With Christmas morning a mere two weeks away, Santa probably has a pretty good idea of who will land on his naughty and nice lists. However, the thing that interests us even more is the question of which wines might make it onto his list! From sparkling celebrations to the perfect dinner pairing, there are lots of options to choose from this holiday. Thankfully, with a little help from Saint Nicholas, we’ve got the perfect selection below.
Champagne to start your celebration
Every great holiday party needs something sparkling to toast with! To kick off this years’ holiday celebration, we recommend you pick up a Blanc de Noirs from Maison Fleury. Fleury is located in the Côte de Bars, a region that is actually closer to Burgundy than it is to Reims. Being so close to Burgundy, winemakers of the Côte de Bar often take a Burgundian approach to winemaking (for example, single varietal wines in lieu of blends). Amongst its claims to fame is the fact that Fleury was the very first Champagne producer to convert its vineyard to biodynamic, all the way back in 1989!
“Christmas in a bottle”
If the worlds’ best winemakers found a way to bottle up all the joy and magic of Christmas, we’re betting that the bottle would almost certainly come from Alsace, a place so synonymous with Christmas that its markets welcome over 2 million visitors per year. From this region, you really can’t go wrong with the Grand Cru Furstentum from Bott-Geyl. Composed of 100% Pinot Gris, this full-bodied wine comes from an iconic Alsatian Grand Cru and features a plethora of interesting aromas like jammy fruit and honey. Sharing a bottle from a great Alsace Grand Cru like Furstentum will transport you and your family to a land full of sprawling markets, half-timbered buildings, and bright Christmas decorations.
A classic wine to impress the family
One of our favourite parts of holiday wine shopping is picking out that extra-special “classic” wine that you may not typically be willing to spend on throughout the year. This year, we’re going with a magnum of Château Haut-Bailly! Château Haut-Bailly is one of iDealwine’s absolute favourites, and we consider it one of Pessac-Léognan’s best-kept secrets! The château’s 2020 vintage was rated in the high 90s by multiple major wine publications, including Decanter, James Suckling and La Reveu du vin de France.
A jolly pairing for Christmas dinner
Christmas dinner is one of the most important aspects of the holiday, and as all wine-lovers know, a good dinner remains incomplete until it features a good pairing. However, with so many different dishes at Christmas, we must choose something versatile! This year, think about giving the spotlight to the Premier Cru Beaune les Bressandes from Rapet Père and Fils! This wine pairs well with both turkey and duck thanks to an elegant balance between acidity and sweetness. It goes particularly well with saucy dishes, of which there will likely be many on this special day!
The delectable dessert
After a long hard day of eating, celebrating, and cosying up by the fire, you’ve arrived at the grand finale – dessert! One of the most popular types of wine saved for Christmas Day is Port– and why not? Powerful, yet sweet, these wines are simply built for special occasions. Amongst the favourite Port producers here at iDealwine is Quinta Do Noval, whose 2021 vintage should pair wonderfully with chocolatey deserts and flavourful cheeses!
Bonus: The Night Cap
The extended family and friends have left, the kids are tucked in bed, and there’s just a little time left to go on this oh-so-jolly night. This is the perfect occasion for a special night cap to finish off the holiday. Here, you really can’t go wrong with A Tale of Winter from Glenmorangie. Featuring a beautifully designed Christmas-themed label, this excellent Scotch Whisky was crafted with spiced winter beverages as its inspiration. With notes of cinnamon, ginger, marmalade and caramel swirling around in the air, it represents the perfect end to a perfect night.
