The ultimate Christmas wine guide by experts who've tried every bottle: How to pick the perfect one from the High Street - from Lidl's £7 sauvignon stunner to the classic rosé you simply MUST pair with your turkey
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Whether you’re spending Christmas with family, friends or just staying in to enjoy some festive food, the chances are you’ll also be stocking up on wine. Yet with so many styles available – not to mention a blizzard of seasonal bargains – it can be bewildering to know which to choose.
But don’t despair! I’ve sipped my way around the supermarkets to bring you this year’s Ultimate Christmas Wine Guide, jam-packed with my insider suggestions for the very best bottles whatever your taste. As luck would have it, this is also the time of year for cracking deals. In fact, it’s not unknown for restaurants to buy their wine in the supermarkets at Christmas because it can be so keenly priced.
But what should you go for?. Although we often associate warm red wines with wintry, festive food, I always choose Provençal rosé to go with my Christmas turkey because it’s a versatile crowd-pleaser and feels much lighter than a heavy red. It can also seem natural to pair cheese with red wine – but have you considered white instead?.
As I explain, flavoursome whites, like those from Jura and Alsace, make a refreshing, more nuanced pairing for a delicate cheese – and the higher acidity also balances the fattiness of the cheese. If you’re planning a party or simply want to splash out on something a little fancier, there are also plenty of suggestions for sparkling wines, reds, whites and even ports, not forgetting sweet wines that go perfectly with a slice of panettone or a mince pie or two.
