From bubbles and nibbles to sweet wines perfect for mince pies, here is my guide for a perfect day of festive tipples!

The Pre-Dinner Bubbles:

Edouard Brun Blanc de Blancs Champagne - £38.95

In my opinion, any day of celebration should kick off with sparkling wine. And Christmas of all days calls for something extra special. We are huge advocates for the many excellent sparkling wine producers local to us in Sussex, but sometimes it just feels like a Champagne occasion! And for a toast, nothing beats the refreshing elegance of a Blanc de Blancs. Our pick comes from the family-run Edouard Brun, an excellent small producer we have a close relationship with.

100% Chardonnay from their vineyards in Premier Cru villages of the Montagne de Reims, aged for 24 months on lees to balance the crisp acidity with subtle richness. Aromas of citrus blossom and peels, with hints of richer stone fruit and shortbread biscuits. Dry but rounded and persistent palate, with lingering lemon curd notes on the elegant finish. Wonderful to drink alone or partner with smoked salmon or pates.

The Aperitif White:

Selection des Cognettes Muscadet Sevre-et-Maine Sur Lie 2022 - £16.75

Now for some pre-dinner nibbles, and if you fancy something other than fizz, you'll need a clean and elegant white wine to partner your nibbles - whether you've gone all out making canapes or prefer to just enjoy some nice nuts and olives, our great Muscadet is an all-rounder! Made by the Perraud family, this is a wine we import directly and have worked with for a number of years. This is their classic Sur Lie Muscadet, hand-harvested from their organic vineyards, fermented with native yeast and then aged 8 months on the lees.

Greater aromatic expression than many Muscadets, with white peach and acacia alongside typical citrus and sea spray notes. The palate has is refreshing and zesty, perfect for those salty snacks (and perhaps an oyster if you're so inclined!)

The Main Course Red: 

Julia Kemper Aragonez Dao 2013 - £24.50

I always favour a medium-bodied, smooth red with some savoury character for Christmas dinner and this Portuguese beauty will pair excellently with all of the classic main courses as well as veggie and other alternative choices. Aragonez (aka Tempranillo in Spain) from Julia Kemper's organic vineyards tucked between mountains in the central Dao region, aged for a significant period in both tank and bottle before release. It is such a treat to drink good aged wines, and this gives you an opportunity to enjoy the lovely softness of maturity without a bank-breaking pricetag.

A deep and mellow aroma of blackberries and Victoria plums with hints of leather and baking spices. The palate has a beautifully velvety texture, the tannins perfectly softened by age giving it a delightful smoothness without it coming across as jammy in the slightest - the acidity in the finish is perfectly pitched to refresh the palate between bites!

The Showstopper White:

Walter Massa Colli Tortonesi Timorasso Derthona 2022 - £30.49

The key to picking the right white for your Christmas main course is to choose a wine that balances richness with precision and freshness - this is why White Burgundy is so often the go-to choice, and we have delicious options along these lines in abundance! I have opted for something a little different - this is a white from Piemonte in Italy, made from a grape called Timorasso. Walter Massa took over his family estate in the 1970s, which included some of the world's last remaining planting of Timorasso, and the outstanding wines he has made in the years since have taken the wine world by storm leading the variety to be seen as the region's finest.

Powerful and complex nose of dried apricots, candied peel and stem ginger. Full-bodied and very persistent palate with more yellow and orange fruits, stony minerality, spice and cedar notes. 

The Cheese Course:

Eirados Fine Ruby Port NV - £14.50

The classic cheese pairing, suited especially well to Cheddar and similar hard salty cheeses, is a nice bit of Port. When pairing with cheese I recommend going for a Ruby style (this includes Vintage and Late Bottled Vintage) rather than the more subtle Tawny which can be overwhelmed by the stronger flavours.

From Quinta Santa Eufemia on the banks of the Douro, the Eirados Fine Ruby displays typical rich black and red fruit alongside chocolate and prune notes from 9 months ageing in barrel.

Pudding and Mince Pies:

Toro Albala Don PX 2021 375ml - £22.50

Christmas pudding is one of the hardest desserts to pair wine with, it's intense toffee-like sweetness simply overpowering most sweet wines. Pedro Ximenez is the answer! This Andalucian nectar has a texture like syrup and the sweetness to match the stickiest of Christmas puddings.

Toro Albala make some of the finest examples of this style and the 2021 displays a heady aroma of ripe fig, butterscotch and raisins. Intensely sweet, with a delicious lingering finish.

Barbeito 5 Year Old Malvasia Reserva Madeira 500ml - £18.50

Last on the Christmas day agenda is a few good mince pies (smothered in brandy butter for me!), which are paired perfectly with a lovely Madeira. The dried fruit and nut flavours in the mincemeat are mirrored beautifully in this lovely Malvasia from Barbeito. Malvasia is the sweetest style of Madeira, rich in dried citrus peel, toffee and toasted nut character - very festive!