A wine expert's guide to the best festive drinks for Christmas
These wines will be excellent to have in your house over the holidays.
At Christmas I feel almost normal. I spend most of my year thinking about what I’m going to eat and drink, so at Christmas it is nice to know that everyone else is doing the exact same. But don’t fret, it’s just dinner after all.
My suggestions this year will all work with Christmas dinner but also with takeaways and with left-overs. Christmas is all about traditions and in our house but my wine choice has changed regularly. The last two years I have chosen a red burgundy to match the turkey and ham but as prices keep climbing that is unlikely to be my choice this year.
In the past I have gone with everything from Cru Beaujolais (Fleurie, Morgon etc.), Bandol from Provence (e.g. Domaine Tempier), Californian Cabernet, Brunello di Montalcino from Tuscany and even old Bordeaux (because I like it, not because it matches perfectly).
Below is a list of some wines that came across my radar this year that I think you will love and that I think will be excellent to have in your house over the holidays.
To wake up your appetite I think it is best to begin Christmas with something light and refreshing. This could be Champagne or Champagne cocktails before dinner or even for breakfast (see Christmas Fizz article), or simply a fresh crisp white wine that works as an aperitif but also matches smoked salmon and seafood starters.
Côteaux du Giennois is northeast of Sancerre/Pouilly-Fumé with similar soils. Crisp lime and grapefruit aromas with a floral edge, a ripe apple-citrus flavour on the palate and with a zingy finish.
Classic lemon and apple aromas with a mineral-salty edge, textured, zingy and dry with some softer apple and kiwi fruit flavours on the finish.. The Baer Pinot Pinot Blanc also works well.
You’ve tried Albariño, why not try Galicia’s other great white grape. This has key-lime and kiwi fruit aromas, a textured waxy-creamy palate with weight balanced by some lime curd acidity. New to Bradleys.
Wines from this 300 year old estate are exclusive to Whelehan’s wines (delivering nationwide). This is a stunning Bourgogne Blanc from vines just outside the village of Meursault; lemony zest, white flowers and a touch of white peach, concentrated and elegant with lingering tangy freshness. This will also match the turkey.
We forget how versatile rosé is, it can match spicy dishes as well as light salads and the red fruit flavours and dry finish allow it work with both turkey and ham. You need some cheery rosé on hand for the period between Christmas and New Year to match turkey curry and Asian takeaways.
Xinomavro is the Pinot Noir of Greece with similar floral aromas and weight. This has rose petal and red berry aromas, pleasing red fruits on the palate and some balancing acidity. While not bone dry this is a positive when serving with Christmas dinner or with Indian or Chinese takeaways.
Sancerre rosés (and reds) are Pinot Noir based and a little more robust than their Provençal cousins. This has cherry fruit aromas with a touch of peach, tangy and textured with a citrus crispness and a touch of cherry skin on the finish.
I love this Rosé in its pretty frosted bottle form Roussillon near the Spanish border. Peach and strawberry aromas, textured and crisp with red cherry touches and a lingering citrus zing.
Christmas dinner has so much going on in terms of stuffings, trimmings, vegetables and gravy that it needs a robust full-flavoured red wine to cope. Drier wines work less well but if you really want some vintage Bordeaux with dinner please don’t let me stop you. Other wines that work include rich southern Rhônes (e.g. Châteauneuf-du-Pape, Gigondas etc), Pinot Noir (from Burgundy, New Zealand or California) and ripe Southern Italian Reds such as Montepulciano d’Abruzzo or Nero d’Avola.
This juicy natural wine is made with biodynamic grapes and whole bunch fermentation with minimal intervention so expect bright primary fruit flavours, black cherries, raspberries and blueberry fruits, mouth-filling and ripe, serve cool.
Laura Catena believes her complex soulful red wines have the power to heal, bring joy, encourage conversation and ensure we eat slowly, perfect Christmas wine so. From vineyards 1000m above sea level this pours a deep dark red with lots of mineral tinged red and black fruit aromas and flavours with a gorgeous spicy kick.
There is a strong US tradition of serving Zinfandel with Thanksgiving Turkey and the match makes sense culturally and gustatorily. Ripe blackcurrant and blackberry aromas, rich and almost luscious on the palate with mouthfilling complexity and a touch of spice.
Founded by Jesuits in 1857 Ksara is Lebanon’s oldest and also largest winery, a culturally appropriate match as much as a flavour one. A blend of Syrah, Cab Franc and Cab Sauvignon. Bright red fruit aromas, ripe and fruity on the palate with anise and herbal touches and a black fruit finish. This will add a little spice and richness to roast turkey.
Humans are born with a love of sweet things, mother’s milk is sweet and so were the fruits our hunter-gatherer ancestors sought out, it gave them an evolutionary advantage. Sweet wines act as a digestive and go great with pâté as a snack, with cheese as well as desserts.
Sauternes works with pâté and with cheese and can cope with light fruit based desserts, Christmas pudding may overwhelm the flavours. Light honey and sweet lemon aromas with a touch of lemon curd, yellow peaches and apricot flavours, weight and ripeness but also crisp balancing acidity.
This is amazing value and a perfect match for mince pies, Christmas pudding or poured on ice-cream. From sun-dried Pedro Ximénez grapes this has raisin and sultana aromas plus dried figs and tobacco leaf, rich and sweet on the palate but with a zing of acidity. Serve chilled.
This limited edition Tawny Port is presented in a gorgeous replica of a 17th century hand-blown bottle. The average age of the Tawny ports selected is almost 15 years so you can see some brown edges. Ripe dried fruit aromas plus caramel and a touch of chocolate, sweet and ripe on first sip with raisins and a touch of coffee on the finish. A perfect Christmas Pudding match or for sipping on its own with a box of Milk Tray nearby.
