It’s November already!? Another year has flown by, but on the upside, it means we’re only a few weeks away from the most magical time of year for many. The holiday season, whether you celebrate Christmas, Hanukkah, Bodhi Day, Kwanzaa, or simply use the holidays as a great excuse to gather around with friends and loved ones to enjoy feasts and cherished traditions.

Wine, in our humble opinion, plays a vital role in elevating the dining experience. Selecting the right wine can transform a Christmas meal, both highlighting the flavours and textures of the food, but also enhancing that spirit of conviviality and celebration.

In the latest of our festive hosting series, we’re going to explore how to pair wines with the most popular Christmas dishes, with some staff favourites suggested along the way.

Appetizers and Starters

Christmas is the time of year, more than most when people push the boat out when it comes to appetizers and starters. From charcuterie boards to seafood, canapés to savoury pastries, you’re going to need wines that encompass both that spirit of celebration, as well as enhance the flavours without overwhelming the palate.

Sparkling Wine

The classic wine style to welcome your guests. A crisp and dry sparkling wine, such as Champagne or Cava, has an effervescence that cleanses the palate and pairs beautifully with salty and fatty appetizers like smoked salmon, brie-stuffed pastries, and prosciutto-wrapped figs. When it comes to Prosecco, be careful to stick to wines labelled Brut or Extra Brut, as Dry (rather confusingly) means it’s a slightly sweeter style and may not be what you’re after.

Our Pick: Billecart Salmon Sous Bois Champagne, Champagne, France
Result of the oak ageing, it is creamy, elegant and rich in flavours. Superb for those salty, fatty and richer appetizers.

Light White Wine

As much as people do turn to bubbles for the classic option, don’t forget about the power of a Sauvignon Blanc or Pinot Grigio. These are ideal for lighter starters like prawn cocktails, ceviche, or fresh salads. Their acidity cuts through the richness of seafood and balances zesty dishes.

Our Pick: Lions de Suduiraut, 2023, Bordeau, France
Sauvignon Blanc from Bordeaux with a rounder mouthfeel than the Loire or New Zealand version. The uplifting body and texture will go hand-in-hand with the sauces or dressing in your seafood appetizer.

Main Course Pairings

When it comes to the centrepiece of Christmas dinner, people have fairly set favourites and traditions. Varying from roasted meats to hearty vegetarian dishes, each dish has unique flavour profiles that require a bit of thought for specific wine pairings.

Roasted Turkey

The classic Dickens Christmas meat, with its tender, mildly flavoured meat, can pair well with both white and red wines.

White Wines

A full-bodied Chardonnay, preferably unoaked or lightly oaked, provides enough richness to match the turkey without overpowering it. Look for slightly cooler climate expressions to keep enough acidity for balance.

Our Pick: Charly Nicolle Chablis 1er Cru, Burgundy, France

Red Wines

Pinot Noir is a crowd-pleasing red wine choice for turkey. Its light body, red berry flavours, and subtle earthiness complement both the meat and accompanying herbs and sauces.

Our Pick: Justin Boxler, Pinot Noir, Alsace, France

Honey-Glazed Ham

The sweet and savoury notes of honey-glazed ham require wines that can balance the sugar without becoming cloying.

Riesling

A medium-dry Riesling offers the right amount of sweetness and acidity, perfectly complementing the glaze without overshadowing the dish.

Our Pick: HJ Wiemer, Biodynamic Riesling, New York, USA 

Rosé Wines

Provencal style rosé is hugely undervalued for its food pairing properties. Great acidity, herbal notes, and white pepper spice make them great food pairings for salty ham, and the fresh fruit notes pair well with the glaze.

Our Pick: Château Malherbe, Provence, France 

Prime Rib and Beef Tenderloin

For those who like to go for red meat, such as a rich cut of beef, bold red wines are pretty much essential to match the deep flavours and textures.

Cabernet Sauvignon

A classic pairing for prime rib, Cabernet Sauvignon’s full body, firm tannins, and dark fruit notes enhance the meaty flavours.

Our Pick: Oliver’s Taranga DJ Cabernet Sauvignon 2012, Australia

Syrah/Shiraz

This wine’s peppery and bold character complements the seasoning on beef tenderloin, bringing out a depth of flavour that resonates with holiday spices.

Our Pick: Bekkers Syrah 2014, McLaren Vale, Australia 

Malbec

Thousands of Gauchos up and down Argentina can’t be wrong?! Great fruit concentration, tannin structure and lifting floral notes can help you play around with side dishes too.

Our Pick: La Coste Andes Los Chacayes Malbec, Mendoza, Argentina 

Side Dish Pairings

Often the stumbling block of many wine pairings, the sides at Christmas dinners bring their own set of flavours that can be highlighted by thoughtful wine pairings.

Stuffing with Herbs

A light red wine like Pinot Noir works well with herb-laden stuffing, balancing the savoury notes with its smooth acidity.

Our Pick: Mark Haisma A Bogan in Bogandy, Bourgogne, France

Roasted Vegetables

For dishes featuring root vegetables or Brussels sprouts, try a medium-bodied white wine like Viognier or a light red such as Beaujolais.

Our Pick: Saint Olive Cotes Du Rhone Blanc, Rhone, France

Cranberry Sauce

he tangy-sweet flavours of cranberry sauce are best matched with a wine that can mirror its brightness. A lighter red or rosé from Grenache pairs well, offering ripe berry flavours that complement the tartness of cranberries.

Our Pick: Panoramico Clarete Rosado, Rioja, Spain

Vegetarian Main Dishes

For those who prefer plant-based holiday meals, here are a few more handy hints for your imbibing pleasure…

Mushroom-Based Dishes

The earthy, umami flavours of mushrooms are enhanced by a Pinot Noir or a medium-bodied Merlot, which bring out their richness.

Our Pick: Channing Daughters, Over and Over, New York, USA 

Butternut Squash or Pumpkin Dishes

These sweet and savoury mains pair wonderfully with an oaked Chardonnay, such as white Burgundy or Californian, which offer notes of vanilla and butter that meld with the flavours of the squash.

Our Pick: Clendenen Family Vineyards, Bien Nacido Chardonnay, California, USA

Read more on “How to Pair Vegan Christmas Dishes with Wine?”

Christmas Desserts and Sweet Wines

Ok, you’re already stuffed, but there’s no way you’re saying ‘no’ to pudding at Christmas!

Citrus-driven and spiced desserts

Think Spiced Orange and Gingerbread Tart, or simply Gingerbread? With the spiced gingerbread and a citrusy filling, you can pair it with wine that offers tangerine, marmalade, and exotic spice notes.

Our Pick: Channing Daughters Muscat de Boom, Long Island, USA
The wine’s delicate caramel undertones can create a festive and harmonious pairing with these desserts!

Poached Pears

The soft sweetness of poached pears that comes along with spice is always a warming finale for the festive meal. You can poach them in honey and spiced sauce, or serve them with vanilla cream or ice cream.

Our Pick: Château Suduiraut 2004 Half Bottle, Bordeaux, France
Serve it with the dessert or simply drizzle over some Vanilla ice cream for a simple yet impressive dessert.

More sweet wine pairing suggestions on Festive Hosting Series EP1: Can You Only Drink Sweet Wines with Dessert?

Final Tip for a Perfect Pairing

While pairing suggestions provide guidance, don’t be afraid to serve wines that you and your guests enjoy. The most important thing is you and your guests have a lot of fun!

This Blog post is written by Mike Turner
Freelance wine writer, presenter and judge

Mike is a regular contributor for The Buyer magazine and is a certified educator and ambassador for Bordeaux, Rioja, Ribera Del Duero, Barolo and Barbaresco, running trade and consumer events across the UK from his base in the East Midlands.