WHAT WINES TO SERVE AT CHRISTMAS? THE BEST CHRISTMAS WINE AND FOOD PAIRINGS

In France, this meal is ceremoniously divided into the aperitif, starter, main course and dessert.

WHICH WINES TO SERVE AT CHRISTMAS? THE BEST CHRISTMAS FOOD AND WINE PAIRINGS

Christmas is fast approaching and with it, the traditional Christmas meal. In France, this meal is ceremoniously divided into the aperitif, starter, main course and dessert. A copious meal if ever there was one, the Christmas meal sees a succession of quality dishes: foie gras, oysters, snails, smoked salmon, turkeys with chestnuts or even the famous Yule logs for dessert. And who says quality food on a festive occasion says appropriate food and wine pairings. Then comes the question that arises every year: which wines to choose to accompany this Christmas meal? What to plan for the aperitif? Which white wine for Christmas? Which red wine for Christmas? And above all: what wine to end on a high note, and deliciously accompany the Yule log?

What to drink as an aperitif for Christmas?

As an aperitif, a sparkling wine is a must to highlight the festivities: Champagne, Vouvray or Crémant will be your best allies. If Champagne is a classic must, do not hesitate to explore other French sparkling wines. In Alsace, Burgundy and the Loire Valley in particular, they use grape varieties different from the Champagne grape varieties and offer aromatic profiles that allow you to play the originality card.

If your aperitif is accompanied by foie gras, oysters, snails, or smoked salmon, opt for a Champagne Blanc de Blanc, an Aslacce extra brut or a Vouvray fines bulles. If you are not a fan of bubbles, the same aperitif can be elegantly accompanied by a mineral white wine. Think Chablis, Riesling d’Alsace, Anjou or Saumur blanc, or even a Muscadet.

What wine to accompany the Christmas turkey?

During a big celebration, it can sometimes be tempting to bring out great red wines. Be careful though, because the traditional Christmas dish is turkey with chestnuts, or stuffed capon. These two dishes are based on poultry with dry flesh and fatty skin. We therefore recommend that you opt for either:

For a round and mellow red wine: a Burgundy wine (Nuits-Saint-Georges, Chambolle Musigny, Beaune), a Côte du Rhône nord (Gigondas, Côtes du Rhône Village), a red wine from the Loire (Anjou Village, Chinon, Saumur-Champigny) or a red wine from the Beaujolais crus (Morgon, Moulin à Vent, Chiroubles);

For a robust white wine: a Hermitage, a white Châteauneuf du Pape or even a Meursault will go perfectly.

Prefer Bordeaux, southern Côtes du Rhône and full-bodied Languedoc wines for beautiful red meats, or game and stewed dishes. For duck lovers, we recommend pairing this typical South-West dish with South-West wines: Gaillac red, Cahors, Bergerac red, or Pic-Saint-Loup.

Be careful, if you serve cheese between the main course and dessert, do not automatically use the wine from the main course on the cheese. Most red wine and cheese combinations are not suitable.

What wine should be served with the Yule log?

Here is the long-awaited final piece, the famous Christmas dessert: the Yule log. For this combination, the starting point is the high sugar content of this dessert. A sweet dish also corresponds to a sweet wine. Then, the key will be to know how to create the resonance between the taste of the wine and the taste of the log:

Red fruit logs pair very elegantly with the exotic fruits and floral aromas of a Gewurztraminer from Alsace;

Chocolate logs will go with a naturally sweet red wine, such as a Maury, a Banyuls or a Rivesaltes wine;

Hazelnut logs bring out the autolytic flavors of sparkling wines and give perfect pairings with Champagnes and Crémants ranging from brut to sweet. Or with the aging aromas of sweet wines from the Loire (Bonnezeaux, Quarts de Chaume, etc.);

And finally, for a log with exotic fruits or citrus fruits, we recommend the classic Sauternes or the famous Montbazillacs.

Enjoy your meal, and above all: happy holidays!