The Twelve Wines Of Christmas

The Twelve Wines of Christmas

With a recent survey revealing that over a third of people are nervous about choosing wine for fear of making a faux pas, here is a simple guide to avoiding wayward wines during the festive season.

Widely available nationwide and reasonably priced, this selection of New and Old World wines is sure to tickle everyone’s taste buds this Christmas.

Christmas Morning

Marques de Monistrol Vintage 2005 Cava Brut, - £9.99, Tesco
Start Christmas with a bang and try this fruity vintage Cava from Spain. Made using the traditional Champagne method, this wonderfully vibrant sparkling wine would be ideal as an aperitif to toast the family with on Christmas morning.

Christmas Lunch

Good value white: McGuigan Grey Label Chardonnay 2007, Australia - £5.99, Tesco
With great fruit flavours that Australia is famous for and a touch of oak influence, this rich honeyed, vanilla-flavoured Chardonnay is perfect with white meat dishes such as Christmas turkey.

Good value red: Spier Shiraz 2006, Western Cape - £6.49, Majestic
A well-structured and balanced wine with fruity aromas and flavours of spice and leather on the palate. This Shiraz from the Cape is a surprisingly light and refreshing wine making it a good red wine partner to turkey.

Splash out white: Spier Private Collection Sauvignon Blanc 2006, South Africa - £13.99, Morrisons
For a seafood starter such as prawn cocktail or oysters choose this pale, straw-coloured white from Stellenbosch. With prominent aromas of rich tropical fruit and hints of freshly cut grass, this ripe green fig flavoured classic is full-bodied with a lingering tropical fruit finish.

Splash out red: Marques de la Concordia Rioja Reserva 2004, Spain - £10.99, Majestic
If you’re looking for an alternative Christmas lunch, why not try a traditional roast beef lunch with a hearty red wine. This Reserva shows complex aromas of ripe fruit, cedar and spice, which develop into a smooth, velvety palate with powerful dark fruit flavours, hints of coffee and an almost chocolately richness.

Christmas Pudding

Vendanges d’Automne, AOC Muscat de St Jean de Minervois, France - £11.99, Co-op
(half price: £5.99, 17.11 – 07.12)
This late harvest wine with dominant dried-fruit hints is the ultimate indulgence on Christmas day. Delightful flavours of orange peel, dried apricot, honey and incense make it perfect with traditional Christmas pudding or mince pies.

Boxing Day Feast

Tempus Two Moscato 2007, Australia - £8.19, Tesco
This light sweet wine featuring a dash of bubbles is fruit driven and shows intense floral citrus flavours along with a refreshing light spritz. With an alcohol content of just 8%, this low alcohol wine is perfect for the day after Christmas excess.

Berberana Carta de Oro Rioja Reserva 2004, Spain – from £9.99, Sainsbury’s, Booths, Threshers
A lovely deep red Rioja wine which combines soft summer fruits with vanilla oak flavours to create a well-balanced, aromatic red that is perfect with mature hard cheese, roast lamb or beef.

Sainsbury’s Muscat de Minervois, AOC Muscat de St Jean de Minervois, France - £3.99, France

An intensely golden, sticky, wine with floral hints of rose and orange. With exceptional balance between freshness and power on the palate and a lovely fresh finish makes it ideal with mince pies or orange sorbet.

New Years Eve

Duo Mythique Rosé 2007, Vin de Pays d’Oc, France - £4.99, Co-op
Made with a blend of Shiraz and Grenache, Duo Mythique Rosé 2007, is packed full of strawberry and raspberry flavours and is a crisp refreshing wine when served chilled. Why not try this rosé with spicy canapés and nibbles for the perfect New Year pairing.

McGuigan Discover Shiraz Viognier 2007 - £7.99, Tesco
The trick with Shiraz Viognier is the blending of the white and red grapes together. The berry fruit aromas with an underlying smoky oak character of the Shiraz complement the floral dimension of the Viognier to produce a silky soft finish to the wine.

For Midnight: Marques de Monistrol Vintage 2005 Cava Rosé, Spain - £9.99, Tesco
A delicate pink cava packed with red berry fruits. With its mouth-watering crispness, it makes a superb aperitif and goes well with desserts.