Christmas is finally upon us again, and after surviving this fever dream of a year we all deserve some nice wine for the holiday. We decided to put together a fantasy breakdown of what our ultimate Christmas Day Wine List would look like.
No one likes a holiday hangover, so all of our picks are Organic or Biodynamic, and most have low or no sulphite additions, to give you options for Christmas morning until the last crumbs of your second helping of pudding.
We also recognise that every family and friend group has different traditions for how they do things on Christmas Day, so this is fully adaptable for whatever arrangement makes most sense for you and your loved ones. Cheers!
First thing:
1. Claus Preisinger, Ancestral St. Laurent Pet Nat
‘Bubbles Against Troubles’ – need we say more? The Ancestral Pet Nat by Austrian icon Claus Preisinger is delicate, approachable and nuanced. There’s bright floral and mineral notes, with just enough fruit to hold up against your eggs or pancakes if you’re a big breakfast person. And at just 10% alcohol, this is a stunning Blanc de Noir for kicking off Christmas Day right.
Mid-morning tipple, brunch optional:
2. Calcarius, Nu Litr Orange
Orange wine so early in the day is usually a bit much for us, but not with this Puglian beauty. Coming in at 11% alcohol, this is our anytime orange. Fresh, peachy fruit and florals, with a clean finish, this one is great with a late breakfast, or drunk on its own while the Christmas music plays.
With a light lunch, or sipped in the kitchen while prepping Christmas dinner:
3. Fontanasanta, Manzoni Bianco
Since we all know the main food event is coming later on, we don’t want to overdo it with lunch. This is why we’re sticking with the Manzoni Bianco, a Riesling/Pinot Blanc cross, for our early afternoon bottle. This classy northern Italian white has lovely aromatics of stone fruit and florals, then opens up to a generous palate of apricot, peach, minerals and nutty notes. Fresh enough to have on its own or with nibbles, but has the complexity to hold its own with your lunch fare.
For early evening with snacks and appetisers:
4. Kelley Fox Wines, Mirabai Pinot Noir
Kelley Fox has given us everything we want from a Pinot Noir in Mirabai. It has a soft, smooth texture and plenty of juicy fruit. There’s just enough ripe tannin to make this the perfect pairing for your first course of dinner, or for picking at pre-meal snacks while you wait for the roast to finish cooking. This one is a gluggable bottle for sure, so be careful your bubble members don’t conveniently ‘forget’ to refill your glass when they top up their own.
Dinner time:
5. Salco, Salcheto Nobile di Montepulciano
You have to go big for Christmas Dinner, and nothing ticks that box quite like a big Italian red. We particularly like the Salco, because it’s got something for everyone. Bright berries and dried fruit notes for those sticking with vegan/vegetarian or lighter meats, but warming, earthy, leathery notes and ripe tannins for those going for a heavier meat option as their main course. It’s perfectly balanced, and has a lovely long finish.
With a dessert or cheese course:
6. Fattoria di Sammontana, Vin Santo del Chianti 2011
Don’t be fooled, this post-meal wine isn’t fortified. Instead, the grapes are dried for a week or so, pressed, then aged for a total of 9 years: 4 of those are spent in small barrels, then another 5 in the bottle. It results in a lovely, bright, nutty, savoury profile that’s perfect as a digestif, with Christmas pudding, or with a cheese course. Serve it slightly chilled, portioned more like a cognac, port or whisky.
And there you have it. Christmas Day wine list of our dreams, sorted. Hopefully this can act as inspiration for your own Christmas Day, wherever you may be spending it. Sending you all wishes of a relaxing, healthy and safe holiday break to wrap up this peculiar year, and of a few gorgeous bottles of wine to make it a little more special.
Author: Sophia Tupy