By the time the days get shorter and chillier and we actually start to think about putting the heating on for the first time in months, many of us have already been thinking about our Christmas plans. From October onwards, things really ramp up and we have to start doing things like taking Christmas shopping more seriously, ordering in a turkey, goose, chicken, or whichever roast will grace the table, what we’ll wear for the work Christmas party, and looking forward to enjoying one too many mulled wines with friends.
If there’s one thing we don’t want to worry about but should dedicate a little time to planning, it's choosing the wines that you’ll enjoy with your Christmas dinner. In many households, Christmas dinner is an extravagant affair though it is often run with military precision. Despite this, there are plenty of things that can go wrong between buying your ingredients and supplies and getting everything on the table, on time and cooked to perfection.
It might not be something you have thought about before, but if you can absolutely nail your Christmas dinner wine pairings then at best everyone will have a wonderful time and your choices will be greatly appreciated. At worst, the roast is burned, the veggies are overcooked, somehow the sprouts are still hard in the middle, and the dog stole the dessert. Even when everything that could go wrong does go wrong, at least you can enjoy some absolutely beautiful wines with your family while you order a takeaway or make a loaf’s worth of cheese on toast.
Starters
Starters tend to be light so they don’t spoil your appetite, so the wine you pair with it should be equally so. Sparkling white wines are a treat with a tasty starter, and won’t leave your guests feeling heavy and full after the first round. If you are serving richer starters in smaller portions then instead of reaching for the usual red, try something lighter like a still or sparkling rose wine.
Wine itself can be a perfectly acceptable first course for those who drink and want to save themselves for the main course. A lightly sweet sparkling wine such as an asti is a great choice as an aperitif. Wine cocktails are another lush idea to keep people in the seasonal spirit while the roast is in the oven.
The main course
Your main course Christmas wine pairing will depend entirely on what you will be serving. Traditional roast turkey has a reputation for being on the drier side, so if you’re worried yours will come out a little less juicy than you’d like, choose a red wine that is full of juicy berry flavours to wash it down. Something like pinot noir or a cru is also a good pairing for turkey.
Roast beef and lamb
If you are trying something different from your usual turkey and are branching out into roast beef then you’ll want to reach for a classic rich red. Something like an aged cabernet sauvignon varietal or a claret is gorgeous with roast beef, but chianti or shiraz are also divine. A tender, juicy beef roast needs a red with a bit more spice and robustness to bring out the smoky, roasted flavours and any of the wines mentioned above will do your dish proud and complement it perfectly.
Similarly with lamb, you want to reach for a richer red to go with these tender, juicy cuts. Our personal favourite with lamb is a smooth bottle of Spanish rioja. In fact, Spanish reds are some of the absolute best to pair with lamb. If your dish is leaning sweet, choose a spicy red, and if your dish is leaning spiced then choose a juicy red.
Vegetarian and vegan mains
These days it’s not unusual to need to cater for vegans and vegetarians at Christmas so you may need to pick up some suitable wine pairings to go with these dishes. Cheese dishes, whether mains or desserts, follow the general rule of harder cheeses going well with bold, high-tannin wines, and creamy, soft cheeses are better with something with higher acidity. Whites are great for savoury dishes with salty flavours, and richer dishes like mushroom-heavy nut roasts will shine when paired with a red.
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