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Alsace ( perhaps a Pinot Blanc ) or why not try a Seyval Blanc from the UK ? White fish will match with most whites but , here , I would go unoaked Chardonnay , Sauvignon Blanc , Pinot Gris or a dry Italian white like Soave or Falanghina . Avoid oaked wines and reds , perhaps again with the exception of Pinot Noir .
Finally – Christmas pudding and mince pies ? Isn ’ t Christmas pudding full of alcohol anyway ? If you want more then , again , here are a few ideas you may wish to try . Above all else the wine here has to be sweet . Obviously , Port will go ( even a glass of chilled white Port ) but also here try something like Moscato Spumante , an Australian Muscat or an Italian Recioto . It may seem an odd choice , perhaps a little unconventional , but why not try some decent champagne or fizz with it too . Experiment with what you like ! Of course , many of you will be eating a mince pie or two . Here go for a sweet Muscat ( you wouldn ’ t go far wrong with a Chambers Rosewood Grand Rutherglen Muscat from North East Victoria in Australia ).
What the experts say ?
During the course of the last few years , I have been able to talk to , and interview some true wine experts . At this juncture , therefore , I thought it would be useful to return to see what some of them recommended when it came to Christmas and Christmas wines .
• Those of you who are regular readers of Wirral Life magazine may remember my interview with Oz Clarke a while ago , and the advice he gave us when it comes to Christmas and wine . First and foremost , don ’ t splash out like mad on a wine , or on a style of wine , that you don ’ t know . What you should do is trade up a notch on what you do know – so if you like Chilean Merlot , trade up and buy a slightly more expensive one . Don ’ t experiment – trade up within your own comfort zone ; and don ’ t necessarily go for the wines that have been discounted . As to individual wines – Sauvignon Blanc is one wine he would trade up on for Christmas . With Christmas pudding he recommended some Muscat , or even Asti Spumate ( again trading up here where you can ).
• Previously I also interviewed head sommelier , Sarah Donoher , from the Art School restaurant in Liverpool . I asked her what she would recommend . With a traditional turkey Christmas dinner , she would normally stick to traditional French wines . From the huge choice that France offers , when it comes to wine , she recommended a Meursault ( white Burgundy ).
• In a recent interview with Richard O ’ Mahoney , from Atlas Fine Wines , I quizzed him for a bit of advice as to what to drink at Christmas . The view was simple : “ Above all else Christmas and New Year are a time for Champagne ”. More than that , the message was that it really is possible to drink exceptional champagne if you are prepared to step off the treadmill of the well-known brands . He recommended long championed growers such as Egly-Ouriet , de Sousa and Guy Charlemagne , to name a few . The answer to the question was finished with : “ These are much smaller in scale than the well-known and ubiquitous , established brands . All the grower ’ s efforts and investment are dedicated to the quality of the wine , rather than being poured into large marketing budgets and sponsorships . The quality can therefore be much higher per pound in your glass , a point that many Champagne buyers continue to miss . Heed the advice !” You can buy a range of champagnes directly from them ( www . atlasfinewines . com ).
Whatever you buy – buy what you like ; but the universal advice is to trade up on what you like . For those of you who want something decent , or perhaps want to trade up a little , I hope this article has given you some ideas and , again hopefully , some pointers in the right direction .
Obviously , I appreciate that not all of us will be heading down the turkey route this Christmas . If you are not , but are perhaps going for some sort of red meat , or a richer meat , then you can go bigger and bolder with your wines .
Whatever you drink – enjoy it ! Happy Christmas . wirrallife . com 37