wide range of different wine on hand, to pop a cork here and there, and enjoy for the fun of trying something new.

From what we can tell, these are mostly new wines this year. It’s hard to say for certain since some of them sound similar to year’s past but have new branding; they may or may not be the same, but regardless there’s plenty of new regions to explore as well.

Around the World in 24 Wines Box

We remain fans of these boxes for the simple fact that it can help advance your global exploration of different wines. That for us is the journey we are on, and a journey we very much enjoy.

We’ll report back as we see the 2023 Costco wine advent calendar drop to confirm it’s the same. One thing to note is that this box has a different Costco item number than the Advent Calendar. This one is 1748589.

Historically, the Wine Advent calendar has been: 1357643.

And for those who want to know, here’s the full list of wines included in both boxes, in order.

  1. Chilean Cabernet Sauvignon
  2. Italian Pinot Grigio
  3. French Merlot
  4. Italian red blend
  5. Romanian Sauvignon Blanc
  6. Argentinian Bonardo
  7. Italian Famoso (obscure white)
  8. South African Pinotage
  9. Italian Merlot
  10. Spanish Macabeo
  11. Hungarian Blaufrankisch
  12. Italian rose
  13. Bulgarian Cabernet Sauvignon
  14. Portuguese white blend
  15. Italian Montepulciano
  16. South African Chenin Blanc
  17. Portuguese red blend
  18. French rose
  19. Spanish Grenache
  20. Italian semi sweet red
  21. Luxenbourg Pinot Blanc
  22. Italian Syrah-Cabernet
  23. French red blend
  24. Spanish white blend

Jennifer

Tuesday 12th of December 2023

I was so disappointed by this 2023 Wine advent calendar. I've tried over half the box and only 2 were drinkable. I think the quality may have been affected by hot temperatures or improper storage before we purchased it. My box was purchased in Texas. The wines have a horrible aftertaste, almost vinegar-y.

Gordon

Thursday 14th of December 2023

@Jennifer, we got ours in CT. They’ve seemed better than last year in quality, but a lot of this is expectation and mood after all. Picked up a second when discounted.

Gary

Monday 11th of December 2023

It's marked down to only $49 at our local Memphis Costco locations. Of course, it's almost mid-December, but even if you aren't a fan, kind of hard to turn down $49 for 24 half bottles!

Christina

Saturday 2nd of December 2023

Omg I am in California and still haven’t found one yet!

Doe

Friday 1st of December 2023

“We remain fans of these boxes for the simple fat that it can help advance your global exploration of different wines. That for us is the journey we are on, and a journey we very much enjoy.”

Typo found.

Overall great read.

Thank you

Editor

Friday 1st of December 2023

Thanks. Fixed it.

Al

Monday 13th of November 2023

I can't seem to find this anywhere in California. Is anyone else having this problem?

tj

Wednesday 29th of November 2023

@Al, Yes! I just went to Costco and they said no one in Southern California received them. She was searching for the Advent calendar though, but you would think it would come up anyway in their search.

Lee Ann Hutchings

Monday 27th of November 2023

@Juan, yes! I’m so sad! It’s my mommy survival kit during the holidays 😭😭😭😭

Juan

Thursday 23rd of November 2023

Yes

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