What Should I Drink With Christmas Cake, Pudding and Mince Pies?

If you’re not gorging on at least one of these this December, then are you even doing Christmas? Of course, mince pies, Christmas cake, and Christmas pudding have their differences, but they’re all based around rich fruits, usually dried, or candied, as well as nuts and spices. Because of this, the same kind of drinks tend to work with them, and work they certainly do – these pairings are mouth-watering, and exactly what Christmas indulgence is about.

Sherry

Sweet, luxurious sherry is such a perfect match. Stick to Pedro Ximenez or Oloroso styles, and the dried fruits, nuts, and silky, rich chocolatey notes will pair up like a match made in taste heaven. It’s a traditional pairing too, so fully embraces the season. We’ve just uploaded our sherry guide for Christmas too, which details recommendations and information about all the styles.

Size: 375ml (half bottle)
ABV: 17%
Find here: £13.65

Port

Tawny Port in particular is a great way to go, brimming with red and black fruits, and if it’s got decent aging, nutty undertones too. The tawny is slightly less sweet than ruby ports, so the richer, nuttier, treacley flavours work well, especially if you’re using brandy butter. This Kopke Tawny is lovely and rich, with a velvety mouthfeel complimenting any cream.

Size: 750ml
ABV: 19.5%
Find here: £14.99

Madeira

Part of Madeira wine’s fundamental manufacturing is heat, giving tonnes of stewed fruits and burnt sugar notes, as well as delicious nutty flavours. I mean, the nose often smells of Christmas cake even! They also keep their acidity nicely, which helps to avoid everything becoming a bit weighed down and cloying. It isn’t as traditional as a glass of sherry but works just as well.  This Blandy’s number is full-on and fruity, but most decent sweet Maderia wines will do the job.

Size: 750ml
ABV: 19%
Find here: £12.99 (usually more!)

Muscat

Dessert wines with carrying hints of apricot or orange work nicely, playing into the festive fruits nicely. Spanish Moscatel de Valencia is a good option – it’s a honeyed wine that’s also fresh and fruity, with lofty florality. It also provides a bit of refreshment and tang if the richness is getting a bit much,

Size: 750ml
ABV: 15%
Find here: £7.99

These Christmas sweet treats are all similar in profile, but the same cannot be said for other desserts, where they may be sharp citrus, custard or other difficult to match flavours and textures. Luckily, we have a whole guide on what to drink with Classic British Puddings here!

8 Stunning Christmas Hampers from DukesHill

Without question, a magically presented hamper is a wonderful Christmas gift, but the festive feast within has to live up to expectations, and we’ve found some that do just that.

DukesHill have built a reputation for delivering artisan hampers that blow people away, putting provenance and quality at the heart of everything they do, from their best-in-class ham to their brandy steeped award-winning Christmas pudding. They’ve even got a Royal Warrant for their cured hams, so these hampers are literally fit for a king, as well as The Ritz, Harrods, and Fortnum & Mason to name a few.

We’re featuring eight of our favourite Christmas hampers here, but rest assured, they have an entire mouthwatering food hall on their site, as well as gift boxes and year-round hampers that are just as suitable for Christmas to be honest. Also, every single hamper comes with a wicker basket for that authentic quality feel, which we love.

Without further ado, let’s get stuck into some of their juiciest offerings and enter a festive feast paradise.

DukesHill Christmas Hampers to Gift

DukesHill Deck The Halls Christmas Hamper

7 premium items fill this 14” wicker basket, which is perfect for sampling and sharing, especially for those with a sweet tooth. Gran Moravia & pistachio sables are included with fig chutney, as well as the highly acclaimed Christmas pudding, classic panettone, authentic shortbread, and a ginger biscuit chocolate bar. Oh, and it’s all washed down with a bottle of Tanners Cava Brut. Fa la la la la, la la la la!

Find here: £60

DukesHill Wine & Cheese Hamper

One of the cheaper DukesHill Hampers but completely indulgent all the same, the charming wicker basket contains a big slab of Isle of Mull cheddar and potent Cote Hill Blue Cheese, ready to marry with the crackers, apple, and sultana chutney and, the star of the show, the Chateau Argadens Bordeaux – rich, oaky and deep. It’s a complete package of harmonious pairings for a festive wine and cheese experience.

Find here: £65

DukesHill Whisky Cask Cider Savoury Hamper

This hearty hamper gets the ball rolling with the flavoursome Isle of Mull cheddar, perfectly paired with the finest charcuterie – lomo, bresaola, porchetta and pastrami. Complimenting this is their signature fig chutney and crackers, before the shining star – a litre of whisky cask cider. It’s matured for half a year in single malt Scotch casks, and delivers refreshing smoothness alongside warm, oaky vanilla.

Find here: £69

DukesHill Jingle Bells Christmas Hamper

A best-seller, this 14” wicker basket contains savoury and sweet treats for all tastes. It mostly focuses on the classics, so that’s rich honey honey-baked ham, delicate smoked salmon, black waxed cheddar, and apple & sultana chutney. The Jingle Bells sweet section is just as pleasing, with the compulsory Christmas pudding, panettone, and a dreamy premium biscuit bundle. So much quality for the price.

Find here: £75

DukesHill Bah Humbug! Christmas Hamper

This is one to get even the most anti-Christmas person into the festive spirit, with 12 delicious items representing their most popular treats. Honey baked honey ham is cured by DukeHill’s own experts, joining sliced oak smoked salmon and pork rillettes, which are an exclusive creation using peppers and spices. Beyond this, fig chutney is waiting to be paired with the black waxed cheddar, and delving into dessert, there’s handmade Loch Lomond shortbread, award-winning Christmas Pudding, Panettone and a selection of gorgeous biscuits and chocolates. Splendid.

Find here: £95

DukesHill Chocolatier's Collection Chocolate Christmas Hamper

An absolute dream for the chocoholics, this exceptional collection contains a handy hot chocolate shaker for velvety smooth hot choccy all year round, and bags of milk chocolate drops, dark chocolate orange flakes and blonde chocolate flakes to start making them with. 16 hand decorated artisan Christmas truffles are also included, alongside two luxury chocolate bars – pistachio & cranberry, and marmalade dark chocolate. Willy Wonka would be proud.

Find here: £95

DukesHill It’s A Wonderful Life Hamper

This is a top-notch all-rounder, bursting with 14 quality items. For the savoury treasures, there’s the signature Wiltshire ham (1.2kg min.), oak-smoked salmon (perfect for blinis), pork rillettes which are joined by the deliciously creamy Cote Hill blue cheese and Isle of Mull Cheddar. A fresh fruit cake, chocolate honeycomb, premium mince pies and Scottish shortbread satisfy the sweet tooth, and Tanners Cava Brut washes everything down. Dig into the basket and you’ll keep finding more… chutney, sables, oatcakes, Christmas Pudding… all generously portioned and of quintessential British quality. Christmas is well and truly sorted with this.

Find here: £195

DukesHill Truly Magnificent Christmas Hamper

We couldn’t resist including this, because if you can afford it, it’s very, very special indeed. ‘Truly Magnificent’ is the pièce de resistance of DukesHill, featuring two 20” baskets bulging with 39 festive treasures. Carefully curated, it includes a panoramic range of the best food and drink. A 4.5kg St. George’s Boneless Ham, 1k of Sliced Oak Smoked Salmon Side, a host of iconic cheeses and chutneys, award-winning Christmas pudding, brandy butter, fine chocolates… there is just too much to list. There are even five of their finest bottles, including Champagne, port and wine. ‘Truly Magnificent’ says it all really.

Find here: £895

Your Perfect Wine and Cheese Pairing Guide

Cheese and wine are an iconic match for good reason, so if you’ve never got round to pairing them or just want some mouth-watering combinations to try, then what better time than Christmas time?

From fizz to reds to whites and sweeter wines, we’ve paired your favourites with delicious cheeses that bring the best out of both of them and serve as great ambassadors for what the fuss is all about. Let’s get stuck in.

SPARKLING WINES

Champagne

For a luxurious pairing, try pairing Champagne with Truffle Brie. Brie is deliciously fatty, which coats the mouth and the super-fine bubbles of the Champagne slice through and cleanse with their sharpness, setting you up for another bite of brie, and so the heavenly cycle continues. Flavour wise, the earthy, creamy richness of the truffle brie compliments the toasty, brioche notes of Champagne. Aged Comté would go deliciously too, playing up to Champagne’s buttery and nutty notes. Any good, biscuity Champagne with mature, lively acidity would work, like the one below.

Champagne Charles Heidsieck Brut Réserve - £55

Cava

For Cava, look to hard sheep milk cheeses like Manchego, or Berks well. You get the nutty characteristics from the aging, with a slightly granular texture, caramel notes, and a tang to the finish. Similarly, to Cava, the toasty, nutty and caramel flavours develop with age, so the two converge somewhat. The gentle sweetness in the cheese is a natural partner for sparkling wine. An aged Cava like below brings gorgeous pastry and pear flavours, with refined fizz and fresh acidity.

Bodegas Sumarroca Brut Reserva 2019/20 - £13.95

WHITE WINES

Chardonnay

For Chardonnay, look to alpine-style cheeses. However, be aware that unoaked Chardonnay is crisp, and lean, whereas oaked chardonnays are more associated with toasted or vanilla notes. Provenance matters too, as the grape is malleable. From cool-climate citrus and minerality, to hotter California ripeness and full-bodied fruit – this affects the pairings. Think Beaufort for unoaked/mildly oaked cool-climate Chardonnay, with smooth, creamy texture and distinct, earthy aromas. For warmer-climate, oaked Chardonnay, go big and bold. Think buttery, creamy alpine-style cheeses like Comté Vieux with full, nutty richness and fruits or Aged Gouda for its intense, nutty flavour and crumbly texture. The oaked Coonawarra Chardonnay below from Australia has great buttery complexity.

Hollick Bond Road Coonawarra Chardonnay - £16.99

Sauvignon Blanc

Alongside a glass of Sauvignon Blanc, look to goat’s cheeses with rich. Sauvignon, with its acidic, citrussy mineral-driven chisel, slices through the rich and gamey cheese perfectly. Their acidity match, creating a refreshing and invigorating feeling. You can look to the Loire Valley, famous for both Sauvignon Blanc and ash-coated aged Chévre, for a regional pairing of mineral, grassy notes, and for Selles sur Cher, a succulent and velvety cheese with nuts, citrus, salt, and a hint of sweetness – the Sauvignon will make those bright lemony flavours sing. Check out the fresh, well-balanced number below.

Cabriz Dao Sauvignon Blanc 2021 - £12.24

RED WINES

Pinot Noir

Pinot Noir notes are full of light, fruity notes that make it a versatile dance partner for delicately flavoured cheeses. The lighter the Pinot, the creamier and softer the cheese – so, Brie and Camembert for a dreamy red fruit punch that won’t overpower the subtlety of the cheese. Elegant, light and fruity, the Walat Pinot below is perfect. For Pinots with a bit more body, really good Premium Cheddar is fantastic, where the body is full of warm toasted nuts.

Walt Pinot Noir Pfalz - £11.99

Tempranillo

Like the Loire Valley with Sauvignon Blanc and goat’s cheese, Tempranillo and Idiazabal adhere to the old saying, ‘if it grows together, it goes together’. The full-bodied Tempranillo works a treat with the harder, grainy texture of the cheese, the high tannins contrast with the buttery flavour, and both are Spanish with savoury flavours and wafts of smoke.

ROSÉ

Pale French Rosé

Pungent cheeses can easily overpower a Rosé, but there is still enough tartness to cleanse the palate of flavoursome cheeses, and Rosé is actually a flexible pairing, particularly if the Rosé has acidity, dryness, and bubbles. Fresh, young cheeses like Feta, Mozzarella and Baby Swiss all nuzzle up to the berry notes nicely, and the wine can cut through and reset the palate. We recommend a pure, smooth Havarti though, because the flavours are mellow and delicate, and the steely minerality of Provence Rosé counters the soft cheesy texture wonderfully. Check out the zippy bittersweet fruits of the bottle below, which also brings a cool saline tang.

Barbebelle Rose Fleuri Coteaux d'Aix en Provence Rose 2022 - £8.95

SWEET WINE

Port

Port and Stilton is a bonified classic pairing, and for good reason. Port brings full body, sweetness, and rich boldness – so you need a cheese stinky enough to stand up to it. A salty Blue Stilton brings pungent complexity to pair with the sweetness. A Christmas classic. The sweet but complex Tawny below is perfect.

Noval 10 Year Old Tawny Port - £25.95

For more cheese and wine pairings and tips on how to get the most out of tasting them together, explore our in-depth tasting guide here.

The Best Christmas Markets Near You in 2023

Chalets are being put up all over the UK right now, as once again, the beautiful, glittering Christmas Markets appear. It’s time to wrap up warm, cup a mulled wine, and savour a German hotdog whilst exploring the eclectic stalls.

If there’s a city you’ve been meaning to visit, then what better time to do just that than the most magical time of the year? We’ve listed some of the best Christmas Markets from across the UK below!

Hyde Park, Winter Wonderland, London

For the scale alone, we have to include Winter Wonderland. The Bavarian-style Christmas market is only part of the Wonderland, and makes up one of four gates (the Green), the other being for Cirque Berserk, the famous Ice Rink, and Santaland. Ice sculpture, ice slides, rides, a huge Disney wheel, a grotto, live music… you do need to pay an entrance fee (£5-£7.50) just to enter the market, this is London after all – but if you want loads to do, this is the place. The festive lights of Regent and Oxford Street are nearby too, as well as the best window displays in the city.

Dates: November 17, 2023 - January 1, 2024
Nearest station: Victoria and Paddington
Nearest tube: Hyde Park Corner and Marble Arch
Nearest car park: Q-Park
Website

South Bank, London

The South Bank Winter Festival, right by the London Eye, offers something a little different. There are tonnes of international dishes on offer at the stalls, the Rekorderlig Cider Lodge, and of course, that beautiful twinkling river view. Also though, there is an eclectic programme of festive shows and events in and around the area you can time your visit with.

Dates: November 17, 2023 - January 1, 2024
Nearest station: Waterloo and Southwark
Nearest tube: Waterloo, Southwark and Embankment
Nearest car park: APCOA South Bank
Website

Edinburgh Christmas Market, Edinburgh

The city of festivals hosts an iconic Christmas market, which this year has expanded from Princes Street Gardens to The Mound and a few Royal Mile spots also. With the beautiful architecture and Castle as a backdrop, this market had a huge head start already. 60,000 lights mesmerise visitors of The Street of Light, lights and laser trails decorate the Royal Botanic Gardens, lose yourself in Santa Land’s Christmas Tree maze, glide (or just remain upright) across the ice rink, and overlooking it all, the glorious big wheel. Hot Toddies await.

Dates: November 24, 2023 - January 3, 2024
Nearest station: Edinburgh Waverley
Nearest car park: Castle Terrace
Website

Winter Wonderland, Nottingham

The enchanting Christmas market, aglow with twinkling lights, stands beneath a towering Christmas tree and stunning decorations, just one facet of the grand Winter Wonderland in Old Market Square. 70 Bavarian-style market stalls offer traditional handcrafted gifts, decorations, and delectable treats, so it's the perfect place for some last-minute Christmas shopping. It’s the biggest East Midlands market, so expect a grotto, an ice rink, observation wheel, festive fairground rides, live music, and the Ice Bar. Cosy cafes and old pubs are all around the market too, so there’s no lacking in choices of where to go.

Dates: November 7, 2023 – December 31, 2023
Nearest station: Nottingham
Nearest car park: Lace Market, Trinity Square and Broad Marsh
Website

Manchester Christmas Market, Manchester

Created in 1999, Manchester has one of the most varied markets in the UK, with over 300 stalls aligning across the walkable city centre. You could start in the grand Albert Square, moving across to King Street, the Exchange Square stalls, and Cathedral Gardens before the Winter Garden at Piccadilly Gardens. In fact, there are 9 festive zones in total! Everything you can imagine is on sale, from alpaca wool slippers to Tibetan bowls. One tip, many stalls are cash only and the ATM queues get long so get cash out before!

Dates: November 11, 2023 – December 22, 2023
Nearest station: Victoria, Piccadilly, or Oxford Road Station
Nearest car park: King Street West and China Town (parking in Ancoats is quieter and cheaper, and still within walking distance)
Website

Bath Christmas Market, Bath

One thing you can’t accuse Bath Christmas Market of is being just another template market, because the 160 chalets sit between the charming Georgian streets that look like nowhere else. In the shade of the magnificent Abbey, 70% of stallholders are local, and 60% of goods are handmade in the UK, and the calibre of stalls is renowned. The whole city is a World Heritage site, so take a step back in time and explore.

Dates: November 23, 2023 – December 10, 2023
Nearest station: Bath Spa (it’s also not far from London)
Nearest car park: Manvers Street, Avon Street and Kingsmead Square
Website

Cardiff Christmas Market, Cardiff

The Times’ Number One market in the UK, it’s been running for nearly 30 years so they’re well in the swing of things by now. The focus here is on handmade craftmanship, produced mostly by local businesses – be that jewellery, exquisite glass work or ceramics. Also, artists and crafters can sell for 5- or 10-day stints, so expect new faces and gems each week. Hayes, Trinity Street, St John and Working Street – these pedestrianised areas will all be blessed with the wafts of seasonal cooking and the glint of handmade treasures.

Dates: November 9, 2023 – December 23, 2023
Nearest station: Cardiff Central and Queen Street
Nearest car park: NCP Westgate Street, NCP Cardiff Rappots
Website

Winchester Cathedral, Winchester

Winchester Cathedral’s glimmering setup is one of few UK markets to make a dent into European Top Ten lists and was also voted the 2nd best Christmas market in the UK in 2018. 100 carefully selected chalets bring this ancient Cathedral to life, offering mouth-watering food and one-of-a-kind gifts. The Cathedral Choir add to the enchantment no end too!

Dates: November 17, 2023 – December 21, 2023
Nearest station: Winchester (near Southampton, and 1hr from London)
Nearest car park: Barfied P&R and St. Catherines P&R
Website

St Nicholas Fair, York

Steeped in history and stunning buildings everywhere you look, it’s no wonder York has aced its Christmas Market. As you stroll along, you'll encounter alpine-style chalets brimming with locally made crafts, art, and delightful treats. The grand Christmas tree is one of the best, buskers fill the air, and shimmering illuminations really create a mood. York isn’t that big, so you can explore the historic centre on foot, venturing into The Shambles Market for more medieval charm. Award-winning for a reason.

Dates: November 16, 2023 – December 23, 2023
Nearest station: York
Nearest car park: Coppergate or Q-Park, but York Park & Ride is free, with £3.60 buses every 12mins.
Website

Of course, there are more Christmas markets and let’s face it, there’s rarely a bad one, but we think these stand out. Enjoy!

What Should I Drink With Classic British Puddings?

The perfect tipple with your favourite dessert – is there anything that hits the spot more? There are plenty of differing textures, flavours and of course, a lot of sweetness at play with British puddings and desserts, so a sip of the wrong drink can easily clash.

Of course, the right drink and every part of the experience can be enhanced. We’ve listed some of the drinks that work best with classic British puddings below, and as a general rule, you want your drink to be sweeter than the other dishes – especially when it comes to wine.

There are lots of other factors at play though, so scan for your favourite dessert in bold below and see what takes it to that next level.

White Wine

Riesling

We’re looking for two things – sweetness, and acidity, so that the wine doesn’t taste bitter, and so that there’s no overbearing cloying sweetness. Riesling is the most versatile food-friendly wine, and for any plain cheesecakes, it’s spot on. Also, lemon drizzle is a tough one to match with the central flavour being so bold, but a sweet Riesling works well. Lastly, if it’s a dryer Riesling with lots of citrus and green apple notes, then it will be able to slice into the sweetness of an apple crumble without clashing. This Dr. Loosen Riesling is from the Mosel Valley, which produce sweeter expressions. It also has pronounced fruits so it’s ideal.

Size: 750ml
ABV: 8.5%
Find here: £8.20

DESSERT WINE

Muscat

Muscats provided a lovely golden sweetness, slight florality and spice, as well as a lot of fruits. If you’ve got a sweet tooth, then you get sip on Muscat with chocolate cake and other sweet chocolate puddings. The same goes for Bakewell tart and bread and butter pudding, which, if you’re a fan of the sweetness, you can pair with Muscat – though this might be a little too much for some. This Italian sweety is a good place to start.

Size: 750ml
ABV: 13.5%
Find here: £10

Fortified Wine

Madeira

During its production process, Maderia wine is heated so there’s plenty of stewed fruits and burnt sugar notes, as well as nutty flavours. In fact, the nose often smells of fruit cake, so they make a heavenly couple. It’s also usually highly acidic. Madeira generally works well with chocolate cheesecake, and particularly if there are any nuts involved too. It’ll also take on the intense rich sweetness of sticky toffee pudding for a dreamy marriage of indulgence. This one from Blandy’s is full-on and fruity.

Size: 750ml
ABV: 19%
Find here: £14.99

Port

Tawny Port in particular is a great way to go, full to the brim with red and black fruits and like Maderia, those nutty flavours. It’s not as acidic as Madeira, but there’s still enough to cut through. Tawny Port provides a somewhat drier option for luxurious dark chocolate desserts, toffee/caramel cheesecakes, and sticky toffee pudding. Tawny Ports over 20 years old are also known to be complimentary with coffee cake, when the nutty nuances have really developed. This Kopke Tawny is lovely and rich, with velvety smoothness enriching any creaminess.

Size: 750ml
ABV: 19.5%
Find here: £14.99

SPARKLING WINE

Moscato d’Asti

Sparkling Moscato tend to be low in alcohol and higher in sweeter than Prosecco, so pair well with a few desserts. Most trifles in the classic format will go nicely, with the bubbles breaking up any heavy custard and cream. Moscato d’Asti is also a good choice for lighter, spongier cakes without loads of intense flavours – so almond cakes, pound cakes and Victoria sponge.

Size: 750ml
ABV: 12%
Find here: £8.99

Cocktails

Kir Royale

A nice strawberry or raspberry liqueur topped up with Champagne works a treat for berry and meringue desserts – think Eton mess and pavlova. The cassis is an obvious dream pairing for the berries, complementing the flavour and sweetness, and the Champagne provides a pleasant acidic crunch, with those bubbles refreshing the palate.

Beer & Cider

Fruit Flavoured Beers like Belgian Fruli, Kriek, and Frambozen

Raspberry or cherry beers are plentiful in the Belgian style, and pair nicely with any berry cheesecakes. Also, if you’re enjoying a chocolate pudding on the lighter side, these kinds of beers go surprisingly well, particularly if those fruits are in it of course. You could also look to these beers for Bakewell tart and cherry trifles because they have a refreshing tartness that both matches and offsets the sweetness simultaneously.

Size: 250ml
ABV: 3.5%
Find here: £2.05

Apple Cider

You can probably tell where this is going. Part of the cider resurgence has been down to their sweetness, which makes them perfect for apple desserts – especially traditional apple pies and apple crumbles. Make sure it’s a bubbly cider, and the fizz and crispness marry the warm richness of the crumble deliciously.

Size: 500ml
ABV: 6.8%
Find here: £2.50

We’ve got a few pairings guides up on the site now, so for more sweet options specific to pancakes go here!

Galvin at Windows: The New Autumnal Barolo & Truffle Menu

After the sun-kissed panoramic views of summer, the 28th floor of the London Hilton on Park Lane ushers in autumn in style, with Head Chef Marc Hardiman and the team at Galvin at Windows putting on a spectacular five-course Barolo & Truffle tasting menu.

This autumnal dining escapade features a lineup of opulent dishes, each paired with thoughtfully selected Pio Cesare wines. The Italian Vineyard, celebrating 140 years master winemaking, offers wines that perfectly complement Chef Hardiman's innovative culinary creations. From the rich and deeply flavoured Barolo Ornato 2016 to the Barolo Mosconi 2018, each sip takes the dining experience to sky high heights… beyond even the 28th floor!

They’ll be poured out in accompaniment of dishes like slow-cooked beef cheek ravioli with 5-year-aged Parmesan cream and white Alba truffle, as well as the Pheasant Farci au Gratin, finished with celeriac, blackberry and, yes you guessed it, more truffle. And if that's not enough to tantalize your palate, there's the Scottish Highlands venison Wellington with glazed chestnut, red cabbage ketchup, and sauce Périgueux, a symphony of flavours that promises to transport you to culinary heaven.

The Barolo & Truffle menu at Galvin at Windows is available for £299 per person, and with limited availability, you'll want to secure your reservation early. To sweeten the deal, the first 70 bookings will receive a complimentary glass of Louis Roederer champagne, adding an extra touch of elegance to your evening.

This special menu is available for just five weeks, from Friday, October 13th, to Saturday, November 18th, so mark your calendars because it's a limited-time opportunity to experience the ultimate in autumnal decadence.

For more information or to book, click here.
22 Park Ln, London W1K 1BE

What to eat with Albariño wine: 3 recipes

The Albariño grape’s spiritual home is in the wet, green and blustery region of Rias Baixas within Galicia, northwestern Spain. A mixture of the cool climate, proximity of the vineyards to the sea, lots of granite soils and the grape’s own characteristics give wines that are famously saline and lemon citrusy with notes of peach and a bitter kick on the finish. If you consider that what grows together, goes together then it should be no surprise that fish and seafood is king when asking what goes best with Albariño. 

Albariño can be made in various styles from zesty, youthful and lemony to more creamy, peachy, gastronomic wines. You can now even find sparkling Albariño! Here are some recipes that will pair perfectly with the three key styles of Albariño wine from this article featuring the iconic wine producer, Mar de Frades. Each recipe makes enough for four people. 

Youthful, zesty and saline Albariño

Eat: Wine-steamed mussels & baguette

Drink: Mar de Frades Atlantico Albarino 2022  - £17 from Tesco

If you’ve ever eaten steamed mussels fresh off the boat or even better, while still on the boat, then you’ll know the easiest and freshest way to eat them is with a splash of the white wine, garlic butter and a baguette. 

All you need to do once you have scrubbed the mussels and removed the wafty beard bit, is drain them, set aside and then lightly fry the chopped garlic and shallots in butter in a heavy-based pot until just brown. When they are, add a splash of Albariño and stir for a few seconds before adding the mussels and half a glass of wine. Allow to steam for 4 minutes. Discard any closed ones, pour the juice over the top and serve with a buttered baguette and delicious cool glass of Albariño.

Ingredients:

Mussels x 4 handfuls

Finely chopped garlic x 2 large cloves

Knob of butter

Salt & pepper to season

Parsley to garnish (optional)

Richer, peachy, gastronomic Albariño

Eat: Slow and low, peachy, pulled pork baps

Drink: Mar de Frades Finca Valiñas 2108 - £32 from The Great Wine Co. 

Pulled pork is one of those dishes that makes you think of high end gastro pubs; when they’re done well, and paired with a decent, cool glass of white wine, they are pure heaven! With a richer, creamier style of Albariño such as this single vineyard offering from Mar de Frades that has had more time on its lees to add texture, you can go a little heavier with the dish. Enter slow and low, peachy pulled pork!

To make this dish, first rub the pork shoulder with the blended combination of paprika, cumin, pepper, salt and sugar. Place it in a large casserole dish with the skin-side up before adding in the white wine. Cover and cook in the oven at 150C (130C fan) or Gas mark 2 for 4-5 hours until it looks like it’s falling apart. Check it every 45 mins or so to make sure it;s not drying out. You can always add more wine if needed! Remove when done, then place the pork into a large dish, pouring the cooking juice over the top. Remove the skin and shred the pork with a couple of forks, removing excess fatty bits. Leave to rest for a few minutes to blend up some good, smoky barbecue with the flesh of one ripe peach and a pinch of salt. Stir it through the pork rto coat it before serving on a fresh white bap, perhaps some slaw and extra sauce on the side and of course, a glass of gastro Albariño. 

Ingredients:

2.5kg boneless pork shoulder 

2 tsp smoked paprika

2 tsp ground cumin

2 tsp pepper

2 tsp brown sugar

1 tsp salt

2 small glasses of Albariño wine

White bread rolls

Traditional Method Sparkling Albariño

Eat: Pan fried scallops in lemony butter

Drink: Mar de Frades, Val do Salnès, Sparkling Albariño Brut NV - £29.50 from Great Western Wine (or £26.55 when you buy 12)

Scallops are a staple in Rias Baixas and there’s nothing so simple and decadent as a freshly seared plate of them served with a cool glass of saline, citrusy Albariño - especially if it’s a sparkling Albariño! For this dish, the salinity and freshness of the bubbles combined with their subtle, brioche note complement the lemony butter and fleshy scallops so beautifully.  

There’s no need to faff around to cook the scallops here; All you need to do is add some butter to a non-stick, thick-bottomed pan, warm it on a medium heat, then add the scallops, turning the heat to high and seasoning each side with a pinch of salt. Leave for three minutes or until golden, flip over and sear the other side for another minute or two, seasoning that side. Remove the scallops with tongs and put to the side on a plate. 

Add a knob of salted butter with a squeeze of lemon juice and a small splash of wine to the pan, stirring to combine the cooked bits. Add the scallops back in and baste them for a few seconds before plating up and serving with wild rice, crusty bread or even skinny fries. Deliciousness!

Ingredients: 

‘Dry’ Scallops, side muscle remove x 16

Knob of salted butter

Salt & Pepper

Chilled glass or two of sparkling Albariño

For your expert, one minute guide to Spain’s flagship white grape, Albariño, click here! For more on the three styles of Mar de Frades Albariño, click here.

Best Sparkling Wine for Afternoon Tea

There's a reason why bubbly wine is the perfect match for afternoon tea, and it’s not just adding that extra touch of excitement with every popping cork. Sparkling wines offer the best of all worlds - the crisp sweetness that pairs exquisitely with pastries and treats, the savoury charm that complements the sandwiches, and of course, effervescence to lighten up the whole affair.

They’re so good as afternoon tea companions in fact that the marriage has its own name, ‘The Sparkling Afternoon Tea’. Bearing that in mind, let’s take a look at the Best Sparkling Wine pairings for afternoon tea!

Prosecco

Maschio Prosecco DOC Extra Dry

Prosecco's light and fruity character makes it a charming companion for afternoon tea, as long as you find one with decent flavour complexity so the food doesn’t overwhelm the wine. Prosecco particularly shines with the sweet dishes, having the fruitiness and touch of sweetness required to avoid becoming overly bitter and acidic.

Size: 750ml
ABV: 11%
Find here: £8 (usually more!)

Champagne

Mercier Brut Champagne

When forced to pick only one, Champagne is probably the ultimate afternoon tea companion, or indeed ‘Royal Afternoon Tea’ as it becomes. A beautifully produced Brut Champagne like this serves as a fantastic all-rounder, with that yeasty, nutty, creamy and brioche profile complementing well. There is also enough acidity to cut through fatty, oily foods like savoury salmon, buttery pastry, and clotted cream.

Size: 750ml
ABV: 12%
Find here: £35.94

Moscato d’Asti

Moscato d’Asti DOCG Bersano

Moscato d’Asti has a similar relationship with afternoon tea as Prosecco, and if you’re looking for something to do the job whatever level of the afternoon tea you’re on, this probably isn’t it. However, when it comes to the cakes, sponges and in particular the citrus sweets, it’s fantastic. Subtle, refreshing, delicate bubbles, low alcohol and with more sweetness than Champagne but a hit of acidity too – give it a go!

Size: 750ml
ABV: 5.3%
Find here: £8.99

Blanc de Blancs

Gusbourne Blanc De Blancs 2018

There has never been a better time to pair up English wine with afternoon tea, with more and more delicious wine in production. Blanc de Blancs brings a touch of simplicity and purity to your teatime affair. Made exclusively from Chardonnay grapes, this wine offers crisp, refreshing notes that gracefully enhance buttery scones and clotted cream. For anything rich, look to fresh and lively Blanc de Blancs to lighten the experience. Gusbourne’s flagship bottle costs a bit more than most, but there’s a reason it’s one of England’s best-known wines.

Size: 750ml
ABV: 12%
Find here: £63.75

Blanc de Noirs

Rathfinny Estate Blanc de Noirs 2018

Staying with the blooming world of British fizz, this is a white sparkler made from 100% black grapes – Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier in this case. It offers more structure and something with richer fruits (cherry and baked apple) and leans more towards florality, minerality and earthiness. It’s bold and loveable and can hold its own against more intense meaty flavours, as well as sweeter red fruits. Savoury and sweet, Blanc de Noirs won’t let you down.

Size: 750ml
ABV: 12%
Find here: £38.50

The flourishing English Fizz market has tonnes of good options to pair magically with afternoon tea, so try these incredible English Sparkling Wines leading the way!