Guide on what to drink this Christmas

The Festive season is upon us, and at The Great Wine Company we are excited to share with you our top picks for the perfect Christmas celebration. We understand that around Christmas, things can be stressful, so we’ve put together a survival guide to help you navigate the festive period with ease. Although we are about to start matching various times of Christmas day with drinks, we need to stress that drinking in moderation is very important. So, drink less but drink better! Here are some tips to help you make the most of your Christmas day:

Festive Breakfast

Kick off the big day in style, with the excellent Copenhagen Organic Sparkling Vinter Tea (£18.80). The clever Danes blend a variety of spiced chai and earl grey teas with Riesling wine, to create a drink which tastes of gingerbread, allspice, and cardamon. Christmas in a bottle! Coming in at only 5%, means you can afford to have a second glass.

Midmorning Celebrations

This is the perfect time to try Pentire’s Coastal Spritz(£28.00). We believe the Pentire range offer some of the best non-alcoholic options on the market, and this is no exception. Packed full of blood orange and sea rosemary this offers a refreshing yet complex drink. Serve with tonic and a slice of orange for the best non-alcoholic alternative to an Aperol Spritz.

Lunchtime Livener

A crisp white wine will help get the palate going, Picpoul De Pinet Roquemoliere (£12.95)is the perfect aperitif. Zesty and fresh with flavours of tangy citrus and grapefruit, this is a true crowd-pleaser.

The main event

The main event, Christmas dinner. For white, I recommend the superb Saumaize Michelin Pouilly Fuisse (£35.00),with flavours ofripe red apple and butter, this White Burgundy will complement turkey or goose perfectly and is big enough to match all the trimmings.

For red, Varvaglione Papale Oro Primitivo (£33.00)is the big wine for the big occasion. Bursting with flavours of Dark Chocolate, ripe cherries, and spice, this is Puglian wine at its best. It’s intensity of flavour and velvety texture will pair perfectly with goose, beef, or venison with all the trimmings.

Afters

The sweet wine for afters is Les Garonelles Sauternes (£24.00 half bottle), this is a side project for the same winemaker as the famous (and far more expensive) Château Climens. This is an expressive wine with flavours of apricot and pineapple. Pair this with Christmas pudding, lemon tart, pavlova, and soft cheeses

Post Dinner Pick-Me-Up

Post dinner you’ll need a pick-me-up to get you through the remaining part of the day. Look no further than Peller’s Ice Cuvée Sparkling (£35.00).Made by the Canadians, this traditional method sparkling is extra special as they add some of their sweet Icewine during the winemaking process. This adds a touch of sweetness and complexity. A truly unique yet stunning sparkling wine.

The Festive Nightcap

Based in Stourton, Cotswolds Distillery have been making outstanding spirits since 2014. Cotswolds Cream Liqueur (£24.50) is a smooth and velvety cream liqueur that really is a step up comparatively to other products on the market. Perfect to sip away by the fire winding down from the big day.

We hope this guide has helped you prepare for the festive season ahead. From all of us at The Great Wine Company, we wish you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!