The Best English Wines for the Festive Season
With Christmas fast approaching, we’re often asked for our festive wine recommendations. So, here’s a look at what the ERW team will be drinking this Christmas — a line-up of English wines perfect for every occasion!
Christmas Eve: Light, Fresh & Festive
Christmas Eve calls for something light — perhaps a seafood platter or a chunky Waldorf-style salad with Christmas ham. To complement these flavours, we’ll be sipping Saffron Grange Classic Cuvée, a toasty, refreshing English sparkling wine that perfectly sets the tone for the celebrations ahead.
Christmas Morning: Start with a Sparkle
No Christmas morning is complete without bubbles! This year, our choice is Giffords Hall Brut Reserve crafted using the traditional method but with non-traditional grape varieties. Expect notes of biscuit and ripe orchard fruits. For a fun twist, pair it with cloudy apple juice for an apple mimosa — the ideal balance between festive fizz and gentle refreshment.
Pre-Dinner Aperitif: Time for Elegance
As the big meal approaches, it’s time for something truly special. Nyetimber Classic Cuvée never disappoints — elegant, refined, and made with Champagne grapes in the traditional method. Alternatively, try Gusbourne’s Brut Reserve, the flagship wine from one of England’s finest wine producers. It’s sophistication in a glass — and guaranteed to impress your guests.
Christmas Dinner: Classic Pairings for the Feast
We’re traditionalists at heart, so turkey with all the trimmings takes centre stage.
For English white wine lovers, Simpsons’ Roman Road Chardonnay offers gentle oak, notes of apricot, and a hint of clementine — a superb match for roast turkey and buttery sides. Prefer red? Riverview Pinot Noir is light yet complex, with flavours of redcurrant, cranberry, and a whisper of smoke — making it the perfect festive red for your Christmas dinner.
Dessert: A Sweet Finish
When it’s time for dessert — or if you’re simply too full for more food — pour a glass of Burn Valley Solar Late Harvest. This delicate English sweet wine, it carries notes of honey blossom and stone fruits, bringing the perfect gentle close to your Christmas meal.
Cheese Board: A Cosy Evening Sip
If the cheese board waits until later in the evening (or even Boxing Day), reach for St Edmundsbury from Giffords Hall. A blend of Rondo and Pinot Noir, this silky-smooth English red is packed with fruit and Christmas spice — ideal for relaxing by the fire.
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Boxing Day: Fresh, Crisp & Easy
Boxing Day buffets and curries call for something bright and refreshing.
Our top pick? Nutbourne’s Sussex Reserve — a Riesling-style English white wine that’s dry, crisp, and zesty. Perfect on its own or alongside lighter dishes, and spicy food.
Cheers to an English Wine Christmas
From sparkling cuvées to luscious dessert wines, England’s vineyards have you covered for every festive moment. Here’s to great food, good company, and a truly sparkling Christmas and New Year!