The 12 wines of Christmas
With the festival of feasting just around the corner, we’re excited to share our top tips for wine pairing this festive season with our 12 Wines of Christmas. Let’s dive right in!
1. Mistletoe and Mulled Wine
Team Barrique is divided on their love of mulled wine, but is it really Christmas without a mug of gluhwein after a cold day of Christmas shopping? We recommend using a Garnacha or merlot to create a fruity, warming mulled wine—perfect for hanging those last-minute decorations before the family arrives.
2. Christmas Eve Ham and Rosé
A delicious sticky glazed ham needs a wine with good acidity to balance the sweet and savoury notes. An aromatic wine like a Riesling can work perfectly, but our recommendation is a refreshing rosé. Try Rosato 2022, Scaia, Veneto, IGP. Its floral aromas can complement the spiced flavours in the glaze, while the tangy, crunchy red fruit flavours will help cut through the saltiness.
3. Christmas Brekkie and Bucks Fizz
Is there any better way to kick off Christmas day than with a glass of Bucks Fizz (or just Fizz!)? And we can’t look any further than Pol Roger Brut Reserve. Winston Churchill’s favourite champagne is a delightful way to start the day, in our opinion.
https://barriquefinewines.com/product/brut-reserve-nv-pol-roger-epernay
4. The Main Event, Turkey and Pinot Noir or the King of Wine, Barolo
Turkey is the star of the show, so a delicate and bright red wine will still allow it to be the hero of the table while also pairing well with classic sides like cranberry sauce. An elegant Pinot Noir from cool climates will work well; we recommend the incredible Tolpuddle Pinot Noir; Tasmania is making some fabulous Pinot Noirs like this one. For something a little bolder with more umami notes, try a Barolo like Barolo Tradizione DOCG 2018, Marchese de Barolo.
https://barriquefinewines.com/product/coal-river-valley-pinot-noir-2021-tolpuddle-vineyards-tasmania
https://barriquefinewines.com/product/barolo-tradizione-docg-2017-18-marchese-de-barolo
5. Nut Roast and Syrah
If you are opting for a vegetarian Christmas with a Nut Roast, try pairing it with more Rhone-style wines. The herbaceous notes of garrigue and the bolder tannins stand up to the mushroom flavours. We recommend the De La Terre Syrah from New Zealand. Bolder than a French syrah, it has lovely darker fruit flavours and hints of black olive that will pair well with the nutty roast.
6. Christmas Pud and Late Harvest Riesling
Light the pud! It’s time for dessert wine! Usually, we would recommend a sherry here as we are big sherry fans, but the honey and apricot notes in a late harvest riesling are just delicious with a fruit-filled Christmas pudding. We recommend the Nectar Riesling; rich stone fruit flavours and crisp citrus notes, YUM!
7. The Christmas Cheese Board
Whether it’s after dinner or a quickly thrown-together platter for when the neighbours pop in, there’s always a cheese board moment over Christmas. There are some fantastic ports, but to offer something a little different, we recommend Bishop of Norwich, a port-style fortified wine, it’s a fabulous wine, and a unique choice.
8. The Classic Turkey Curry Leftovers
Turkey curry does make a fantastic crowd-pleasing leftover dish, and one that we’ll definitely be making. Curry can be notoriously tricky to pair with, with fragrant spices and a kick of heat; some wines can be overpowered. We recommend Gewürztraminer 2020/21, Franz Haas, Trentino-Alto Adige; this aromatic gem will complement the fragrant spices and be a refreshing sip to your meal.
https://barriquefinewines.com/product/gewurztraminer-2019-franz-haas-trentino-alto-adige
9. Chocolates and Movie Night
For those cosy nights, when you just want something warming and delicious, we recommend the Prototype Zinfandel—an all-rounder as it could also double as a perfect wine to go with your Turkey. A fan favourite with all the team and our customers alike. Juicy, balanced, smooth and easy-drinking, perfect for a night by the fire.
https://barriquefinewines.com/product/prototype-lodi-zinfandel-2018-20-precision-wine-co-lodi
10. New Year’s Eve Seafood
Whether it’s a prawn starter or an all-out Monkfish Wellington, we recommend a creamy, nutty white wine that will absolutely sing with any seafood dish. For a showstopper bottle on the table, why not impress with a magnum of Oribitofrontal Cortex? But for a wine literally made for seafood, it has to be the Akemi, developed in partnership with a Sushi chef to perfectly complement his dishes; this is the one for us.
Orbitofrontal Cortex 2020, The Blank Bottle Winery, Western Cape (MAGNUMS)
11. The Family Reunion Crowd Pleaser
For those moments when the entire family descends, you can’t go wrong with a bottle (or two) of prosecco! We recommend the prosecco from Savian; it’s lively and light with floral aromas of acacia flower and a slight note of sage and mint; fruity aromas of grapefruit, pineapple, and golden apple, it’s sure to delight.
12. The ‘I Can’t Have Anymore Wine’ Beer
We can’t say we have ever had one of those moments but in an emergency, we recommend getting some Jute from Salt Beer Factory; crisp and citrusy, it’s refreshingly delicious.
And that is our Christmas mix! We hope you have a very merry Christmas! And don’t forget Business Desk readers have 15% off on all full price wine (sale and Voyage items not included) at Barrique Fine wines. This discount code ends January 1st so get in quick. Code: BusinessDesk15
