Festive cheers
From English fizz to velvety fortified wines, our drinks editor James Viner has something to suit every palate. Read on to discover his specially curated list of ten exquisite bottles to elevate every festive toast…
If ever there were an excuse to open something special, it’s at Christmas. After a busy autumn of press tastings, I’ve chosen ten standout bottles for gifting, parties, elegant entertaining and celebrating the year’s highlights this upcoming festive season.
Expect brilliant English sparkling wine, classic Champagne, and indulgent sweet and fortified wines – all well-suited to the Christmas table or a year-end toast. All bottles are 75 cl unless otherwise noted. Cheers!
Sparkling Wines:
1. Specially Selected Méthode Cap Classique Brut NV South Africa (12%) – Aldi, £9.99
After a top-notch sparkler under £10? Aldi’s South African ‘Méthode Cap Classique’ (traditional, bottle-fermented) earns my vote for the best bargain. Refreshing, vibrant, and thoroughly satisfying, this real-deal bargain sparkler deserves your festive attention. Incredible value.
2. 2021 The Society’s Exhibition Organic Cava Gran Reserva Spain (12%) – The Wine Society, £12.50/£63 for 6
Celebrate with this complex, organic, wallet-friendly, crowd-pleasing traditional-method vintage Cava from Bodegas Sumarroca. It was given 30 months on its lees and delivers biscuity depth, citrus zest, and fresh green apple notes. Perfect with shellfish, tapas and salted almonds. Suitably dry and very appetising. Bravo, The Wine Society!
3. Domaine des Hauts Perrays Crémant de Loire Brut Rosé NV France (12.5%) – Lea & Sandeman, £15.95
Traditional method Crémant de Loire and de Bourgogne bubbly were both created in 1975 and so celebrate their fiftieth anniversaries this year. This refined, just-stained-pink boutique
Crémant de Loire blends Cabernet Franc — a parent of Cabernet Sauvignon — with Chenin Blanc and Grolleau. Notes of red fruit, cassis leaf, melon, and apple make it ideal with shellfish or smoked salmon canapés. So impressive all round.
4. 2020 M&S Rockferne English Sparkling Brut W. Sussex (12%) – Marks & Spencer, £28
Crafted by Nick Lane for West Sussex’s Roebuck Estates, this stylish, Chardonnay- and Pinot-led fizz is creamy, complex, and vibrant, with a fine mousse. It lingers endearingly, too. Eggs Benedict, oysters, sashimi, or fish and chips, anyone? A standout homegrown vintage sparkling delight.
5. Ayala Brut Majeur Champagne NV France (12.5%) – Waitrose, £38 (on offer at £28, 3.12.25-1.1.26)
From a revitalised, Bollinger-owned house, this sophisticated, seamless multi-cru Champagne blends 55% Chardonnay, 30% Pinot Noir, and 15% Pinot Meunier. It’s a delectable apéritif and that December/New Year’s £10 discount is magnifique! Bonjour omelettes, oysters, white fish, shellfish, and poultry. Aged 36 months on lees; classy and celebratory; the tenner off from 3 December to 1 January is not to be sniffed at. Classy stuff. Watch out, Bolly!
Sweet & Fortified Wines:
6. Tesco Finest Fino Sherry NV Spain (15%) – Tesco, £7.50, 37.5 cl
Don’t overlook bone-dry, food-friendly, umami-rich, revivifying Fino sherry. Piquant and sea-breezy, this scrumptious González Byass bottling bursts with rich flavours of yeasty Marmite, sourdough, apple skin, hay, and almonds. Serve chilled with jamón ibérico, Manchego, mince pies, smoked salmon, sushi, tortilla and tapas. A very useful, tasty half-bottle. Keep refrigerated and consume within three days.
7. Morrisons The Best 10-Year-Old Aged Tawny Port NV Portugal (20%) – Morrisons, £14 offer (down from £15.50, until 1.1.26)
From Symington Family Estates, this accomplished barrel-aged tawny port offers roasted nuts, macerated dried fruit, butterscotch, and toffee. It will keep well for weeks once opened and stored in a cool place. Enjoy slightly chilled with mince pies, Cheddar, Stilton, Comté, crème brûlée, or Christmas cake. Delicious!
8. 2022 Errázuriz Late Harvest Sauvignon Blanc Chile (13%) – Vinvm, Noble Green Wines, Drinks Direct, Evington’s, £9.45-£10.49, 37.5 cl
A lip-smacking, cool-climate Chilean dessert wine, brimming with seductive apricot, honey, papaya, and glittering acidity. Heavenly with blue cheese or panna cotta. Plenty to contemplate, so pour another glass and do just that.
9. Zuccardi Malamado Fortified Malbec NV Argentina (18%) – Simply Wines Direct, Hic!, N.D. John, Momentum Wines, Vinvm, £16.99-£20.00
Malbec and port enthusiasts will love this fascinating, sweet, silky, lightly fortified, oak-aged Argentinian gem. Think figs, ripe plums, raisins, spice, toasted almonds, and quince. One for blue cheese, chocolate desserts, and pâtés. Genius.
10. Bodegas Hidalgo-La Gitana ‘Triana’ Pedro Ximénez NV Sherry Spain (15%) – Tanners, Majestic, £18.50-£19.50
Nab this viscous, unctuous, raisined, mahogany-black, sweet sherry made from thin-skinned Pedro Ximénez grapes. It’s a luscious textbook bullseye of black treacle, coffee, dates, liquorice, molasses, prunes, raisins, spice and toffee. Drizzle over chocolate/vanilla ice cream, or serve chilled with Christmas pudding and pecan pie. Once opened and stoppered, it keeps beautifully for months in a cool, dark place. ¡Salud!
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