Aldi’s Holiday Beer and Wine Selection Has Landed — Here’s What to Get

If you aren’t already doing your booze shopping at Aldi, get with the (beverage) program.

Even if you aren’t an Aldi shopper, you probably know all about its reputation as one of America’s most beloved imports. The German supermarket chain has been expanding in the United States in recent years, and with that growth, Americans are turning to the discount grocer for more staples than ever before: cheese, fresh produce, specialty foods, and a wide selection of wine and beer. And in that latter category, Aldi is rolling out a suite of seasonal offerings curated by the brand’s in-house beverage specialists.

To build this year’s list of seasonal drinks, Aldi looked to one of its best-selling items — the advent calendars it releases each November with much fanfare, often selling out in mere days.

Related: Aldi Is Getting Rid of Scanners, Cashiers, and Checkout Lines with the Help of AI

These calendars include a wide array of treats inside, from cheese to chocolate to booze, and since they’re often snatched up by the grocer’s biggest fans, those customers helped determine this year’s offerings. And Arlin Zajmi, director of national buying for adult beverages at Aldi and a certified wine specialist, provided Food & Wine with an overview.

Beers

n 2023, shoppers voted on their favorite varieties from the beer advent calendar, and two brews took the title — so both will hit shelves at Aldi this October as standalone products.

State of Brewing Chocolate Peanut Butter Porter

This porter, brewed in Waunakee, Wisconsin, impressed 2023 advent calendar buyers with its sweet-but-not-too-sweet flavor profile — one that Zajmi describes as “indulgent yet balanced.” One taster noted the beer leans into coffee and mocha flavors, explaining that “beer itself needs to be a strong element in these flavored offerings. This one shows that restraint.” One TikTok user, meanwhile, simply described the 6% ABV beer as “f---ing delicious.” It’ll be available at Aldi starting October 4, at a price of just $8.99 for a six-pack, and Zajmi recommends pairing it with Aldi’s Specially Selected Milk Chocolate Sea Salt Cashews.

State of Brewing Holiday Ale

This is a slightly lighter offering, at 5.6% ABV, and will be sold in a six-pack for $7.99. Zajmi describes this beer as “a rich malt beverage with hints of cinnamon, ginger, and orange peel.” Like the porter, this six-pack will be available starting October 4. Zajmi suggests a flavor pairing of Specially Selected Sweet Jalapeno Chili Chutney.

Wines

In addition to the fan-favorite beers, Aldi is adding new wines to the lineup, too. Three new bottles, all under $15, will be available starting September 6. Here’s a rundown of each:

Cremant d’Alsace

This sparkling wine, produced in a manner similar to Champagne, was selected for the collection because sparkling wine is currently seeing high demand — “especially among millennials,” Zajmi notes. This French variety, which uses a base of Pinot Blanc grapes, is a great way to enjoy a sophisticated bubbly without paying Champagne prices. “Our global sourcing team also partners with over 150 wineries globally and for this one in particular we worked with one of the premier French sparkling producers,” Zajmi said. “They specialize in sparkling wines and have a large footprint in the Alsace region of France.”

Willamette Valley Pinot Noir

This wine is unique in that it’s the first Oregon varietal to be sold at Aldi. Though Americans typically think of California as our wine-growing region, the Pacific Northwest is hot on its heels; Zajmi says the Pinot Noir grown in the Willamette Valley is growing in popularity both nationwide and around the globe.

Chianti Riserva

Part of the reason Aldi is able to offer wines at lower prices is because it works with a sourcing team that has direct partnerships with wineries around the world. This Chianti Riserva is, of course, from Chianti, a mountainous region of Tuscany, Italy. It’s aged 24 months to achieve both the “riserva” designation and its full-bodied flavor. “Chianti is one of the most well-known wine regions in Italy,” Zajmi said. “We wanted to provide shoppers with a taste of the region for less, following the success of the Specially Selected Uco Valley Malbec last year.”

Part of the fun of shopping at Aldi is that the shelves are always full of new and unexpected items—look no further than the “aisle of shame” to see how eclectic the offerings can get.

September, of course, brings a deluge of fall flavors, including Salted Caramel Cream Cheese ($2.29), Pumpkin Bagels ($2.49), Fall Sweet Potato Chips ($2.99), and Bean Soup Mix ($2.29), among many, many others.

Though you’ll have to wait till October to pick up the new holiday beers, there’s plenty to browse in the meantime. 

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