The festive season is almost upon us and that means getting together with friends and family to indulge in great food and (of course) wine. Here are some of our favourite wines that we believe will complement your Christmas and New Year festivities this year.

Aperitif

All good festivities should start with a glass of palate cleansing bubbles,  and Italy is a great place to start with our organic Terre dei Buth Spumante NV, £13.95 a bottle and a real crowd pleaser.  Floral with luscious citrus fruits on the palate this is perfect with a smoked salmon & scrambled eggs brunch, but also as an aperitif with nibbles before lunch.  If you’re looking for something more luxurious, our Champagne Delavenne Brut Tradition Grand Cru, at £35.95 bottle is truly outstanding, with flavours of lemon, brioche and apple. This is made with minimum intervention, meaning no chemical fertilisers, no herbicides, and hand harvested grapes. The best quality and value Grand Cru Champagne you can buy.  For something completely different, try our Niepoort White Rabbit   £9.95 (half bottle) either chilled over ice, or with ice and tonic water with a slice of orange garnish for a longer drink.

Starters

As the starters are served we would definitely recommend a glass of Sancerre Hippolyte at £19.95 a bottle, an outstanding Sauvignon Blanc that is perfect if you are serving fish, shellfish or salads.  Alternatively, the classic and absurdly popular Quinta do Ermizio Chin Chin Vinho Verde at £12.95 a bottle is all zesty citrus and stone fruits and at 11.5% ABV a lighter way to start the meal.

For reds, try this Greek Diamantakis Diamantopetra Syrah and Mandilaria blend at £15.95 a bottle, a wonderful medium bodied wine of blackberry and sweet spice. Or the Domaine des Mailloches Bourgueil Vieilles Vignes at £12.95 a bottle is a wonderfully gluggable Loire Valley Cabernet Franc full of red berry fruits and a hint of liquorice.  Both of these are perfect with any meat or cheese based starters.

Main course

A hearty meal deserves a hearty wine: this Maison Sichel Margaux 2018 vintage  at £24.99 is a classic. A wine with impeccable provenance (declassified from one of the top Margaux Chateaux) showcasing rich black berry fruits that are perfect for all roasted meats and vegetable dishes.  Another favourite Bordeaux is our organic Chateau Bienveillance  at £13.95 with blackcurrant and dark cherry notes on the nose and palate.  We think this one is the best under £20 Bordeaux you can buy!

Full bodied white wines love a Christmas meal.  Incredibly versatile, they pair brilliantly with all white meats, game, hams and roasted vegetarian dishes.  We particularly love the Australian Flametree Chardonnay  at £17.95 a bottle from Margaret River. Notes of citrus, pear and red apple with a subtle hint of vanilla custard on the finish mean we can’t get enough of this wine.  The Badenhorst Secateurs Chenin Blanc  at £13.95 a bottle is one of South Africa’s finest and in our opinion one of the best bang-for-buck white wines we’ve ever sold.  The complex flavours include white peach, nectarine and pink grapefruit smothered in clotted cream.

Burgundy is always a huge hit with festive feasts.  These wonderfully complex wines are designed to complement richly flavoured foods. Domaine Fournillon Bourgogne Blanc at £13.95 and Domaine Fournillon et Fils Bourgogne Epineuil at £14.95 a bottle are amazing value Chardonnay and Pinot Noir respectively.  If you feel like pushing the boat out, then go for this Domaine Maréchal, Pommard at £49.95 with complex and earthy red berry fruits and delicate aromatic spices, or our Christian Bellang Meursault, at £39.95 with ripe pear and red apple followed by hazelnut and almond from the oak ageing.

Dessert

The Stanton & Killeen Rutherglen Muscat dessert wine at £15.95 for a 375ml bottle is aged for up to four years before release and has delicate floral notes of crushed rose petal and orange blossom with Turkish delight & honeyed raisins on the palate.  Perfect with Christmas puddings and brandy butter or sticky toffee pudding with vanilla ice cream.  If you prefer your fortified wines a little less sweet, the Barbeito Boal 5 Year Old Reserva Madeira at £14.95 is medium sweet with hints of dried fruit and honey and pairs well with poached pears, figs or a ginger cake.  For a luxurious treat, Osborne Venerable VORS Sherry  at £69.95 is all intense raisins, dates, caramel and dark chocolate notes.

Cheese board

Port with cheese is a match made in heaven; our Niepoort Crusted Port at £29.95 is stewed plums, black cherry, raisins and candied orange peel.  It’s a wine that loves a Stilton or a ripe gooey Brie in equal measure.  Their LBV half bottles at £12.95 are also outstanding value.

Digestif

As you leave the table, relax with a Domaine Laguille VS Armagnac  at £32.95 a bottle.  Made on a family estate in Gascony with a rich heritage, this is two years oak aged with a rounded, candied citrus fruit character.  Cigar? We sell those too… Pop in the shop or see our website for details.

Looking for something different or another recommendation? Ask us! Whatever you choose, we hope it makes your festive season an enjoyable one!