Christmas wines Five to uncork at the festive table

CHRISTMAS means many things to many people, but there’s one thing we all agree on: the food and drink are a highlight. From a flute of fizz to celebrate the present opening to a glass of white or red to toast the effort that goes into making the menu so special, here are some favourite wines in tune with traditional Christmas fare.

Andre Vannier Chablis 2015 (£8.99, Aldi)

This top-value chablis has a pure, pale lemon hue with floral and citrus aromas that lead to a refreshing, minerally palate with enough depth to pair with all those smoked salmon starters.

Villiera Traditional Barrel-Fermented Chenin Blanc 2016, South Africa (£12, Marks & Spencer)

An exciting white if you like more tinsel on the texture, this is aromatic and buttery with citrus fruits, spice and honey, enhanced by apple, tropical fruits and vanilla aromas from time spent in oak. Polished with a seductive richness to give plain turkey an extra lift.

Extra Special Chateauneuf-du-Pape 2015 (£12, Asda)

A bottle of Chateauneuf-du-Pape signals a special occasion and this brambly beauty is a gift at the price. Youthfully intense, it’s still loaded with berry fruits and spicy highlights. Match it with cranberry sauce, stuffing and gravy.

Beronia Reserva Rioja 2011 (£12, Waitrose)

This has all the classic mellow black cherry fruits, liquorice, cloves, spice and oaky vanilla that glide along on a velvety palate. A top drop with all the trimmings.

Finest Trilogy Malbec 2014, Argentina (£10, Tesco)

Dark and brooding, this malbec offers plush aromas of cherry and plum with oak driven tones of chocolate backed by more ripe plums, spice, black pepper and vanilla. If you’re a malbec fan heading home for Christmas, you can’t go wrong with this on the big day.