Whites for Christmas: choose from these crackers
France: Tête à Tête Pinot Gris Riesling 2016 Pfaffenheim
Let’s get the party started with this very expressive, affordable Alsace blend. You don’t often see these two grapes in the same cuvée, but this example works rather well with riesling giving acid zip and freshness and pinot gris adding a smoky musky undertone.
£7.99, Lidl
Italy: Petite Arvine 2016 La Crotta di Vegneron 2016
A hidden Italian gem, this fragrant, spicy, unoaked white hails from the beautiful Alpine Valle d’aosta region north of Turin. The rare petite arvine grape is usually found across the border in Switzerland’s Valais region. It makes delicious zesty, creamy whites with a real vibrancy and mountain freshness which would work well as an aperitif or light fish starter. £12.95, The Wine Society, www.thewinesociety.com
South Africa: Jordan Estate Barrel Fermented Chardonnay 2016
Looking for an elegant gently oaked chardonnay to serve with turkey? This was a clear winner in our tasting for value for money. With its rich toasty aromas, light smoky palate, vibrant acidity and a good length, this Stellenbosch chardonnay really delivers. £12.99, Rude Wines, www.rudewines.co.uk
France: Bourgogne Blanc 2015 Clothilde Davenne
If you normally drink chablis, give this superb white burgundy a try. It hails from vineyards near Prehy village, one of 20 villages allowed to produce chablis. With an enchanting toasty bouquet, crisp high acid palate plus minerally notes; this is a very good unoaked chardonnay.
£13.45, www.
fromvineyardsdirect.com
Italy: Capovolto Verdicchio Dei Castelli Di Jesi 2014 La Marca di San Michele
This is from a family winery in Cupramontana in Italy’s east
coast Marche region. Made from 30-year-old organic vines grown on sandy tuffo soils, this wine has citric floral aromas with nutty honeyed notes and a rich creamy palate from nine months lees ageing – no oak. £15.99, Raeburn Wines, Edinburgh
Germany: Burkheimer Feuerberg Grauburgunder 2016 Bercher
This beautifully made rich, intense pinot gris with a touch of honeyed sweetness is made in the Alsace style on the volcanic slopes of Kaiserstuhl – just across the river Rhine from the Alsace region. It has a little extra weight from a portion of barrel ageing. £20, The Wine Society, www. thewinesociety.com
South Africa: Mullineux Old Vines White 2015
If you normally drink vouvray, give this old vine chenin blancdominant Cape white a try. The multi award-winning Mullineux family winery have crafted a very rich white with a voluptuous fleshy palate containing apricot and peachy notes and a long finish – with enough fresh acidity to serve with goose. £22.25, Berry Bros & Rudd, www.bbr.com
France: Arbois Chardonnay 2015 Domaine de la Pinte
For those who like to experiment, this chardonnay hails from Jura near the Bresse plain in eastern France. Winemakers Bruno Ciofi and Emmanuelle Goydadin use biodynamically-farmed grapes grown on limestone soils and oak ageing to create this unusual, buttery, honeyed chardonnay with hazelnut notes and a zesty, spicy finish. Serve with slow roasted pork, turkey or Epoisses cheese.
£16.50, Marks & Spencer
California: Pinot Gris Trenton Station 2010 Joseph Swan
A rare example of mature bottle aged Californian pinot gris from a small Sonoma producer. Swan’s son-in-law, Rod Berglund makes this rich, creamy, leesy pinot gris; it would suit chardonnay lovers. £19.99, Raeburn Wines, Edinburgh
Italy: Pecorino Terri Di Chieti 2016 Umani Ronchi
From Collecorvino near Pescara in Abruzzi region on Italy’s east coast, this is one of the best value examples on the market from the popular pecorino grape, which has been making a name for itself with its easy drinking combination of crispness and rich textured creamy palate; would suit anyone who normally drinks soave.
£11, Marks & Spencer
New Zealand: Trinity Hill Marsanne/viognier 2015
An intriguing blend of two white Rhône grapes: 55 per cent marsanne with 45 per cent viognier. Both are usually tricky to grow as acidity can plummet quickly as flavour ripens, but they have performed well in the Gimblett Gravels region of Hawkes Bay. Very pungent tropical fruit bouquet with a rich lush palate, light oak notes from barrel fermentation and maturation. £22.99, Valhalla’s Goat, Glasgow; Liberty Wines
New Zealand: Rosie’s Block Chardonnay 2015 Neudorf
One of the finest Kiwi oaked chardonnays from Nelson’s top winery, Neudorf. Initially crisp with zippy acidity, wonderful purity of citric fruit, seamlessly integrated oak and a lovely creamy leesy palate.
n £22.50, www.winedirect.co.uk; £25.95, Berry Bros; £28, www. thenewzealandcellar.co.uk