The Perfect Wine For Every Christmas Dish
Christmas is a time for good food, good company and even better wine - or at least it is in our household, and since this year the company may be a little smaller than normal, that doesn’t mean the rest has to be. We have enlisted the help of Raul Diaz, an incredible sommelier and founder of the Wine Training School in London and the UK Ambassador for VDP German wines to tap into and uncork over 15 years of knowledge to know just what to pair with all our favourites this year. From Christmas Pudding to the all-important show stopping turkey, Raul has put together his favourite bottles to make every dish shine this Christmas.
Turkey’s Perfect Pairing: Cotes du Rhone Villages
For a lot of families, turkey is the main event at Christmas and so it makes sense to choose a wine that will pair beautifully with the dish. The Cotes du Rhone Villages is a great wine due to its vibrant fruity notes of red cherry and blackberry. Its spicy, farmyard and oaky notes give it a depth of flavour that will compliment your roast and complete the festive meal.
Plus, it’s a good value option proving that you don’t have to blow the budget to find a perfectly paired wine!
Wrap up your Pigs in Blankets with: Chilean Pinot Noir
Another staple for Christmas Day and Boxing Day leftovers is Pigs in Blankets. The acidity of a Chilean Piinot Noir will cut through the fat of the dish while its notes of red cherry, strawberry and raspberry will match really well with a side of cranberry sauce (we won’t tell if you double-dip).
A refreshing style of wine, why not try lightly chilling the bottle to enjoy a different mouth feel.
Roasted Perfection of Parsnips&Carrots with: Pinot Gris Grand Cru from Alsace
We can’t forget the veggies and for me, the sides are just as important as the main event. Roasted parsnips and carrots are a must - especially with a dollop and drizzle of honey just before roasting! The natural sweetness of this dish will pair really well with the medium sweetness of this wine. The Pinot Gris Grand Cru from Alsace (try to look for an old vintage, around 2010) is a complex white wine with great intensity with hints of tropical fruits such as pineapple, dried peaches and honey notes from the bottle ageing.
Steven Joyce.
A Dishy Side of Brussel Sprouts and Chestnut with: Dry Riesling from Germany
Not everyone is a fan of Brussel sprouts but they are a staple for meals at Christmas. Sprouts are delicious sauteed with chestnuts and the citrus, green fruit notes of a dry Riesling will complement the savoury notes of this dish really well. The wine’s refreshing high acidity will amplify the intensity of this recipe. Riesling also offers a great variety when it comes to the body of the wine from light to full.
Finish it all off with Christmas Pudding and a: Tokaji Aszu from Hungary
Don’t think that the wine stops flowing just because you’ve reached the dessert course. There is a huge variety of dessert wines to choose from. A Tokaji Aszu from Hungary is an amazing sweet wine has delicious notes of dried apricot, orange marmalade and honey but its very high acidity will balance the sweetness of the dessert.
This full body of the wine - with extensive oak ageing - will pair beautifully with this rich classic dish. Enjoy!
Raul Diaz’s new book, Wines & Recipes (£30) is available here. Raul is also running virtual wine tastings via his website with three delicious, high quality wines delivered to your door prior to your 60 minute one-to-one online session.
Cover image by Steven Joyce.