Top 5 Wines to Try This Christmas

December 22, 2021

Christmas is a time for friends, family, festivities, and of course Christmas wine. But which Christmas wine should you buy? This blog post will give you 5 Christmas wines to try this Christmas. Whether it's the turkey or Christmas pudding that gets your tastebuds tingling, we've got all bases covered with our top 5 Christmas wines for this year

Are there any wines traditionally associated with Christmas?

Drinking has always been a part of the Christmas celebration and a good bottle of wine is no stranger on the Christmas table.

The best Christmas wines are the ones that tell their own story. Reds such as Nero D’Avola with its strong notes of dark fruit can make the perfect accompaniment to your Christmas roast turkey while rich whites like Gruner Veltliner and Riesling will work well with Christmas pudding or Christmas cake.

For those who like their bubbles, the festive period is an excellent time to break out of a few bottles of champagne and for the port lovers, Christmas is definitely the time of year to indulge in a glass (or two) of this delicious fortified wine.

So, what are you waiting for? Here are our top five wines that we think will make your Christmas celebration even more special!

Castello Di FonterutolI: Siepi 2019:

The best red wine for Christmas

Castello di FonterutolIi is a Tuscany winery that was founded in the 1400s by the Mazzei family and has stayed in their hands for 26 generations. The estate covers an area of 860 hectares, of which 230 are vineyards.

This wine is a blend of Sangiovese (85%) and Merlot (15%) and is a Toscana IGT wine.

The Sangiovese gives the wine a great structure and aging potential, while the Merlot gives it beautiful fruit notes.

It’s a full-bodied red wine with aromas of black fruit, spices, and tobacco. Castello di Fonterutoli wines are made using traditional methods, including aging in oak barriques for at least 12 months.

This deeply colored wine is a Christmas must-have for its rich aromas and powerful flavors.

Chrismas food pairings

This rich and deep red wine pairs well with traditional Christmas fares such as ham, pork roast, and game because of its earthy and gamey flavors.

Anderson Valley: 2018 Gewürztraminer:

The best white wine for Christmas

The Ferrington Vineyard in Mendocino’s celebrated Anderson Valley is home to some of California’s most lauded Gewürztraminer vineyards. The family-owned vineyard, formerly known as Toulouse, was purchased by the Ferrington family in 1997 and is now run day-to-day by Karen’s son, Trey.

Ferrington’s cool-climate, marine-influenced vineyards produce bright, aromatic wines with flavors of lychee, rose petal, and spice.

Gewürztraminer is a white wine grape variety that is grown in many wine regions around the world, but it originates in Germany. The grape is known for its aromatic qualities, producing wines that are typically fragrant with aromas of honeysuckle, orange blossom, and a touch of ginger.

The 2018 has lovely notes of strawberry, cherry, and raspberry with a crisp acidity that makes it refreshing and food-friendly.

Aged in stainless steel tanks for six months to retain its crisp acidity and delicate flavors, the wine has an alcohol content of 13.0%. The wine would be best served with Christmas turkey, festive ham, or creamy poultry dishes.

Christmas food pairings

Pair the acidity and refreshing fruit flavors of this elegant wine with decadent Christmas desserts such as Christmas pudding, fruit cakes, and rich Christmas puddings.

Reichsrat Von Buhl: Reserve Brut Sekt:

The best sparkling wine for Christmas

Founded in 1849 by Franz Peter Buhl, the Reichsrat Von Buhl winery is located in the county of Rheinhessen, Germany.

Rheinhessen is one of Germany’s most famous wine regions and is known for its excellent Riesling wines.

Pair this elegant sparkling wine with roasted

The Reserve Brut Sekt is made from 80% Weißburgunder (Pinot Blanc) and 20% Chardonnay grape varietals. The delicate sparkling wine has aromas of white flowers, hazelnut, and bread crust with a palate of ripe fruit, brioche, and a touch of acidity.

In the mouth, it has flavors of apple, pear, and citrus with a smooth finish, making it a perfect Christmas wine to be served with rich fruit desserts or traditional German Christmas dishes such as Christmas Ham.

Christmas food pairings

The Christmas food pairings for this wine are Christmas turkey, pork roast with sauerkraut and dumplings, seafood platters, and Christmas desserts like Christmas chocolate cake.

Domaine des Forges: Côteaux du Layon, Chaume 2018:

The best dessert wine for Christmas

The Loire Valley remains one of France’s most famous wine-producing regions and for good reason. The area is home to an array of delicious wines made from Chenin Blanc, Cabernet Franc, and Cabernet Sauvignon grapes.

Coteaux du Layon is an Appellation d’origine contrôlée (AOC) in the Loire Valley of France. The wine is made from Chenin Blanc which has been slowly gaining popularity in recent years with even some rosés (rosé de noirs) popping up on the market. The grapes are grown in the Layon Valley, a tributary of the Loire River.

The Chaume appellation is found within Coteaux du Layon and covers wine made from 100% Chenin Blanc grapes from vines that are at least 20 years old. The wines must be aged for a minimum of 18 months, with at least 12 months spent in oak barrels.

Domaine des Forges is found in the steep St Aubin and Chaume hills of the Layon Valley. The winery was founded in 1978 by Claude Branchereau and his wife, Catherine. They produce around 15,000 bottles per year of this AOC Chaume wine, assisted by their son Stéphan.

This wine is sweet and full-bodied, making it great for the colder autumn/winter weather we are experiencing right now. The nose gives off crisp citrus notes of lime zest with a touch of grapefruit. There’s also some fig aromas to go with a hint of honey on the finish.

At 13% alcohol, it’s a nice wine to have with some Christmas pudding or cake. It would also pair well with blue cheese or foie gras.

Christmas food pairings

Perfect to pair with almost anything you could eat over the festive period, especially roast meats such as Turkey, ham, or beef. It also goes fantastically with pies, Christmas puddings, and cakes.

Taylor’s 1985 vintage:

The best port for Christmas

If you’re looking to splash out a little this Christmas, then a port may be the drink for you. This Taylor’s 1985 Vintage Port is perfect to enjoy with dessert or after dinner and will make any Christmas meal feel extra special.

Taylor’s has always been associated with fine port and the 1985 vintage is considered one of their best and yet you can still snag a bottle for around £100.

As with most ports. the Taylor’s 1985 is packed with sweet flavors of cherries, raisins, and dried fruit. There’s also a nice hint of chocolate and tobacco on the finish that makes it irresistible.

Carefully matured in Taylor’s own warehouses in Portugal, this port is a great example of what you can expect from the Douro Valley.

Christmas food pairings

Pair this port with rich meats such as Turkey, ham, or beef. It also goes fantastically with pies, Christmas puddings, and cakes.

With its deep red color and fruit flavors, you can pair it to any non-fish dish but if in doubt serve it on the rocks after dinner with a nice bit of dark chocolate.

Enjoy a fine bottle over the festive period

Wine makes for an excellent gift, and a bottle of port is always well-received. Why not try one of the bottles recommended here to give your celebrations an extra touch of class or as a fantastic gift for the wine lover in your life!