Pairing wine with your Christmas Dinner
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A British Christmas dinner is one of the hardest meals of the year to match with wine. There's the main roast, but also sweet cranberry, rich gravy, salty pigs in blankets and a table full of sides. Here's our guide to getting it right, whether you're serving turkey, ham, goose or beef.
| Dish | White | Red |
|---|---|---|
| Turkey | White Burgundy | Pinot Noir |
| Ham | Off-dry Riesling | Cru Beaujolais |
| Goose | Gewürztraminer | Syrah |
| Beef | Stick with red | Bordeaux, Malbec or Amarone |
| Pudding | Pedro Ximénez Sherry or Rutherglen Muscat | |
| Cheese | Vintage Port with Stilton, Madeira with hard cheeses | |
Turkey
Turkey is mild and lean, so the wine should lift it rather than overpower it. The trimmings do a lot of the talking here.
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White
Chardonnay
A white Burgundy has the fresh acidity and gentle creaminess to work with turkey, bread sauce and buttery vegetables alike.
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Red
Pinot Noir
A lighter Pinot Noir from the Côte de Beaune or New Zealand brings red berry fruit and a silky texture that's a natural match for cranberry sauce.
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Sparkling
English sparkling wine
Crisp acidity cuts through stuffing and gravy, and it's just as good at the table as it is with the canapés.
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Ham
A glazed ham is sweet and salty at once, so look for wines with bright fruit and a little sweetness of their own.
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White
Off-dry Riesling
A German Kabinett's touch of sweetness mirrors the glaze, while its racy acidity keeps the saltiness in check.
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Red
Cru Beaujolais
Juicy red fruit and soft tannins make Gamay from villages such as Morgon or Fleurie a lively partner for ham. Serve it lightly chilled.
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Goose
Goose is rich and full of flavour, so it needs a wine with the weight or freshness to match.
Beef
Roast beef with all the trimmings calls for a red with real structure.
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Classic
Bordeaux
A Cabernet-led blend from the Left Bank has the tannin and dark fruit to meet rare beef head on. Napa Cabernet is a riper, richer alternative.
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Generous
Argentine Malbec
Plush, velvety and full of dark fruit, Malbec is an easy crowd-pleaser with a hearty roast.
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Indulgent
Amarone della Valpolicella
Made from dried grapes, Amarone is rich with cherry, dried fruit and a hint of chocolate. A real treat for the big day.
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Pudding and cheese
The golden rule for sweet wine is simple: it should be at least as sweet as the dessert, or it will taste thin and sour.
Christmas pudding
Mince pies
Trifle
Tips for the big day
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Pour one wine for everythingIf you'd rather not open several bottles, a good Pinot Noir or cru Beaujolais will happily cover turkey, ham and goose.
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Start with fizzChampagne, English sparkling wine or Prosecco makes a welcoming aperitif and works well with the nibbles.
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Think about the sidesCranberry sauce, pigs in blankets and rich gravy all affect the match, so choose wines with enough fruit and acidity to cope.
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Watch your temperaturesA warm, busy room heats reds quickly, so serve them slightly cool. Take whites out of the fridge 20 minutes before pouring.
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Plan ahead for PortStand Vintage Port upright the day before so the sediment settles, then decant it carefully before dinner.
From the first glass of fizz to the last of the Port, our team has picked a selection of wines to suit every Christmas table. If you'd like help putting together your festive wines, just ask.
