As December nears, we can all agree that this season is not your typical "Holly Jolly Christmas." With holiday calendars looking rather bleak this year, except for the dreaded virtual family Christmas party (that you were secretly looking forward to skipping), there really is a lacklustre lead-up to the big day. The thought of popping out a measly wafer-thin piece of below-average chocolate from your grocery store advent calendar might seem a little redundant for a 2020 Christmas. So what better way to inject some vibrancy into your stale routine? The godsend that is the World's First Natural Wine Advent Calendar by Toronto's wine-crazed duo, The Grape Witches.
Friends and business partners Nicole Campbell and Krysta Oben, or The Grape Witches, have grown quite a following in Toronto. What initially started as an Instagram page dedicated to natural wine manifested into a wine subscription, coveted wine parties and now, a brick-and-mortar wine shop on Dundas West. The women set out to share their love for natural wine with the community by taking a fun and unpretentious approach to educating anyone interested -- and it worked.
Co-founders and friends, Nicole Campbell and Krysta Oben pictured above.
There have been plenty of exciting drops from The Grape Witches over the course of the pandemic, but thus far, this has to be the most enticing. In response to your holiday blues, the duo is releasing quite possibly, the best advent calendar I have ever laid eyes on. A collection consisting of 11 of their favourite natural wines, one cider and a holiday treat from Robinson Bread -- all stuffed into a 12-pack box decorated by local artist Laura Dawe.
The Witches boast that the box is brimming with difficult to acquire and rare bottles that they have managed to sneak in through their private importers. With the promise that the contents of this magical calendar include everything a devote natural wine head loves, from "freaky little bubbles, deep dark Lambrusco, minerally-white, savoury rose and All The Reds from fresh and floral to full-bodied hits."
An ideal way to countdown 12 of your quarantine days according to The Grape Witches, the advent calendars go on sale this Friday, November 27 at 10 a.m. and ship from Monday, November 30 across Ontario and are also available for contactless pickup in the shop at 1247 Dundas St W.
Inside Grape Glass, The Grape Witches brick-and-mortar wine shop on Dundas West.
And of course, as the women have always been vocal about supporting BIPOC voices and charitable initiatives, The Witches will donate $5 from each box to Vinequity, a program empowering BIPOC wine professionals with education and mentorship.
