Christmas is just around the corner, and if you’re yet to make a list of wines for festive merriment (and check it twice), our edit of the best Christmas wines for 2024 is here to help.
Not only is Christmas a time when friends and family get to let off steam and enjoy a glass or two more than they might do at other points of the year, but the entire day also revolves around food - all of which can be elevated with a delicious wine pairing.
That said, choosing a wine to suit the tastes of everyone at the dinner table is a task akin to second-guessing an Eastenders Christmas special plot twist. So before we take you through our pick of the 10 bottles worth getting in for December 25, here are a few things to consider:
What to consider when buying Christmas wine
What are your food pairings? Think carefully about the dishes you’ll be serving this Christmas and try to pair your wines accordingly. If it’s a traditional roast turkey dinner, a crisp white Chardonnay or versatile Cabernet Sauvignon will do the trick, while a festive roast ham calls for fruitier Rieslings or Pinot Noirs. Need something for your famous Christmas pud? Sounds like the perfect excuse to crack open a dessert wine.
Ensure variety and versatility: No two people have the same wine preferences, but when it comes to the simple question of whether you and you’re guests are white or red drinkers, try to provide an option for both that’ll go with each course.
It’s a celebration: Beyond your reds and whites for the table, Christmas wouldn’t be Christmas if a cork isn’t being popped. A bottle of fizz is a Christmas must-have and there’s an option for every budget. For another Christmas crowd-pleaser, get some mulled wine on the hob, but don’t waste expensive reds on this – cheap bottles or dedicated mulling wine will suffice.
Best Christmas wines at a glance
Wynns The Siding Cabernet Sauvignon
Best for: versatility
A distinguished red wine from South Australia’s Coonawarra region, The Siding Cabernet Sauvignon offers an enticing mix of ripe blackcurrant, plum and eucalyptus aromas. Perfect for Christmas feasting, the palate is rich and full-bodied with layers of black fruit, integrated oak and well-structured tannins. Cabernet Sauvignons are especially versatile reds that pair well with a wide range of dishes, but particularly roast meats and poultry, and this bottle is just the ticket for Christmas.
Buy now £15.50, Tesco
Catena Malbec 2020/21
Best: Malbec
This remarkable Argentine wine boasts a deep, inky purple colour that sets the stage for the vibrant aromas that burst from every glass. On the nose, there’s an elegant mix of blackberry, plum, violet and subtle hints of oak, while the palette offers an exceedingly velvety experience abundant in dark fruits, vanilla and spice. Malbecs are a popular choice for food pairings including turkey, beef or lamb, as well as all those roasted root vegetable trimmings. They’re also known for having broad appeal, making this bottle a safe choice when you have guests with varying wine preferences.
Buy now £15.99, Majestic
Muga Rioja Reserva 2018/19
Best: Rioja
This hearty red has spent 36 months maturing in oak casks before further resting in the bottle - and now, it’s ready to make its debut on your Christmas dining table. Each smooth and supple mouthful bears juicy nots of blackberry mingling with vanilla, coffee and a hint of spice for balance. Best paired with lamb or red meat.
Buy now £22.99, Majestic
19 Crimes Chard
Best: Chardonnay
19 Crimes Chardonnay is not like other Chardonnays. There’s a distinct butteriness to this white wine that makes it especially moreish in the winter months. Beyond being a great white for Christmas dinner staples including turkey, ham and seafood starters, the unique creaminess is well paired to sides like cauliflower cheese and bread sauce. As an added bonus, this Australian winery takes its name from the 19 offences that could lead to British convicts being exiled down under in the 18th and 19th centuries, telling a story on every bottle which, like a Christmas cracker joke, makes for great dinner table reading.
Buy now £9.50, Tesco
Waitrose Blueprint German Dry Riesling
Best: Riesling
Rieslings are celebrated for their remarkably crisp acidity and vibrant fruitiness, and Waitrose Blueprint German Dry Riesling perfectly embodies this balance. Dry and elegant, it’s made from specially selected grapes from the slopes of Germany’s higher Mosel valley. There’s a natural sweetness to this wine that’ll provide light relief to the stodge of a Christmas feast, with a lively and invigorating character that’ll uplift the palate even after you’ve unbuckled your belt.
Buy now £7.99, Waitrose
Inama Vigneti di Foscarino Soave Classico
Best: refreshing white
Like panforte, pandoro and panettone, many of the best things about Christmas hail from Italy. Now, add this wine to that list.
Inama Vigneti di Foscarino Soave Classico encapsulates the essence of Italian wine culture and offers an excellent way to elevate Christmas celebrations. Its balanced acidity and aromatic profile make it a great companion for diverse festive menus, with a fresh and crisp character that cleanses the palate between bites.
With notes of white flowers, citrus and stone fruits, this bottle boasts a delightful bouquet to complement the holiday spirit.
Buy now £24.99, Waitrose
Roberto Sarotto 'Campo dell'Olio' Gavi di Gavi DOCG 2021/22
Best: Gavi di Gavi
Elegant and refined, this immaculate bottle of Gavi di Gavi has December 25th written all over it. A refreshing, vibrant character and zesty acidity has the ability to cut through the heaviness of Christmas dinners, while a crowd-pleasing palate of green apple and lemon zest will ensure even that wine snob neighbour’s nose remains downturned.
Buy now £17.99, Majestic
Gusbourne Brut Reserve Twenty Twenty
Best: Sparkling Wine
There are all manner of bubbles vying for your Christmas selection, but for this particular celebration, why not showcase the best of British? England's Gusbourne Estate is renowned for producing high-quality English wines in the heart of the Kent countryside, and this bottle is a testament to just how far this country’s sparkling offering has come. Its Brut Reserve Twenty Twenty is particularly well suited to winter get-togethers – bright gold in colour with red fruit aromas, pastry notes, cinnamon and spice.
Buy now £45.00, F&M
The King's Sticky End Noble Sauvignon Blanc
Best: dessert wine
Luxuriously sweet, this year’s Christmas pudding, mince pies and fruit cakes won’t be complete unless they're accompanied by a glass of The King's Sticky End Noble Sauvignon Blanc. Don’t worry, the “Sticky End” is not foreboding your post-meal fate, but rather the honeyed nature of the drink that comes from its late-harvested, botrytis-affected Sauvignon Blanc grapes. With a captivating bouquet of tropical fruits and marmalade, it strikes a balance between sweetness and crisp acidity that complements the richness of Christmas desserts without being overwhelming.
Buy now £13.50, Ocado
