Author: admin

I make the same mistake every single year. And that mistake it this: I underprepare. “How is that possible, Hannah?” you may well be asking. “You’re a wine writer with presumably dozens of half-drunk bottles in your flat at any given time?” It’s because I spend Christmas with my parents, who live about two hours away by train, and there’s no way I’m risking the spill of any bottles on EMR.

So, I usually bring up three or so bottles that are always in the recycling bin by Christmas Eve. What I really need to do is not leave things to the last minute, and instead order ahead. And not just for Christmas dinner, either, but for every moment of the day. From the opening of presents to the falling asleep in front of the umpteenth viewing of The Good Life Christmas special, each instance calls for something entirely different to meet the moment.

First things first

Castellore Organico Organic Prosecco Rosé DOC £7.99 Aldi, 11%. Drier than Aldi’s own-label prosecco, and a style I much prefer. Summer fruits for Christmas?

Ca’ di Rajo Lemoss Frizzante £17 Forest Wines, 10.5%. A funky wee col fondo for the natural wine lovers. Refreshing 100% glera.

Westwell Wicken Foy NV £29 Westwell, 12%. English sparkling made from champagne grapes. The addition of reserve wines from 2013 and 2014 give it nutty depth.

Telmont Champagne Réserve Brut NV £52 Waitrose, 12%. From a 100-year-old estate, a blend of seven years gives fruity tarte au citron and pastry notes.

Not drinking? Try these!

Copenhagen Sparkling Tea Blå £10.99 (375ml) Selfridges, 0%. I love sparkling tea as an alternative to wine. Nine organic teas and a dash of lemon juice.

Oddbird Spumante Sparkling Wine £11 Ocado, 0.5%. “Liberated from alcohol”, this nolo sparkling is made from glera, the prosecco grape.

Bunta Beer Co Non-Alcoholic Citrus Lager £9.99 (4 x 330ml) Delli, 0%. A beer designed to be drunk with Indian food. One for the Boxing Day curry?

Pentire Coastal Spritz £27 (700ml) Waitrose, 0%. Blood orange, rosemary and oakwood make this refreshing non-alcoholic bitter liqueur. Serve with soda or your preferred tonic.

Stocking fillers (for grownups)

Pure Fire Cocktail £3 (200ml) Sly Dog Rum, 8%. A collab between a rum brand and a chicken wing concept that has serious ginger bite.

Moth Paloma £4 (200ml) Sainsbury’s, 10%. A refreshing spritz to start the day. Made with Tequila Enemigo and real, zesty grapefruit.

La Vieille Ferme Rosé £3.10 (200ml) Sainsbury’s, 12.5%. It comes in a can! A sweet gift for the “chicken wine” fanatic in your life.

M&S Limoncello Spritz £2.50 (250ml) Ocado, 6%. How about an Italian buck’s fizz? Sparkling white wine topped with limoncello.

The main event

On Point Australian Chenin Blanc 2024 £8.50 The Wine Society, 12.5%. Cheap, but with a fleshiness you can get your teeth into. Stone and orchard fruit.

Les Terrasses St Nicolas de Bourgueil Cabernet Franc £12 Tesco, 12%. Reliable, fruity red that I keep coming back to. Graphite and cranberries.

Lyrarakis Assyrtiko-Vidiano Orange Wine 2023/24 £14 Majestic, 13%. Orange wine is a secret weapon when pairing with complex nut roasts or spices.

Ridge Three Valleys Zinfandel 2022 £48.50 Lea & Sandeman, 14%. A glorious and luxurious sup alongside red meat, and all dried herbs and dark fruit. Unusually for Ridge, this is a blend from 10 Sonoma Valley vineyards.

After dinner/charades

The Society’s Exhibition Sauternes 2022 £11.95 (37.5cl) The Wine Society, 13%. A brilliant price for a half-bottle of great sauternes. Gooey, tarte tatin notes are underpinned by good acidity and freshness.

Kopke Tawny Port £16.25 Ocado, 19.5%. The perfect way to underline a great meal. Have it with Ferrero Rocher.

Black Lines Oatnog £20 Black Lines, 6.3%. Back for another year, this wildly successful winter warmer is creamy with cinnamon, rum and nutmeg.

H by Hine VSOP Cognac £43 Berry Bros & Rudd, 40%. Approachable, fruity cognac with a dozen eaux de vie in the blend, all of them aged for at least four years. Serve neat or in a highball with ginger beer.