Get the family together, play some board games, cook the meal of the year – sounds just wonderful doesn’t it? Well maybe it’ll turn out a little more stressful than that so if you can’t wait to pop that cork and drown out the seasonal whining with some good wine then read on to see what whites we think have it all this Christmas from fabulous fish pairings to a delicious dessert wine.
Domaine Loic Mahé, Savennieres Les Fougeraies 2013
This wine is a wonderful way to begin a festive meal pairing with freshly grilled monkfish or “blanquette” of veal. It is produced using only the Chenin Blanc grape and has a wonderful length, complexity and structure. Golden in colour with a youthful green hue, the nose gives way to tropical fruits of peaches, apricots and pineapples, which are replicated on the palate along with delicious fresh green apples.
£32
Buyonline.friarwood.com
Nepenthe Pinnacle Petraea Sauvignon Blanc
The award-winning* Pinnacle collection Petraea Sauvignon Blanc offers delicious tropical and grassy flavours, with a richness that comes from being aged in French oak, making it a great match for oily fish and sushi.
Premium brand, Nepenthe wines reflect a modern Australian style that embodies the cooler climes and higher altitude of the Adelaide Hills, championing the elegance and diversity of the land.
*Nepenthe’s 2016 Pinnacle Petraea Sauvignon Blanc won the Trophy for the ‘Best Sauvignon Blanc’ at the 2017 Hong Kong International Wine and Spirits competition just last month.
RRP £19.99
Available on Amazon
The King’s Legacy Chardonnay
The citrusy, creamy flavours of this Chardonnay make it the perfect escape from the piles of rich food on offer at Christmas. Not only is the flavour great but also the story behind the wine. This wine celebrates the scandalous stories of the de Mariscos ancestors who inhabited Lundy Island, off the southwest coast of New Zealand in the 12th and 13th centuries – the perfect dinner table story! As recommended by David Gill, Master of Wine at Kingsland Drinks who boasts 28 years experience.
RRP £14.99
Available from Ocado and Majestic Wine
i heart Sauvingnon Blanc Malborough
Bright flavours of citrus and gooseberry are complimented by hints of grapefruit and passionfruit on the nose. The vibrant acidity is balanced by luscious tropical fruit giving it a refreshing finish.
A true crowd pleaser, the delicately pale and mouth-wateringly crisp i heart Sauvignon Blanc Marlborough is a match made in heaven for classic canapé ingredients, such as goat’s cheese and feta or the season non-negotiable: a smoked salmon blini, piled high with a generous dollop of crème fraiche.
RRP: £8.50
Available from NISA and McColl’s
Shorn ‘Black Sheep’ Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc
Also recommended by David Gill, this white is rather zesty and fresh with a lashing of lip-smacking fruit and is not too hard on the wallet. Perfectly paired with fish, goat’s cheese and pasta, ideal for a starter or for some delicious Christmas Eve canapes.
RRP £7
Available at Morrisons
Andrew Peace Chardonnay
The tropical and citrus notes of this Australian Chardonnay make this the perfect choice to accompany the traditional Christmas cheese platter, or even with a salad – that is if you ever get bored of the copious amounts of unhealthy food on offer.
RRP: £5.29
Available at the Co-Op
Cloudy Bay Chardonnay 2014
No expense is spared on this blinding drop, sourced from the same alluvial plain in Marlborough as the now legendary Sauvignon Blanc. It’s treated to a lavish dose of oak and as a result is ripe and full-bodied with superb flavours of citrus fruit, underpinned with a yeasty, nutty character and finished with a touch of flinty elegance. Cloudy Bay Chardonnay is an intriguing, textural wine and this particular vintage is highly sought after – it’s well worth claiming some for your collection.
RRP £20
Availabke from drinks21.com
The King’s Sticky End Sauvignon Blanc
Let’s not forget about dessert shall we? This enticing dessert wine offers intense sweetness through the ripe flavours of peach, lychee and fig alongside subtle nutty flavours. Ideal with fruit desserts if cheese is not for you, or you fancy a second (third or fourth) post roast treat.
RRP £13.99
Available at Ocado
