Ho, ho, ho it’s that time of year again. The fairy lights are twinkling, the decorations are glittering and we’re planning what to stuff our faces with on the big day.
Trying to match wine with your Christmas dinner can be a difficult task, there are so many different flavours to think about. Not only have you got the centrepiece, be it turkey, lamb, nut roast or veggie pie, but also roast potatoes, honeyed carrots, Yorkshire puddings, gravy, cranberry sauce … the list goes on.
Instead of stumbling down the supermarket aisles, trying to figure out which wine goes with what, we’ve done the hard work for you. We’ve paired each of our award-winning canned wines with your Christmas dinner favourites.
If you’re cooking up fish, turkey, nut roast or a sweet potato and feta vegetarian pie, our Gruner Veltliner is the best choice. Its crisp acidity, bright citrus and warming pepper spice is ideal with lighter meats, but also pairs deliciously with gravy and all the trimmings (whose taste impact we often neglect when choosing wine and food pairings).
If you'd like something with more punch, our Viognier is barrel-aged and packed full of stone fruits, so will stand up nicely to roast turkey and all the trimmings. However, the Viognier will really sing with a cheeseboard. Cheese like ripe Brie, creamy Gruyere, or a mature Cheddar will work very well.
Our Old Vine Garnacha is the perfect accompaniment to beef and lamb, but also that festive favourite: the mince pie, if you want an afternoon treat. This full-bodied Spanish red has been aged for four years creating a smooth and spicy palette, brimming with chocolate-coated cherries, cassis and vanilla warmth.
If you love lamb, beef and other ‘big meats’, but aren’t a red wine enthusiast, our Grenache Rose is an excellent choice. It has the zippy acidity to cut through the fat and richness, backed by flavours of ripe berries, juicy orange citrus and wild strawberries leaving you with a full, fruity food wine.
The best all-rounder for Christmas is our Austrian St Laurent, a grape variety similar to Pinot Noir but with darker fruit and more rustic tannins. It's an ace red with roast poultry or vegetarian Christmas dinners, but will also stand up to the heavier meats, gravy and trimmings thanks to the ripeness of the fruit. It's a real star!
Our awarding-winning canned wines have each been specially selected to showcase the best of their variety. They each have balanced acidity meaning they will all pair beautifully with Boxing Day cold cuts or a charcuterie board. Read more about our favourite canned wine and cheese pairings here.
Of course the added benefit of canned wine is that each guest can have their own! So no matter how many people your Christmas dinner is catering for or who prefers white, red or rose, everyone can have their favourite with our Tasting Selection. That’s one less squabble to worry about (you can save your energy for when somebody cracks out the boardgames).
Even more, we've got Christmas crackers too! Our luxurious Christmas crackers make the ideal stocking filler for wine lovers and a stylish addition to your Christmas dinner! Including six award-winning wines and six decorative crackers in two shades of blue, this Cracker Selection is a unique wine gift you haven't seen before. Read more about our Christmas crackers here.
Sample our award-winning canned wine yourself, or give one of our wine and chocolate gift packs for a luxurious present.
By Niamh Harkett & Ben Franks
