Christmas is all about choosing the tastiest food, the fanciest presents and, of course, the best wines. Whether you’re looking forward to a quiet, restrained festive period, or you plan to be partying December away, here are just some of good wines available to help you on your way.
Best wines at a bargain price
Proving that a good red wine doesn’t have to break the bank, here are a few good value wines to enjoy in front of the festive fireplace.
Ostorosbor Egri Pinot Noir 2016 is a bargain wine from Hungary, that can be found for around £6.50. It has hints of earthy forest floor and juicy red berries and offers a lighter red perfect for a turkey dinner on Christmas Day.
From north-eastern Italy comes Villa Vincini Il Gran Rosso Veneto 2017, which has dark plummy notes and a tang of black cherry. Its sweet fruity style is perfect for the cheese course.
Red wines with a deep flavour profile
For deeper, darker reds you could try Lirac Les Closiers, which comes from the southern most pint of the Rhone Valley. It’s powerful but polished, with notes of leather, black olive and blackberry.
Or, try Thymiopoulos Atma Xinomavro 2017, which comes from Macedonia in Greece. It’s made from the xinomavro grape and is bursting with flavours including cherry, mountain herbs and tangy raspberry. It’s perfect for a dinner party during party season.
More expensive reds include Scions of Sinai Swanesang Syrah South Africa 2017, which comes in below £35. It’s made by a new producer who sources grapes from old Cape vineyards, and gives a deep, rich profile of blackberry, liquorice, sage and black pepper.
For a special treat you could buy your loved one Le Vieux Donkon Chateuneuf-du-Pape, France 2015. A blend of the darkest fruit with a complex and fine-grained texture, this is a real treat.
Best white wines for Christmas
It’s not all about the red wines, of course. There are plenty of whites to enjoy too. A couple of great value options are Paul Mas Reserve Languedoc Blanc, France 2017, which is a blend of vermentino, Marsanne and grenache blanc grapes. It’s fresh, but complex with a mix of stone-fruit flavours.
Another from France, this time in the foothills of the Pyrenees, is Domaine de Lasserrre, 2015. It’s an excellent value sweet wine blend with tangy grapefruit and a tropical fruit finish. Try it with a wedge of stilton after dinner for maximum effect.
For a real treat enjoy Liquid Farm White Hill Chardonnay, 2015, made in Santa Rita Hills, California. It’s a well-balanced, beautifully made chardonnay with notes of subtle toastiness and white flowers wrapped around a lemony core. It retails for just under £40, making it ideal for festive fun times.
