Christmas is the biggest wine occasion of the year, and with so many different dishes on the table, choosing the right bottles can feel daunting. The good news is that a few versatile wines will cover almost everything. Here’s our guide to Christmas wine, from the first glass of fizz to the last drop of port.
How much wine do you need?
As a rough guide, plan on around half a bottle of wine per adult for Christmas dinner, plus fizz to start and something sweet or port to finish. Buying a few extra bottles is never a bad idea: they won’t go to waste.
Fizz to start
A glass of bubbles makes Christmas morning feel special. It’s also brilliant with smoked salmon, canapés and starters.
For Champagne, Taittinger Brut Réserve and Veuve Clicquot Yellow Label are both festive classics. For great value, Chapel Down Brut and Arthur Metz Crémant d’Alsace offer Champagne-style quality for less. For Buck’s Fizz, a Prosecco or Cava is ideal. See our party fizz guide.
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Taittinger Brut Réserve Non Vintage Champagne 750ml
Original price was: £43.00.£36.00Current price is: £36.00. -
Chapel Down Brut | English Sparkling Wine | 75cl Bottle
£29.95 -
Arthur Metz – Crémant d’Alsace Brut Cuvée 1904 Sparkling Wine (1 x 0,75L)
£14.20
The best wine with turkey
Turkey itself is quite mild, but Christmas dinner comes with rich trimmings: stuffing, pigs in blankets, cranberry sauce and gravy. You want a wine with good fruit, fresh acidity and soft tannins.
Red wine with turkey
- Pinot Noir: the classic choice, with red-berry fruit that loves cranberry sauce. Try Moillard Burgundy Pinot Noir or Nautilus Estate Pinot Noir.
- Beaujolais cru: juicy, bright and great value. Louis Jadot Fleurie is perfect.
- Rioja Reserva: smooth and spicy, ideal with stuffing and pigs in blankets. Beronia Rioja Reserva is a crowd-pleaser.
- Châteauneuf-du-Pape: rich and warming, a proper Christmas treat. Try M. Chapoutier La Bernardine.
White wine with turkey
A rich, rounded white works beautifully, especially with lighter meat and bread sauce. Louis Jadot Pouilly-Fuissé and Moillard Burgundy Chardonnay are both lovely.
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Moillard – Burgundy Pinot Noir, Premium waxed red wine, Oak Aged (1 x 0,75L)
£17.50 -
Beronia Rioja Reserva – Spanish Red Wine, 75cl Bottle
Original price was: £17.50.£15.93Current price is: £15.93. -
Louis Jadot Pouilly-Fuissé 75cl
£37.99
Alternative Christmas dinners
- Roast beef: Bordeaux, Malbec or Cabernet Sauvignon.
- Goose or duck: Pinot Noir or a ripe Rhône red.
- Roast ham: off-dry Riesling or Beaujolais.
- Salmon: white Burgundy or Pinot Noir.
- Nut roast: a Côtes du Rhône or a soft Merlot.
Pudding wines
Christmas pudding is rich, sweet and boozy, so it needs an even sweeter wine. Pedro Ximénez sherry is a match made in heaven: try González Byass Néctar PX. A tawny port is also lovely. For lighter desserts like trifle or Christmas cake, try Château Violet Sauternes. See our guide to sweet wines for Christmas.
Port and cheese
No British Christmas is complete without port and Stilton. Graham’s LBV is great value, while Graham’s 10 Year Old Tawny is wonderful with mature Cheddar. Read our guide to port.
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Gonzalez Byass Nectar Pedro Ximenez Sherry, 75cl
£21.50 -
Graham’s Late Bottled Vintage Port, 75cl, Packaging May Vary
Original price was: £17.20.£11.90Current price is: £11.90. -
Graham’s 10 Year Old Tawny Port, 75 cl, (packaging may vary) Wine
Original price was: £25.70.£22.75Current price is: £22.75.
Boxing Day
Leftovers call for easy-going wines. A juicy Beaujolais or a fruity Côtes du Rhône is perfect with cold cuts, pickles and bubble and squeak.
Christmas gifts
Wine makes a great present. Gift-boxed Champagne, port with a gift tube such as Graham’s The Tawny or a mixed case are all safe bets.
FAQs
What’s the best all-round wine for Christmas dinner?
A Pinot Noir or a Rioja Reserva will suit most of the table.
Red or white with turkey?
Either works. Light, fruity reds like Pinot Noir are the most popular, but a rich white Burgundy is just as good.
Warm up with our mulled wine recipe too.