The last post was all about bubbly for the holidays and today, we are talking about the best wines for your Christmas dinner. Let’s get into it!
Christmas dinner is all about the food and usually, it’s food that we only have once a year and indulge in on that day. There are dishes that have been passed down from generation to generation and then some new favourites that pop up year after year.
But we would definitely be missing out if we didn’t discuss the best wines for your Christmas dinner. And like the food, there are wines that appear year after year. This year, we wanted to shake things by getting some excellent wine recommendations for you to consider. Whether you are having ham, turkey, beef or duck, we’ve got fantastic recommendations for you thanks to Mikaela Denbroke, Marketing Manager of Gosling’s Bermuda.
“For appetizers, we always recommend a grassy, zesty New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc. Our Brancott Estate Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc 2020 out of Marlborough, New Zealand, offersthe perfect blend of herbaceous notes with springy acidity and is a great match for your seafood apps, smoked salmon and antipasto dishes.”
For the main courses, Ms Denbrook said she could “go on and on” for recommendations, but stuck to four options to get you in the festive mood.
“Roast Duck can be enjoyed with both a white and a red wine. We like our La Crema Monteray Pinot Gris 2018 to add some richness to your dish as well as a fruity component to match with a sweeter, red sauce. Our favorite red with Roast Duck is always going to be Pinot Noir, such as Sonoma-Cutrer Russian River Ranches 2018 for a little bit of spicy depth or go with a classic French pinot noir like Louis Latour 2020 for rich cherry notes and a light acidity to balance the fatty juicy texture of the duck.”
Ms Denbrook said Christmas Ham can be brought to life with a bright, fruity red, such as her favourite for this year, Henry-Fessy Beaujolais Villages Vielle’s Vignes 2020. She described it as a light tannin with a supple texture to enhance the saltiness of the ham and said the sweet aromas of this fruity wine will “delight the palate”.
For those who prefer beef for Christmas, Cabernet Sauvignon is the top pick.
“From tender roasts and briskets to hearty steaks and firm fillets, our favorite choice is the Duckhorn Decoy Blue Label Cabernet Sauvignon 2019. Rich, lush, and firm, this high alcohol, full bodied red can cut through the biggest of steaks and still leave you wanting more.”
Last but not least, Christmas wouldn’t be Christmas without roast turkey and Ms Denbrook said while turkey can pair with a variety of wines, she has one in mind.
“Our go-to wine is a Rhone Red: Chateau Mont-Redon Gingondas Reserve 2018. This wine shows beautiful notes of rosemary, licorice, fennel, and blackberry with an elegantly long finish. Take your time to savor your turkey with this perfect red.”
As far as dessert goes, Ms Denbrook suggested pairing fruity desserts with Veuve Clicquot Yellow Label NV Champagne.
“This wine has more pinot noir than most typical champagnes, which gives it body and a lovely fruity nose. Perfect for a crumbly tart, that third piece of Cassava pie or just a bowl of warm berries”.
And for Panettone, she suggests Bottega Gold Spumante Prosecco DOC.
“The sweet, fizzy notes in the prosecco pair perfectly with the candied fruits and raisins and the metallic gold design will compliment any holiday décor.”
Finally, Christmas cake can be enjoyed with Dow’s Fine Tawny Port as the sweet almond, nutty notes in this port will complement a dense, treacle cake.
I hope this post was super helpful in helping you find the best wines for your Christmas dinner! If you’d like to enjoy any of these wines for Christmas, check them out at Gosling’s Bermuda. All the pricing is below.
PS. Make sure you enter my Bubbly Bundle Giveaway! Click here to enter.
Pricing:
Brancott Estate Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc 2020 $23.00
La Crema Monteray Pinot Gris 2018 $31.25
Sonoma-Cutrer Russian River Ranches Pinot Noir 2018 $54.00
Louis Latour Pinot Noir 2020 $31.75
Henry-Fessy Beaujolais-Villages Vielles Vignes 2020 $20.75
Duckhorn Decoy Napa Cabernet Sauvignon Blue Label 2019 $43.75
Château Mont-Redon Gingondas Reserve 2018 $34.50
Veuve Clicquot Yellow Label NV Champagne $79.50
Bottega Gold Spumante Prosecco DOC $35.25
Dow’s Fine Tawny Port $25.75
I‘m Mikaela, an island girl in Bermuda who’s obsessed with sharing gourmet food, fantastic wine and luxe experiences. If you love all things food and wine, click here to join my email list to get awesome recommendations.