A Year of Food & Wine Adventures: My Review of the Wine Selectors 2026 Calendar Collection

Please note this is a paid partnership with Wine Selectors where I have the opportunity to share my honest opinions of this product.

If you ask me, every great wine deserves its moment in the limelight and a perfectly matched meal.

That’s exactly what the newly released Wine Selectors 2026 Calendar Collection is all about. Think of it as your delicious year in wine, with 12 bottles from 12 iconic Australian regions, each one expertly paired to an amazing recipe you can make at home.

PLUS before I delve into all the juicy details, TC readers can get an exclusive 10% off with the discount code: CORKSELECTORS (see the T&Cs at the bottom of this post).

Either treat yourself, or it would make an epic gift for the wine and food lover in your life!

And let’s be honest — who doesn’t love a good excuse to plan your year around wine and food?

I was kindly sent the Mixed Regional Dozen to taste test, however you can also opt for the Red Dozen or White Dozen if you only swing one way 😉

TL;DR

Let’s get to the juicy details straight up:

• Currently priced at $240 with savings of up to $200. And if you use my discount code, it comes down to a bank-robbing $216!
• 12 full size 750ml wines are included + a 2026 calendar with the 12 matching recipes
• This case is perfect for:
  • Home cooks who love experimenting
  • Food and wine pairing enthusiasts
  • Anyone wanting to explore more Australian regions
  • Anyone wanting an impressive but easy gift idea

Now, let’s delve a bit deeper…

The 12 wines…

The team at Wine Selectors has created something clever here. The 2026 Calendar Collection is a mixed dozen that celebrates Australia’s incredible regional diversity. Think of it as your wine and dine itinerary for the year ahead. Each month, you can pull out a bottle from a different region and match it with a meal that brings out its personality.

Unboxing the 2026 Calendar Collection felt like opening a map of Australia’s finest vineyards. Every bottle tells a regional story. You’ll sip your way from the Hunter Valley to Coonawarra, from Clare Valley to Margaret River, all without leaving home.

Each wine has been hand-selected by the Wine Selectors tasting panel (over 200 years of combined tasting experience, so they must know a thing or two), and it shows.

The diversity is spot on for the mixed case – bright, aromatic whites, smooth reds, and a few “just right” surprises that make you want to pour a second glass.

The 12 paired recipes…

After looking through the calendar at the recipes, I was absolutely drooling. I am so excited to try each one of these! I won’t give all the details away but some of the included recipes and matched wines for the mixed case are:

• Zesty popcorn prawns paired with the vibrant and fruity Howard Park Miamup Sauvignon Blanc Semillon 2024
• Slow-cooked asado lamb shoulder elevated by the smooth Leconfield Merlot 2022
• Brisket barbacoa and the 3 x Trophy and 4 x Gold medal-winning Bleasdale Generations Malbec 2022

See what I mean? Total drool-worthy material and I am going to give you an extra sneak peek by trying out the January recipe and wine a touch early to let you know what I really think 😉

January: Popcorn Prawns + SBS test run

January is my birth month and when I saw the recipe and wine match, it was an easy decision to try it out!

As per previous years with the Wine Selectors Calendar Collections, I find the only downside is that some of the ingredients for the recipes are hard to find. We live rurally, so it means we don’t have everything at our fingertips when it comes to out of the norm ingredients.

For the popcorn prawns with spicy mayo and yuzu dressing, I had to go to two different supermarkets to find everything + a couple of items were ‘near enough’ substitutes.

However it is safe to say the effort was worth it. Because:

1. I now know how to tempura batter and cook things – I got so much satisfaction in learning this new skill
2. They were absolutely delicious – my whole family loved them, in fact I think our three and five year olds ate more than my hubby and me!
3. The wine match was absolutely spot on, I could literally have dined and sipped on this combo all afternoon

I enjoyed making this recipe so much that I already plan to make it again. Plus it’s safe to say I’ll be stocking up on the Howard Park SBS too. Divine!

I have actually added two more of the recipes to my dinner plan for this week – so stay tuned to find out how they go, I’ll be updating this post as I make more of them!

April: Pork Steaks with Blood Plum Glaze + Pinot Noir

What is not to love about the pork and pinot combo! This recipe and wine match was next on my list to try out and yumo, we loved it!

There were quite a few parts to the recipe, but it was worth the deliciousness at the end.

Would I make it again? Absolutely!

Plus the Wignalls 2023 Pinot Noir from Albany in Western Australia was an absolutely beautiful accompaniment with its matching fresh, juicy plum characteristics.

We did the pork steaks on the BBQ – so that BBQ char worked really nicely with the wine and the sweetness of the glaze.

To conclude..

The Wine Selectors 2026 Calendar Collection isn’t just a box of wine. It’s a year-long adventure through Australia’s wine regions, filled with flavour, discovery and inspiration for your next great meal.

Each bottle gives you a new reason to celebrate and a new pairing to try. Whether you’re hosting friends, cooking for two or just treating yourself, it’s the kind of case that turns everyday moments into something special.

If your goal for 2026 is to drink better wine and eat more delicious food, this is the perfect place to start. Not to mention you might acquire some new cooking skills like I did with the prawns 😉

So pour a glass, grab a fork, and let 2026 be the year of great wine and food.

Terms & Conditions for discount code:

Eligible to New Customers only. Can only be used on wine products where the cart total is equal or over $160. Cannot be used on gifts, gift cards or accessories. Offer available while stocks last. Freight charges may apply. Use code CORKSELECTORS at checkout. Wine Selectors reserves the right to remove or change this offer at any time, and at its sole discretion.