Aldi’s Fan-Favorite Cheese Advent Calendar Is Back (It Won't Last Long)

I love cheese, and I especially love trying new cheeses. That's what makes the Aldi Emporium Selection Cheese Advent Calendar so incredible—it includes a bunch of different cheeses in sample sizes for only $16.99. Aldi's Advent calendars are hugely popular, so I can guarantee they won't last long. 

Why I Love Aldi Emporium Selection Cheese Advent Calendar (Spoilers!) 

I love that Aldi packed nearly 13 ounces of imported cheese into this year's calendar. Each cheese wedge is about the size of two thumbs—so perfect for a little snack.

The cheeses in the calendar include Gouda, Mimolette, goat cheese, cheddar, and many more. Although there are 24 glorious days of cheese, there are only 14 different varieties of cheese, meaning 10 of them repeat.

The calendar is heavy on cheddar and Gouda. The cheddar varieties include truffle, caramelized onion, mature, black pepper, and whiskey. The Gouda varieties include classic, mature, pesto, and mustard seed. There's also Edam and Red Leicester, along with hard goat cheese. All in all, it's a good selection. 

What is especially exciting about this year's cheese Advent calendar is that Aldi has intended for the wine, cheese, and chocolate Advent calendars to be paired together. I love this because wine, cheese, and chocolate should be enjoyed together.

Day one is a truffle cheddar and is truly an excellent cheese to kick off the calendar. Smooth and creamy, this cheese has a cheddar base enhanced by delicious black truffles. It's incredibly aromatic, and my only complaint is that I want more. Fortunately, I will get to taste it again, as it is the last cheese on day 24.

It's paired with a Meridia California Zinfandel from the Aldi Holiday Magic Wine Advent Calendar. This pairing is perfect. The Zinfandel is strong enough to stand up to the truffle aromas and the cheddar base, but the wine and cheese enhance each other. The chocolate from the Moser Roth Chocolate Advent Calendar is a Caracol Milk chocolate, which also pairs well with the truffle cheese. I can't wait to try this cheese with a sparkling French brut on day 24. 

Day four is a hard goat cheese, smooth and chalky—similar to a goat cheddar. It is mild, without any goaty aftertaste, and Aldi pairs it with Cumulus Hideaway South African Sauvignon Blanc. A really fantastic pairing, and the cheese enhances the wine, and the wine enhances the cheese. The dark chocolate leaf, while delicious, overpowered the cheese.

Day 19 features a Cheddar with Whiskey. A delicious white cheddar with just a bit of a whiskey bite, and would be perfect on a grilled cheese sandwich. Aldi pairs it with Shadow Dance Spanish red blend wine. The pairing is spot on, as the weight of the cheese and the wine match perfectly. The chocolate is a dark raspberry, and it pairs well, too. 

My only quibble with this calendar is that, as a cheese lover, I wish the portions were larger. I understand they're meant to be tastes, but I might have to head back to Aldi for a second one because they're just that good.

_{To learn more about our approach to product recommendations, see HERE.}