Tipples to help you tip along for Christmas

From starters to the end-of-the-day movie, Christmas can be a long haul but with the perfect drink in your hand, you won’t want it to end.

Wine for Christmas Day needn’t be complicated so feel free to treat yourself to your favourite.

However, there will be lots to eat so you will need a few extra bottles for the different sides to Christmas day eating. Below is everything you could possibly want to drink on Christmas Day.

Non-alcoholic, kids, teetotallers, and drivers L’Atitude 51’s lemonade

(makes approx 75cl): 3 limes & 3 lemons quartered, 6tbsp caster sugar, 60ml simple syrup (½ sugar, ½ water), Muddle (smash) the lemons to release the juice and oils, shake in a cocktail shaker with lots of ice.

Strain into a jug and top with sparkling water to taste.

Richmount Elderflower Cordial — €5.99, Garden Goodness, Quay Co-Op, Good Food Shop, English Market

Richmount in Longford use flowers from their own farm to make this spiky fresh cordial. Mix with still or sparkling water. Also adds life to Prosecco and Cava.

Highbank Driver’s Cider — €2.50, Bradley’s, Mortons, www.highbankorchards.com

Fresh, sweet apple pie flavours with a crisp tart finish thanks to the tannin in the cider apples.

Aperitif

Nothing whets the appetite like fizz and when else can you justify a stiff gin and tonic at lunchtime?

Short Cross Gin, Rademon Estate, Co Down — €52, Baggot St Wines, Celtic Whiskey Shop, www.celticwhiskeyshop.com , www.JNWine.com

First released in April and already a classic. Small batch distilled with juniper, elderflower, elderberries, and wild clover. Intensely fragrant, mown grass, orange peel and juniper and a pungent pepper hit on the palate. The aromas and flavours open up beautifully with tonic and orange peel.

Charles Mignon Premier Cru Rosé Champagne — €48, M&S

A blend of Pinot Noir and Chardonnay with red current and raspberry aromas and a relatively rich palate with more red fruits and citrus on the finish.

Carles Andreu “CA” Cava Brut, Spain — €23.40, www.winesdirect.ie

Aged for over 18 months for added complexity; rich apple and citrus aromas and a crisp bright finish with lingering lemon peel.

Starters

Springfield Estate Life from Stone Sauvignon Blanc, South Africa —€21.99, Number 21, Matsons, Ardkeen

Stony, mineral, and crisp, this is a fine and complex Sauv Blanc from one of South Africa’s greatest producers. This might even cope with the brussels sprouts.

Valdimoienes Verdejo, Rueda, Spain — €15.99, Number 21, Matsons, Ardkeen

Apple and lemon aromas, mineral and fresh with a lingering tangy apple finish.

Bellevue le Foret Rosé, Fronton, France — €14.99, 1601 Kinsale, Ardkeen, O’Donovan’s

Full-bodied for a rosé, aromatic red fruits and a rich mouth-feel with a lingering dry cherry finish. Perfect for a spicy starter.

Main Course

Turkey matches well with any red or white wine. Having said that, I believe it goes particularly well with Chardonnay, Grenache and Pinot Noir, as does Goose.

D’Arenberg The Lucky Lizard Chardonnay, Adelaide Hills, Australia — €20.99, JJ O’Driscolls, O’Donovan’s, www.thecorkscrew.ie , Donnybrook Fair

A cool, complex Chardonnay with aromas of nectarine and white peaches, creamy melon and crisp lemon flavours with tropical touches on the finish.

Tasmanian Hills Pinot Noir, Tasmania, Australia — €16, Tesco

Ripe red fruit aromas and flavours. Raspberries and cherries with a nice bit of spicy fruit and weight on the palate. This will also work with the ham.

D’Arenberg The Custodian Grenache 2012, McLaren Vale, Australia — €18.99, JJ O’Driscolls, O’Donovan’s, www.thecorkscrew.ie , Donnybrook Fair

Rich, spicy red and black fruit with some grip and intensity on the palate and a lingering pepper and spice character.

Cheese

Different cheeses need different wines so this covers the lot.

Aldi Condrieu, Rhone Valley, France 2012 — €23.99, Aldi

Condrieu is the home of Viognier and a decent one is rarely less than €40. Aldi’s version is packed with fragrant peach and apricot aromas with a rich lemony palate perfect for rich cheeses, like Durrus and Gubbeen.

Catena Malbec 2012, Mendoza, Argentina — €15.85, Dunnes

A good price on this rich plum and spice-packed Malbec from one of Argentina’s most reliable producers. This also works with turkey, ham, goose, or game.

M&S 10-year-old Tawny Port — €23.50

This will work with blue cheese or pudding thanks to its almond aromas and rich flavour of dried raisins and currants.

Dessert

Christmas pudding matches with port but I prefer a dessert wine to bring out the fruit.

Vinha do Floral Moscatel de Setúbal, Portugal — €12, SuperValu

Strong seville orange marmalade aromas with a honey and orange peel palate and relatively clean finish.

Chateau Paizos Tokaji 6 Puttonyos 2008, Hungary — €24.99, Aldi

Intense honeyed nose with sweet lemon and baked apple flavours, more honey on the middle palate and a finish of sweet apple drops.

Christmas Movie

By now your palate will be quite jaded so here’s something robust.

Jameson Black Barrel - €47, widely available

Aged in hand-charred bourbon casks which give a sweet stone fruit aroma, sweet vanilla, and spice on the palate with a lingering spicy character. left

Vieux Garcon Armagnac XO 70cl — €29.99, Lidl

Lidl’s XO Armagnac has a rich caramel and spice character and a finish not unlike the very best Irish whiskey.

Ducastaing 1973 Armagnac 50cl — €37.99, Aldi

This is older, more expensive, and more complex with a slightly more honeyed nose and a sweeter tang on the palate that gives way to lychees and cinnamon.