Your Guide To Buying English Wine At Christmas

No home is ready for Christmas if the wine rack isn’t full of Christmas wine. But with so many styles to choose from, and plenty of beautiful wines around, it’s important to be aware of what you’re choosing. For us, there’s something particularly special about serving English Sparkling Wine at Christmas – but whether you are looking for a sparkler or the perfect pairing for your Christmas Dinner, here are the top wines and expert tips you need to buy English wine at Christmas.

…a good way to start is to think about what food you will be serving. From pre-dinner snacks to post-dinner drinks, this is the easiest place to begin. If you’re starting from scratch, you need to plan. This will determine your wine choices, from Christmas Eve through Boxing Day. Sparkling and reds are especially popular this year, along with fuller-bodied whites and fortified wines. Pinot Noirs, Blanc de Blancs, oaked reds, Classic Cuvées, Bacchus, Pinot Gris, Pinot Noir Rosé are all good options for your Christmas wines.

Inspired? Here, Sara gives us her step-by-step guide to drinking English & Welsh at Christmas…

1. Start by thinking about what food you will be serving. I really love English Sparkling Wine as an aperitif and have stocked up on Stopham Estate Brut Prestige this year. I also love Nutbourne Nutty “Wild” NV and Bacchus is a great still wine alternative (try Nutbourne Bacchus)
2. Get plenty of options for dinner. Pinot Noir works well with a roast. Try Simpsons Rabbit Hole Pinot Noir, or if you would prefer something a little fuller bodied, it has to be Giffords Hall LVII-XIX.
3. Don’t disregard rosé at Christmas. Choose one with a bit more body that will hold its own with your meal. Try Elizabeth Rosé.
4. Pinot Gris is a really versatile wine. Martins Lane Pinot Gris is our go-to for roast pork or chicken. Take it out of the fridge and open it about 20-30 minutes before serving to allow it to really open up. For Sauvignon Blanc lovers, serve Lyme Bay Bacchus Block.
5. Finish dinner with a fantastic fortified wine – personally speaking, nothing beats White Castle’s 1581 – a Welsh red in a late bottled vintage Port style.
6. To get a real luxury feel, opt for a Blanc de Blancs for your Christmas toast. Woodchurch Chardonnay Brut would be my choice.

Shop our edit of the best wines for Christmas below…