Victoria Bubb, WineGB Ambassador, English wine specialist and Director of Elizabeth Rose Wines, shares her top picks for the festive season.
Christmas brings people together over good food, festive cheer and, of course, a few bottles of wine! We can't think of anything more perfect for the festive season than English wine.
From traditional-method sparkling wines that rival Champagne to beautifully crafted still wines from vineyards across the country, there's an English wine for every festive moment.
Choosing English wine this Christmas is also a lovely way to support British craftsmanship, independent producers and the talented winemakers putting our vineyards on the map.
Whether you're looking for something special to open on Christmas morning, the perfect bottle to accompany your turkey or a crowd-pleasing selection to enjoy over the festive period, I've put together some of my favourite English wine recommendations to help you plan your Christmas wine list.
1. Start Christmas Day with a Little Sparkle
Is it even Christmas without a glass of exceptional fizz?
If Bucks Fizz is your tipple of choice on Christmas morning, my recommendation would be Giffords Hall Brut Reserve NV. It's a traditional method wine from Suffolk, made from non-traditional grapes, that pairs beautifully with a splash of fresh orange juice.
If you prefer something classic to kick off proceedings, then my go-to for Christmas morning is Saffron Grange Classic Cuvée. Made in the traditional method, it's the perfect alternative to Champagne, only from Essex. 24 months on its yeast lees give it great texture and complexity.
2. The Main Event: English Wines for Christmas Lunch
Pairing English wine with turkey and all the trimmings
For the big Christmas lunch, I'd stick with two classics: Chardonnay and Pinot Noir. Both are wonderfully versatile and work particularly well alongside roast turkey, rich gravy and all the trimmings.
For the white wine lovers:
- Simpsons Roman Road Chardonnay 2023: A fuller-bodied oaked Chardonnay with a Burgundian feel. Perfect if you enjoy a richer, more rounded white wine.
- Abingworth Cloud Chorus Chardonnay 2025: A lighter, fresher option with a Chablis-inspired style. Ideal if you prefer something with a little more freshness.
For the red wine lovers:
- Simpsons Rabbit Hole Pinot Noir 2024: The richer of the two options, offering a little more weight and depth.
- Balfour Luke's Pinot Noir 2025: A lighter, fruitier style with lovely red fruit character. Very easy drinking and a great choice for those who prefer a softer red.
You really can't go too far wrong with English Chardonnay or Pinot Noir when it comes to Christmas turkey.
3. Something Different for Your Festive Cheese Board
For cold meats, cheeses and relaxed evenings. Think leftover turkey sandwiches, cranberry sauce, sausage rolls, a generous British cheeseboard and plenty of grazing.
This is the perfect opportunity to open something a little different.
Want to get your guests talking? Try a sparkling red.
Balfour Leslie's Reserve Red is a slightly out-of-the-box recommendation, but one I think is great fun. Serve it chilled and think of it as a dark sparkling rosé. It's wonderfully refreshing, but has enough structure to stand up to a good cheeseboard.
If you prefer something a little more traditional, here are a few other options:
- Flint Vineyard Bacchus 2025: A beautiful, refreshing white wine from Norfolk. Particularly good for anyone in the family who loves Sauvignon Blanc.
- Sandridge Barton Dart Valley Reserve 2023: A fruity, easy-drinking white from Devon for a relaxed festive evenings.
- Sandridge Barton Pinot Noir 2022: A lovely approachable red, full of fruit and ideal for enjoying alongside a grazing board.
4. Seeing in the New Year with English Sparkling Wine
Two special bottles for New Year's Eve
Christmas might be the main event, but there's still New Year's Eve to look forward to!
If you're looking for something a little special to see in the New Year, we've recently added two fantastic English sparkling wines from Simpsons to our collection at Elizabeth Rose Wines.
Both are made in the traditional method, but offer quite different styles depending on what you enjoy.
- Simpsons Flint Fields Blanc de Noirs 2021: Made from black grape varieties, this is the one to choose if you enjoy a fuller-bodied sparkling wine with a little more richness and depth.
- Simpsons White Cliffs Blanc de Blancs 2020: Made exclusively from Chardonnay, this is the choice for those who prefer something refreshing, elegant and beautifully refined.
Either would make a wonderful addition to your New Year's Eve celebrations.
Make This Christmas a Little More English
Whether you're hosting the whole family, bringing a bottle along to a festive gathering or simply looking for something lovely to enjoy over the holidays, there's an English wine for every occasion.
At Elizabeth Rose Wines, every bottle in our collection has been personally tasted and hand-selected. We work with talented English producers to bring you wines that are full of character, quality and a real sense of place.
Explore our collection of English wines and find your festive favourites.