Wine Guides
Maker's 12 Days of Canned Wine Advent Calendar
It’s the most wine-derful time of the year! Learn more about our 12 Days of Canned Wine Advent Calendar and the special wines inside.
By Maker Wine
September 29, 2025
Around here, the holidays are all about enjoying good food, amazing wine, and the best company. It’s a trio of things that make us really, really happy.
The Maker team has a lot to celebrate around the holiday table this year: 6 years since we sold our first can, 4 years of nationwide shipping, 1 year into our first airline partnership, and the release of our 5th annual 12 Days of Canned Wine Advent Calendar. The calendar is the perfect way to taste through 12 different Maker wines, all from diverse, small-batch producers here in the U.S. Each calendar includes 12 different wines – a mix of red, white, and sparkling wines – all with unique stories to tell.
The canned wine calendar is the perfect way to enjoy the best of what Maker has to offer and try some of our normally members-only wines. Learn more about each of our makers – they're really worth getting to know.
Shop Maker's 12 Days of Canned Wine Advent Calendar
12 Days of Canned Wine Advent Calendar
It’s the most wine-derful time of the year – the world’s first premium canned wine advent calendar is here!
About Maker’s Canned Wine Advent Calendar
“Advent” refers to the festive season leading up to Christmas—typically a four-week period observed by many Christian denominations. Over time, it’s taken on a broader cultural meaning as a countdown to the holiday itself, with advent calendars evolving far beyond their traditional roots. From chocolate and whiskey to fragrances, gemstones, and kids’ toys, there’s now an advent calendar for just about everyone.
In 2021, we made the (very) last-minute decision to offer our own advent calendar – a 12-day countdown featuring our premium, small-batch canned wines. On the customer side, it looked like this came together swiftly and smoothly (we hope!), but behind the scenes we worked against a few different challenges and unpredictable variables – like having to hire a dynamic duo to drive our boxes across the country.
What’s Included in Maker’s Calendar
Odds are, you landed on this page because you either received our canned wine advent calendar in the mail or are curious to learn more about it. Each calendar contains 12 different cans — each is equal to ⅓ of a bottle, meaning the entire box is the equivalent of 4 bottles of premium, small-production wine. There’s a mix of red wines like our Pinot Noir and Red Blend, whites like our Spanish White Blend and Chardonnay, and sparkling wines like our Sparkling Rosé and Brut Bubbles.
All of Maker's wines come from diverse, small-batch producers here in the U.S. – most in California. We really want you to get to know them, so every day you pull a wine from your advent calendar, check out its notes below!
1. 2023 Pinot Noir by Handley Cellars
This Anderson Valley Pinot is all about balance: bright red cherry and cranberry up front, a pop of cola through the middle, and warm baking spice on the finish. The texture is smooth, the acidity lively, and the whole thing leaves you wanting another sip. It’s serious Pinot, without taking itself too seriously.
With its vibrant fruit and subtle spice, this is a cold-weather MVP: delicious with roast chicken, mushroom risotto, baked brie, or whatever’s coming out of the oven on a cozy night in. Chill it slightly or pour it room temp, it plays well both ways.
Lulu Handley grew these grapes organically on the Handley Estate in the Anderson Valley, and created a classic, award-winning Pinot — 5 gold medals and counting!
2. 2024 Spanish White Blend by Lepe Cellars
This coastal white blend is sunshine in a can: crisp, vibrant, and packed with flavor. Think tropical fruit, ripe pear, and citrus zest, rounded out with a streak of minerality that gives it just the right edge. It's got texture and depth thanks to native yeast fermentation and aging on the lees, but stays refreshingly clean on the palate.
It’s a dream pairing for winter seafood dishes (hello, crab legs and garlic butter), but also plays well with tacos, roast chicken, or anything citrusy. Bonus: it’s made by Miguel Lepe, the first Mexican-American winemaker and tasting room owner in Monterey — and an expert at coaxing big personality from lesser-known Spanish grapes.
3. 2024 Brut Bubbles by Ser Winery
Brut Bubbles is bright, crisp, and endlessly sippable — a coastal-inspired blend that brings just enough tropical flair to liven up gray winter days. Chenin Blanc, Picpoul, Grenache Blanc, and Grüner Veltliner come together in a méthode sans méthode sparkler that’s dry, aromatic, and refreshingly low in alcohol.
Expect zesty grapefruit, ripe yellow apple, and a touch of pineapple — perfect as a party-starter or paired with anything salty and fried (we love: oysters, potato chips, or crispy latkes). Crafted by Santa Cruz–based winemaker Nicole Walsh, this bubbly is sustainably grown and airline-approved — now flying high on United Airlines.
4. 2023 Cabernet Pfeffer by Ser Winery
You’ve probably never had this grape — and that’s kind of the point. Cabernet Pfeffer is ultra rare (we’re talking under 10 acres planted worldwide), and this version — from century-old, organic vines near Monterey Bay — hits that s
weet spot between elegant and wild. It’s got juicy cranberry and pomegranate up front, with a lift of white pepper on the finish. Smooth, dry, and just a little spicy.
If you're the kind of person who orders the weird thing on the menu, this red’s for you. Try it with lentil soup, duck confit, mushroom anything — or just sip it solo and feel smug.
5. 2024 Bubbly Rosé by JDusi Wines
Fresh strawberry, watermelon, and juicy plum make this sparkling rosé a refreshingly crisp counterpoint to all the creamy, cozy things we eat this time of year. The Merlot brings some weight, the Zin adds fruit, and the Grenache keeps it snappy. Whole-cluster pressed and sustainably grown in Paso Robles, it’s dry, aromatic, and just fizzy enough to keep things interesting.
Perfect with fried chicken, fish tacos, brie and berries—or to cut through the richness of winter comfort food. Sparkling rosé isn’t just for summer. Trust us.
6. 2023 Chardonnay by Handley Cellars
Bright and citrusy with just the right amount of roundness, this Anderson Valley Chardonnay hits the mark between classic and fresh. Stainless steel keeps it crisp, while time in neutral French oak softens the edges and brings out notes of toasted almond and stone fruit.
It's what you pour when mac and cheese is in the oven. When the roast chicken needs a co-star. When you want something serious enough for the holiday table, but chill enough to sip while wrapping gifts. Rich, refreshing, and ready to convert even your "I don't drink Chardonnay" friend.
7. 2023 Chillable Red by Terah Wine Co.
This is Sangiovese, but not the way your dad drinks it. Made using carbonic maceration (the whole “fermenting inside the grape” thing), this natural red is light, lifted, and full of juicy strawberry and tart cherry. It’s unfiltered, a little hazy, and totally crushable.
Serve it cold—seriously. This wine loves a chill and plays well with pizza, anything smoky off the grill, or snacks eaten standing over the sink. Rustic, bright, and zero pretense.
8. 2024 Bubbly Red by Ser Winery
Strawberry, cherry, and rose petal hit first, but this sparkling Cinsault isn’t sweet—it’s dry, lifted, and borderline addictive. Made with a light touch (literally, a quick press off the skins instead of a long maceration), the result is bright red fruit without heaviness, strong tannins, or syrupy weight. Just clean, floral sparkle with a savory edge.
Serve it cold. Pair it boldly. It can handle pepperoni pizza, barbecue pork, roast duck, or anything sticky, spicy, or rich. When in doubt, throw it in the fridge and treat it like your wild card—ideal when you’re not sure if your meal pairs best with white, red, or rosé.
9. 2023 Rhône-Style White Blend by Ser Winery
Bright, layered, and a little unexpected, this Rhône-style white brings together coastal Vermentino with Grenache Blanc, Picpoul, and Clairette Blanche. It opens with white flowers and lemon zest, then shifts into juicy pear and peach with a mineral edge. Fermented separately, aged on the lees, and blended with care, it’s got texture without weight—fresh and structured all at once.
It’s a food chameleon. Pour it with crab cakes, creamy lemon pasta, roast chicken, or a cheese plate with something salty and something bloomy. Or keep it simple and drink it cold, straight from the can, with your favorite takeout. This white doesn’t need a script.
10. 2024 Orange Vermentino by Terah Wine Co.
Bright citrus, savory herbs, and salty minerality—this skin-contact Vermentino brings the energy of an alpine white, with the structure of something much deeper. Fermented on the skins for extra texture and aromatics, it’s got a gorgeous terracotta hue and just enough grip to stand up to a full meal.
Pair it with anything that has herbs, heat, or fat: Thai noodles, roast chicken with lemon and garlic, bánh mì, or a cheese plate with aged gouda and olives. It’s also built for solo sipping—no pairing required. Chill it down and drink it like the golden hour glow it looks like.
11. 2023 Rosé Wine by Ser Winery
This single-vineyard Rosé of Grenache is all about precision. Grown and harvested specifically for rosé, it was made using the direct press method and aged in stainless to keep things clean, lifted, and expressive. Expect tart rhubarb, tropical guava, and a soft creaminess on the finish that adds just enough roundness.
It’s dry and structured, but still totally easygoing. Pair it with poached salmon, herby grain bowls, or a wedge of salty manchego. Also excellent on its own with a chill and a good playlist. Nicole describes this one as “what pink might taste like” and wow, she’s right! Pink is delicious.
12. 2021 Zinfandel by JDusi Wines
This Zin is big, dry, and totally dialed in. A blend of two legendary Paso vineyards, Paper Street and Dante Dusi, it brings the spice, the dark berry fruit, and the structure to match. Juicy up front, grounded on the finish, and balanced all the way through.
With five gold medals to its name and serious depth in the glass, this is the kind of red that shows up for slow-cooked dinners, wood-fired pizza, holiday roasts, or just you and your favorite sweatshirt on the couch. No occasion required.
About Maker Wine
As for Maker, some of our core values include:
Produce premium, bottle quality wine: Each can is the same high quality wine found in the bottles of the best small producers. Maker wines are vintage, varietal, and often vineyard specific: terroir-driven wines that the winemaker is proud to put their name on.
Represent diverse makers: We partner with diverse, small-batch makers to elevate their underrepresented voices and premium wines.
Showcase unique varietals and regions: We love finding lesser-known regions and grapes that geeky wine people adore, but that your average sipper may not know.
Zero sugar, low carb: We prioritize wine producers that use organic and sustainable farming practices. Our wines are fermented to dry, with no residual sugar and under five carbs per serving.
How to Enjoy the Wines
There aren’t a lot of rules for enjoying your 12 Days of Canned Wine Advent Calendar, however, we do recommend enjoying it with friends. Whether you split each can with a partner or bestie, or gift it to wine lovers in your life, wine is always better with good company.
Here’s how to start sipping:
Your calendar, your rules. The countdown starts when you’re down. Whether you kick it off today or start December 12th, it’s all about the joy of anticipation.
Start each day with a surprise. Reveal a new can every morning and, if it beckons chilling, pop it into the fridge. Remember, our white, bubbly, and rosé wines are best when chilled.
Savor as you like. Grab a glass or relish it straight from the can. (We like our reds in glasses and sparkling wines straight up.)
Share your sips! Found a wine that sang to your soul? Snap a pic, share, and tag us @makerwine. We’d love to see your favorites!