DRINK Celebrate with some champers

What to serve with Christmas Day brunch for the first cheers of the day

WHAT better excuse than Christmas Day to drink champagne from start to finish?

Opt for something light, fresh and elegant for mid-morning sipping. A lot of champagne aficionados ask if it’s OK to serve Bucks Fizz. As long as it’s fresh orange juice and good champagne.

What to drink with turkey Turkey and all of the trimmings requires a champagne with more weight and flavour concentration, suggesting vintage rather than non-vintage champagne. Many vintage champagnes on the market are around eight to 10 years old and will have been aged longer at the cellar, giving greater complexity and ability to complement an indulgent Christmas day feast.

Try: Champagne Moet & Chandon Grand Vintage 2009, £52, Clos 19

What to drink with alternative roast meats, such as goose Most people associate rose with al fresco summer moments, but Laurent-Perrier Cuvee Rose is the perfect accompaniment to meats such as goose. Made from pinot noir grapes, the brief maceration of juice on skins gives an attractive rose colour, while the acidity and tannin cut through the richness of the meat.

Try: Champagne Laurent-Perrier Cuvee Rose Brut NV, £60, Waitrose.com

Select a light champagne with some sweetness to counterbalance the richness of Christmas pudding

Try: Taittinger Nocturne Champagne, reduced to £28 from £35, Tesco

PHOTOGRAPH: ALAN DONALDSON