What Should I Drink With Christmas Dinner?

Christmas Dinner is usually most people’s biggest meal of the year, with a lot of flavours jostling for position, and if you’re hosting, lots of different tastes at the table. Food might be the main focus, but don’t let the drinks get lost under all those different dishes!

Everyone has different opinions and the perfect wine for all simply doesn’t exist, so alongside Christmas dinner, it’s best to seek out crowd-pleasers that will let the food shine. We know every Christmas dinner is different, so we’ll highlight particularly delicious pairings in bold so you can find the ideal wine for you. Let the feast commence.

WHITE WINE

Riesling

We’ve got a few food pairing guides now, and there is a good reason why we pretty much always return to Riesling. It can deal with so many flavours and textures and is a fantastic all-rounder. Bringing sharp acidity, it’s perfect for cutting through the fatty goodness of goose, duck, ham and roasties – pretty much anything with a bit of grease. Dry Riesling bring a touch of residual sugar and be less alcohol intensive, and therefore food-friendly with sweet glazes or honeyed meats.

Size: 750ml
ABV: 12.5%
Find here: £13

Chardonnay

Whites need to big and bold, particularly with the crispy skin of turkey, but also something to relieve the richness on the table, so we’re looking at lightly oaked Chardonnay. Make sure it still has fruity flavours, and it will be a versatile pairing for salty ham and gammon too, as well as the increasingly popular vegetarian or vegan nut roast, that needs its richness offset.

Size: 750ml
ABV: 9.8%
Find here: £8.99

SPARKLING WINE

Champagne

Bubbles are always great with heavy feasts like the Christmas dinner, and sparkling wine is of course, a food-friendly option. Rich, salty flavours will likely be present, so avoid sweet or rosé champagnes, and instead look to brut. Particularly after the meal, the gentle fizz and fragrant fruitiness is beautifully soothing. It also helps that is screams celebration. Also, if you’re on of the few people embracing seafood on the big day, then the saline mineral character of bubbly is a famous pairing. Of course, there’s no need to splash out (although there are great value Champagnes like this one), and affordable alternatives like Crémant and Cava would work just as well.

Size: 750ml
ABV: 12%
Find here: £48.50

RED WINE

Merlot

A serial crowd-pleaser, find a merlot in the smooth and velvety style, because some others can be heavily oaked. Chilean merlot is a great source of value in this area. Particularly with turkey, it’s more about sauce and stuffing than the meat, and as cranberry sauce is nailed on, we want bright, fruity wines to match. And if the turkey has ended up a bit dry, then the juicy feel doesn’t hurt either. Chilean bottles in particular bring that vibrance, as well as acidity to cut through any fats and refresh the palate. It’s a good option for Christmas ham too.

Size: 750ml
ABV: 14%
Find here: £11.60

Barolo

If you’re serving goose or even duck and red is a must, then an Italian number like Barolo could be the answer. The foods are very indulgent and fatty, so you need something like a well-structured Barolo to slice through. If you’ve scrapped the turkey and gone for any darker, more savoury meats like the above or beef, then big, punchy Barolo is the answer.

Size: 750ml
ABV: 14.5%
Find here: £24.99 (less with Mix Six)

Pinot Noir

Light-bodied and brimming with soft red fruits, Pinot Noir will sing with those cranberry sauce helpings alongside the turkey. Central Otago New Zealand Pinot tends to fit the bright and fruity profile we’re looking for, and they’re also some of the richest and structured, so work particularly well with any sweet glazes (usually ham), or spices. Make sure you don’t go for something too tannic, because it will seem harsh without the fat to soften the tannins. The great thing about leftover Christmas day Pinot is that it’s perfect for the Boxing Day leftovers, ideally light for cold meats.

Size: 750ml
ABV: 13.5%
Find here: £19.99

This is just a guide for the big meal itself, but we know as well as you do that Christmas grazing is an all day and all night affair. What should you drink with Christmas pudding or mince pies? Or perhaps you’re after some wine and cheese pairings in the evening? We’ve got recommended bottles for every occasion on the site, as well as tonnes of handy gift guides and recipes.

The Best Sherry to Sip on this Christmas

Far, far too many drinkers are disregarding Sherry as an overly sweet, fortified wine that only your Nan drinks and missing out on a really varied and delicious world.

With Christmas coming up, there is no better time to give it another go, because between the tangy crispness of the paler expressions, and the richer complexity of the darker liquids, you’re bound to find one you fall in love with.

We’ll touch on the styles as we go, but for a more detailed breakdown, check out our handy ABC Guide to Sherry Styles.

Fino

Tio Pepe Fino

When it comes to Sherry, Fino is the epitome of bone-dry crispness. Palomino fino grapes (hence the name) are what’s used, and this Tio Pepe Fino is so dry, with no sweetness. Instead, it cuts through with salted almonds and umami touches, and makes an incredible dance partner with salty snacks. It won’t be for everyone, but those that love it really love it.

Size: 700ml
ABV: 15%
Find here: £13 Sainsbury’s (£10 Nectar price)

Manzanilla

M. Antonio de la Riva Manzanilla Fina Miraflores Baja N.V.

Manzanilla styles like this take on the salts in the soil and the air from being made in the port of Sanlúcar, as well as humidity meaning more yeast (flor), and therefore more protection against oxygen… meaning supreme lightness and freshness. This is a particularly complex Manzanilla, with nutty, olive-y lightness and salinity right through to the finish.

Size: 700ml
ABV: 15%
Find here: £24.50

Amontillado

Gonzalez Byass Vina AB Amontillado

Amontillado Sherry takes up a similar position to Fino, but with more exposure to oxygen in the oak barrels (butts) and longer ageing, there’s a noticeably darker colouring and complexity, with richer, nutty flavours. This Gonzales Byass is a fantastic representative of the style, bringing super smooth, intense, almonds and raisins. The nose is sweeter than the palate, which is wonderfully dry, with a savoury umami profile.

Size: 750ml
ABV: 16.5%
Find here: £16.50

Palo Cortado

Very Rare Palo Cortado

This style falls somewhere between Amontillado and Oloroso, delivering freshness from the former, and complex body from the latter. It’s the trendiest style of Sherry if you want to look like you know what you’re talking about, and this bottle is delivers dry intensity with citrus tang, as well as plummy almond notes.

Size: 375ml
ABV: 19%
Find here: £8.50

Pedro Ximenez

San Emilio Pedro Ximenez Solera Reserva Emilio Lustau - HALF BOTTLE

PX is where you go for your sweetness, named after the grape, that makes it, and therefore standing out from the other styles. Semi-dried grapes give all that natural sweetness, the texture is far treaclier, and the colour is an extremely dark red. The prestigious Lustau are behind this indulgent Sherry, filled out with lush chocolatey raisins, dried figs and toffee.

Size: 375ml
ABV: 17%
Find here: £13.65

Oloroso

Sandeman Armada Superior Cream Oloroso Sherry

One of the most famous styles, Olorosos like this develop because of a lack of yeast (flor), so you get a deliciously dark, rich, and complex expression like this mahogany gem, with notes like cocoa and fig popping up and a velvety lingering aftertaste.

Size: 500ml
ABV: 17.5%
Find here: £11

If you’re after more recommendations for drinkers to stock up on this Christmas, or perfect gifts,  then we’ve got tonnes of guides up on the site now, like Rum, Gin and Champagne.

The Best Champagne to Drink this Christmas

If Christmas is about indulgence (which we think it is, amongst other things of course), then it’s the perfect time of year to open some beautiful bottles, and it doesn’t get more luxurious than Champagne. Sparkling wine is a mainstay of Christmas drinking, and for that special touch of elegance, Champagne is festive fizz royalty.

However, as everyone knows, it doesn’t come cheap, so you want to be sure that you’re spending your money on quality liquid. We’ve scouted out the best Champagne to drink this Christmas, starting with tremendous value and finishing with unforgettable masterpieces. Let’s the pop the cork and get started.

Telmont Reserve Brut

A three-way blend of the classic Champagne grapes, this elegant Telmont was awarded the Gold Medal at the Champagne Masters in 2022, praised for its weighty palate flickering with desserts like créme brulee, baked apple and almond tart. It’s big and round with lively bubbles, but balanced by a cool, saline core.

Size: 750ml
ABV: 12%
Find here: £46.99

Veuve Clicquot Brut (Carte Jaune) Champagne

A respected and reliable name in Champagne, this NV Veuve Clicquot brings heaps of rich biscuity flavour, but also a lot of white fruits and a finish that lingers for an age. It’s a famously delicious Champagne, and it completely delivers with well put together balance and smooth cleanliness. Cracking price too, and you can pick it up in most supermarkets.

Size: 750ml
ABV: 12%
Find here: £48.50

Laurent-Perrier Brut Cuvee Champagne Rose

This is distinctly bottled fruit-dominated Champagne Rose uses only Pinot Noir from grand cru vineyards, delivering a lively but precise expression. Cherries, strawberries, raspberries, and currants are unavoidable, filling the body out nicely, but the bubbles are busy throughout and there’s the perfect touch of racy acidity too. Pink heaven.

Size: 750ml
ABV: 12%
Find here: £58

Billecart Salmon Blanc de Blancs Brut Champagne Grand Cru

100% Chardonnay here, and it’s all from five different grand cru villages, intertwining seductively for a complex, flavourful but elegant expression. The inviting nose carries a bouquet of white flowers and stone fruits, and the first sip reveals a palate that’s intense and creamy, with buttery brioche, lively acidity and citrus hints, before chalky minerality on the finish. Staggering depth and perfect poise.

Size: 750ml
ABV: 12%
Find here: £72

Duval-Leroy Femme de Champagne Grand Cru Brut

Duval-Leroy was one of the first Champagne houses to be HVE3 certified (great sustainability basically), and the attention to that goes into every stage of the production process is astonishing. This cuvée was bottle aged for 17 years, and possibly more if you decide to leave it that way. Opening it up though, expect a sumptuous complexity – biscuity bread, florality and apricot, fading into hazelnut and orange peel before a long-tailed finish. The finesse throughout is otherworldly.  

Size: 750ml
ABV: 12%
Find here: £96

Bollinger B13 Champagne 2013

Without question, one of the great Champagne houses, this is Bollinger’s Blanc de Noirs from 2013. The nose reveals quince and stone fruits, and even a subtle waft of smoke as the toast comes through. It’s big, bold flavourful Champagne with pear, almonds, candied lemon but an earthy almost truffle hint too. Rich, razor sharp, in your face and a mineral finish – delightful.

Size: 750ml
ABV: 12%
Find here: £99.95

Lanson Noble Champagne Brut Vintage 2004

This is an expressive vintage showcasing the alluring delicacy of the Chardonnay grape merging with the cushiony, deep Pinot Noir, the scents of lemon, pear, and plum pull you in, before the biscuity, hazelnut, apricot palate blows you away. The stunning freshness is why so many wax lyrical about this Champagne, and why it holds such a prestigious position.

Size: 750ml
ABV: 12.5%
Find here: £142

Lanson Noble Champagne Blancs de Blancs 2004

Light, seductive, and utterly memorable, Lanson Blanc de Blancs 2004 would make for a very special Christmas celebration indeed. It’s everything the Côte des Blancs terroir does best – charm, finesse, purity, and freshness. Vanilla toffee carries on the nose. The palate is light and creamy, delicately hinting at almond biscuits and candied lemon, before a zesty, saline finish stretching off into the distance. A Chardonnay masterclass.

Size: 750ml
ABV: 12.5%
Find here: £155

If you’re looking for something closer to home this Christmas, then there has never been a better time to dip your toe into the flourishing English Fizz market, so try these incredible English Sparkling Wines leading the way.

8 Traditional Christmas Drinks in the UK

Everyone has their own go-to tipples for the festive season, and often it’s just their favourite drink throughout the rest of the year… but there are some familiar faces that pop up every time.

And for good reason too, because they are comforting and delicious. They’re part of the furniture (especially towards the end of the evening when Nan’s had one too many), so it serves to know how to master them. We’ve got all the mulled classics, creamy indulgences, and fruity wine numbers you could wish for on your Christmas list, and this is how to impress friends and family with each one.

Baileys Hot Choc

This is a classic winter warmer, with Bailey’s being the drink most synonymous with Christmas. Ideally, it’s so easy to make too. Just add the Irish Cream to hot chocolate and away you go. Of course, whipped cream and some grated chocolate add that extra indulgence that is pretty much mandatory at Christmas time too. Other people add different creams, winter spices or coffee liqueurs though, so experiment. Enjoy those deliciously rich undertones of whiskey intertwining with the sweet hot chocolate hug and cloud like softness of whipped cream. Oh, and because of the Bailey’s cream, we’d recommend using water for the hot chocolate but it’s up to you of course.

Ingredients
60ml Irish cream liqueur
100ml hot chocolate
Whipped cream (optional)
Grated chocolate (optional)

Method

Make your hot chocolate in a separate mug and pour it gently over your Baileys. Squirt some whipped cream and grate some chocolate if you want to go the extra mile.

Hot Buttered Rum

This is one that gets the mouth watering from the title alone, a simple delight perfect for cosy vibes. Some people don’t include the baking spices, but especially if your rum lacks spice, we find that they build a handy bridge between the rich butter and the booze. It’s sweet, warm in temperature and spice, and full of comforting flavours.

Ingredients
100ml hot water
50ml dark rum
1 tsp cinnamon
1tsp nutmeg
1 tsp all spice
A dash of vanilla extract
1 tbsp unsalted, softened butter
2 tsp brown sugar

Method
Muddle and mix sugar, butter, vanilla extract and all those beautiful spices at the bottom of a handled glass or mug. Pour in the rum, then the hot water and give it a nice stir (with a cinnamon stick if you have them!.

Eggnog

Well, it doesn’t get much more wintery than Eggnog does it? Check out our Mocktail recipe here, although this is one is pretty much the same except the inclusion of brandy. We think brandy brings perfect fruity, richness but others go for bourbon or rum. Why not make a few? It’s so silky, sweet, and creamy, and with the warm punch of the brandy at the heart of it. Just writing about it makes you want one!

Ingredients (for 5)
120ml brandy
cinnamon stick
whipped cream (optional garnish)
grated nutmeg (optional garnish)
Eggnog:
1 tsp vanilla essence
3 eggs
120ml double cream
100ml whole milk
100ml condensed milk
50g caster sugar

Method
You make the eggnog separately, and there are lots of variations using different sugars/milks and creams, but love the luxurious flavour of the above. Whisk the eggs with vanilla essence and caster sugar until it goes creamy. The, gradually whisk in the milk, in 25ml intervals, and repeat this exactly the same for the condensed milk. Repeat with the cream too! Slow and gradual. Cover and refrigerate for over at least 2 hours. If you find that the mixture is too thick after cooling, add milk and blend. When you’re ready to serve to your lucky guests, pour the eggnog in first, before slowly adding the brandy serving and garnish as you please – grated nutmeg, whipped cream, cinnamon stick – all perfect.

Snowball

The clues in the name with this one, and it’s a great way to spruce up Advocaat for a festive libation. The richly flavoured creamy Advocaat binds everything together, with vibrant, zesty lime cutting through, lemonade adds a effervescent refreshment, and although a lot of people leave it out, the brandy adds a touch of opulent, fruity depth that roots the cocktail nicely. A glass of Christmas magic.

Ingredients
15ml lime cordial (Rose’s)
50ml Advocaat
40ml lemonade
15ml brandy
Maraschino cherry (optional garnish)

Method
Fill a glass with a large scoop of ice and add in your lime cordial (you could use juice, but cordial works better). Add Advocaat, then lemonade and stir gently until everything is chilled. Then add the cherry on the cake/cocktail!

British Christmas Punch

If you’re in one of those families that knocks up a Christmas Punch, then you’ll probably have your own recipes, whether that’s a ‘throw in anything we have’ philosophy, or a ‘refined through the generations’ masterpiece. There are endless directions you can take with this, but this recipe has warmth and spice from herbal liqueur, fresh rosemary, ginger syrup and cinnamon paired with bright fruit juices. People use red wine, white wine, sparkling wine or even no wine, but Prosecco or a crisp white work best here.

Ingredients (for a jug)
300ml cranberry juice
40ml ginger syrup
50ml herbal liqueur (Benedictine or Jägermeister)
750ml Prosecco/white wine
200ml apple juice
Sliced clementines
Sliced lemon
3-4 sprigs rosemary
2 cinnamon sticks
Fresh cranberries (optional garnish)

Method
Make sure everything is nicely chilled before use, and a few hours before you’re expecting to serve the punch, combine everything together in a punch bowl. There’s no need to be delicate, just add everything in and stir with a little ice. Give everything enough time to merge and infuse, and then serve! For the simple ginger syrup, go here.

Mulled Wine

The official smell of the Christmas market, mulled wine is an absolute staple of the winter months and many people’s all-time favourite Christmas drink. If we have one tip, it’s to dispel the myth that the cheapest wine is fine if you’re heating it through – you do notice the difference! Opt for a juicy, big, bold wine. Think Zinfandel, Grenache and Primitivo. You’ll get strong flavour and a silky-smooth mouthfeel. Avoid adding sugar in and include some fresh cranberries that beautifully soften when heated for added texture and a little acidic crunch.

Ingredients
750ml bottle of Red Wine (Zinfandel, Primitivo, Grenache)
4 cloves
2 cinnamon sticks
1 quartered orange
1 star anise
Small handful of fresh cranberries
100ml Grand Marnier (optional)
2 tbsp honey (optional)

Method
Slowly pour the wine into a pan on a low heat, and begins stirring slowly as you add in your fruits and spices. It should never be boiling, and make sure to include the Grand Marnier towards the end (it’s optional, though we really recommend it). Let it all cool over 30 minutes whilst the flavours come together and it’s ready to go. Oh, and the honey is optional if it needs more sweetness – it’s better than sugar.

Mulled Cider

This is a delicious alternative to mulled wine and brings a hearty warmth to any festive occasion. The key here is, obviously, the cider so we would recommend trying it cold first and just making sure you like it before committing to the pan. This is for regular apple, but there are delicious, spiced ginger ciders and other seasonal flavours that would work a treat too. Here though, you’ve got hearty cider with the dry cider, rich apple with Calvados, and sweet apple with the juice, and they balance really nicely.

Ingredients
1L dry cider
100ml Calvados (brandy if not)
300ml apple juice
Orange slices
4 cloves
2 large cinnamon sticks
1tbsp all spice
50g sugar (optional)

Method
It’s similar to mulled wine really, just gently simmer and combine everything up to a simmer, at which point its gas right down to a very low heat for 20 more minutes before turning it off altogether. Let it cool and infuse before serving.

Bucks Fizz

A classic start to the Christmas morning, Bucks Fizz is nostalgic, fresh, and delicious. Cava, Prosecco, Crémant, and even Champagne – you can pick whichever poison to pair with your OJ. There is a load of nice, pre-made bottles (Sainsbury’s in particular), but as anyone who loves fresh OJ knows, the difference is substantial so if you want a work out, get squeezing those oranges.

Ingredients
50ml orange juice
100ml chilled sparkling wine

Method
It couldn’t be easier. Pour your orange juice into a glass, and slowly top up with your sparkling wine. Voila! Christmas has begun.

In terms of grown up coffee and hot chocolate recipes, we could be here all day and whist not all are traditional, they sure do hit the spot over the festivities so check out our Best Boozy Coffee and Hot Chocolate Recipes for more Christmas drinks ideas.