Whether your Christmas Day menu is a riot of tradition (smoked salmon, turkey, Brussels sprouts and Christmas pudding…) or you opt for something entirely different, chance are you’ll be looking for the perfect drinks to pair with dishes throughout the day.
O’Briens Wine Director, Lynne Coyle Master of Wine has selected some gorgeous Christmas Day wines to team with each course. From beautiful bubbly to classy whites and the reds that will take you from your main course to your cheese board, the below will take the stress out of December 25th.
The welcome drink/aperitifs
What’s on the menu: Canapés - smoked salmon blinis, goat's cheese bites, a charcuterie board…
What to pour: Salasar Cremant De Limoux
Languedoc-Roussillon, France
WAS €21.95 NOW €18.95 (Part of our Christmas wine sale. Price valid until 01 Jan 2024.)
To get things off to a festive start, it has to be a bottle of bubbly. Champagne is a classic, of course, but for something a little different what about a cremant? This beauty is crisp and delicious with lemon and sweet almond notes and a hint of brioche. If you’re a ‘Champagne or nothing!’ host, Beaumont des Crayères Grande Réserve NV (WAS €38.95 NOW €34.95) is an elegant option.
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The Starters
What’s on the menu: Lobster, salmon, prawns
What to pour: Domaine de la Chézatte Sancerre
Loire Valley, France, 2022
WAS €26.95 NOW €21.95 (Part of our Christmas wine sale. Price valid until 01 Jan 2024.)
The classic Christmas Day starters tend to be quite rich, Lynne explains, so a crisp white wine will cut through that richness and completement them beautifully. This stylish French white is zesty and refreshing with citrussy lemon, a touch of melon and a delightful stony note. Or for something a touch sweeter, why not try Lingenfelder Bird Label Riesling (WAS €16.45 NOW €13.95)?
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The Main Event
What’s on the menu: Turkey, or other Christmas classics such as duck, goose, ham, and nut roasts.
What to pour: Domaine Begude Etoile
Languedoc-Roussillon, France, 2021
WAS €22.95 NOW €19.95 (Part of our Christmas wine sale. Price valid until 01 Jan 2024.)
To accompany your main course, Lynne suggests covering all bases with a white wine and a red wine. Domaine Begude Etoile is a luscious Burgundian-style white with rich pear, red apple and almond notes. For your red, Leyda Single Vineyard Cahuil Pinot Noir (WAS €18.95 NOW €15.45) is a lighter choice that’s great with turkey. If you want to go for a bolder red that will take you into the cheese course, there’s Rubiejo Barrica Ribera del Duero (WAS €20.95 NOW €16.95), a gorgeous Spanish red, or the Torbreck Old Vines GMS (WAS €22.95 NOW €17.95), a robust Australian red.
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The Cheese Course
What’s on the menu: Classic cheese board
What to pour: Smith Woodhouse 10-Year-Old Tawny
Porto E Douro, Portugal
WAS €34.95 NOW €31.95 (Part of our Christmas wine sale. Price valid until 01 Jan 2024.)
Lynne’s pick to accompany a cheese course is a good bottle of port and this 10-year-old option from Smith Woodhouse is a gem. It’s sweet and full-bodied with dried fruit flavours, hints of walnut and pecan and orange peel and dark chocolate notes. Or you could go for Gérard Bertrand Maury (WAS €25.45 NOW €22.95). It’s a fortified Grenache, rather than a port, but is full of bramble and dried fruits notes.
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The Desserts
What’s on the menu: Sherry trifle, Christmas pudding
What to pour: Proverbio Organic Prosecco
WAS €20.95 NOW €17.95 (Part of our Christmas wine sale. Price valid until 01 Jan 2024.)
The aromatic Proverbio Organic Prosecco is just the thing to accompany your array of sweet treats and revive lagging spirits after such a feast. Or if you’d prefer to keep things classic, opt for a sweet wine like Château Jany (€24.95). It’s an elegant Sauternes with saffron aromas and tropical fruit flavours and a nice acidity.
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