Ah, Christmas – that magical time of the year for family, friends and some over-indulgence; TV classics, a lopsided tree and debates over how to cook a certain piece of meat or side dish (recipes available on request).

Whether you’re hosting a feast for many or curling up by the fire by yourself with a good
book, the dog and some cheese, we’ve come up with some drinks suggestions to bring a little cheer.

Kick-off!

We can’t condone drinking for breakfast, but to start the celebrations the go-to has always been some bubbles, with a range of choices from Prosecco to Champagne, or even a local Charmat.
This year, why not go for a wine having something of a resurgence – Cava. Made in the
same way as Champagne but from slightly warmer climes, our go-to puts you in the place of royalty and artists, with Perelada producing sparkling wines for the King of Spain, Salvador Dali and one of the biggest musical festivals in Spain.
Perelada Stars gives you fine bubbles and delicious green fruit flavours making it great to sip as you greet guests or with something like smoked salmon as a starter. For those that enjoy their fizz the acidity in this also sits nicely with roast Turkey, so you could stay with this all day long. 

Perelada, Cava ‘Stars’, Brut NV, Penedes, Spain £13.99

The Main Event 

Turkey, not my bag but it’s the big tradition, with all the trimmings, and for this you need to be careful not to overpower meat whilst still delivering some flavour bombs. To do this, you’ve got two ways to go – unless you’re sticking with the Cava!
Pinot Noir is a classic with enough cherry and spice to tackle both the turkey and those rich sides. Whilst we’d normally push an old school French number (there’s some delicious Xavier Gerard on the website) try branching out with The Crusher from California – having made wines for over 100 years the Sebastiani family have nailed this – vivid red in colour with crunchy flavours of cranberry, black cherry and a hint of smoke.
Pinot Noir, The Crusher, California, USA £18.50

White Burgundy is also a great match if you like that buttery style, with the rich notes
singing alongside a slow-roasted bird. However, step back from France once again and go local – Flint have produced a sublime Silex Blanc that is full of butter, brioche and
cinnamon spice notes that will bounce off the flavours in stuffing, red cabbage and turkey perfectly.
Flint Vineyard, Silex 2023, Earsham, Norfolk £23.99

For those that want a more robust meat you’re going to need to go big, picking something with a bit of muscle. Dolomite Cabernet Franc from Raats in South Africa is a blinder with venison, bringing black cherry, hints of chocolate and a delicious herbal note to complement the leaner meat.
Raats, Dolomite Cabernet Franc, Stellenbosch, South Africa £16.50

If you’re serving up beef then nothing is wrong with staying tried and tested. We recently had the pleasure of tasting the renewed range from Dona Paula and their malbec was flying, a solid winner at the group tasting. Produced from estate-grown, high-altitude grapes (everyone knows you need that altitude for great malbec) this wine is full of black fruits with hints of violet and spice.
Dona Paula, Estate Malbec, Mendoza, Argentina £15.99

If you want a real crowd pleaser and a touch of showmanship however, then simply go
BIG. The Rothschilds have been making wine for almost 200 years and one of their great
successes (let’s ignore Chateau Lafite for a moment) comes from their Rupert &
Rothschild range in South Africa. A blend of merlot, cabernet sauvignon and cabernet
Franc, the Classique 2020 has juicy flavours of raspberry, cherry and plum with some
background spice and oak making it a genuine crowd-pleaser whatever you’re serving, and thankfully we stock it in magnum format to create a spectacle on the table.
Rupert & Rothschild Classique 2020 MAGNUM £38.50

To finish you off…

Christmas pudding with its flaming brandy and rich fruits needs something that can pack a punch and Pedro Ximenez is the perfect little pairing. Thankfully for those adverse to the rich fruity pudding, PX also goes brilliantly with blue cheeses and strong cheddars, or even simply poured over an indulgent vanilla ice cream.
The team at Diatomists are an eccentric bunch but damn they make good juice. With a
nose packed full of aromas of figs, dark chocolate and roasted coffee their PX is smooth
and elegant with no cloying sweetness and end notes of nutmeg and clove. It’s perfect with dessert, or simply shared around the table post feast as it comes in a well sized half bottle.
Pedro Ximenez, Diatomists, Jerez, Spain £19.99

By the fire
For those still going before the obligatory snooze there is always a world of choice. Stick
with the R&R Classique as a fireside red or perhaps indulge in a glass of English Whisky
Sherry Cask – proud winner of the world’s best single malt title. First, The English age
Pedro Ximenez sherry in Norfolk and then they reuse the barrels (the PX is saved for their own Norfolk PX liqueur) to age their whisky, resulting in a liquid that gives dark fruits, almonds, vanilla and honeycomb flavours. A simply delightful sipper. If you want something a little more indulgent then they also produce a whisky cream – Norfolk Nog, indulgent and rich to finish off the day well.
English Whisky Sherry Cask £65.00
English Whisky Norfolk Nog £25.99

That’s a lot of suggestions, but often people like to indulge as they celebrate Chistmas.
Ultimately it’s not about finding the perfect match, drink something that excites you and
enjoy everything the holiday season has to offer.