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We follow many northern hemisphere Christmas traditions Down Under, but we do have a few twists. Seafoods and meats are mostly served cold, and berry-topped pavlovas and trifles are strong features of the day. There are one or two Christmas wines that signify our celebrations, too. Ahead, find a selection of bottles ideal for the season and to open at every stage of the day.
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Bubbles for Christmas breakfast
- Pertaringa Lakeside Moscato, $20
- Pizzini King Valley Brachetto, $19
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Champagnes for Christmas celebrating
- Billecart-Salmon Brut Reserve Champagne, $79
- Bollinger Special Cuvee Champagne, $80
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White wines for the Christmas table
- Coldstream Hills Reserve Yarra Valley Chardonnay, $60
- Forest Hill Vineyard Block 1 Mount Barker Riesling, $45
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Red wines for the Christmas table
- Golding Wines Ombre Adelaide Hills Gamay, $35
- Ashton Hills Clare Valley Sparkling Shiraz, $50
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Sweet wines for Christmas dessert
- R. Paulazzo F-1366 Riverina Botrytis Semillon (375ml), $28
- Morris Old Premium Rare Liqueur Rutherglen Muscat, $78
There’s nothing like opening something fizzy to kick off a celebration, and sparkling wine in all its forms can work with everything from salty ham sandwiches to flaky pastries. Don’t be afraid to look to sweeter, lighter alcohol styles for first thing in the morning.
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Festive events are a great excuse to splash out on extra-special bottles, and everybody enjoys sipping a great glass of Champagne. Choose an elegant style with a name that people will get excited by – the major Champagne houses are available for relatively affordable prices, too.
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Medium-bodied whites are versatile to have around, working with everything from the seafood starters to the lighter white meats. Aromatic varieties, such as albarino and riesling, are also food-friendly and refreshing in between courses.
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While a big, bold red is hardly what you’ll want on a hot day, lighter styles like gamay will be perfect served slightly chilled and with the meaty mains. Sparkling shiraz is also an Australian festive favourite, and depending on the style, would go great with something like a glazed ham. The sparkling red ahead is special in that the shiraz is sourced from cult Clare Valley winery Wendouree.
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Late-picked and botrytised sweet wines have the ability to both cleanse the palate with their acidity and stand up to fruit-sweet desserts, such as pavlova. For richer Christmas dishes like plum pudding, look to the beautiful dried fruits and spices of an Australian fortified – the below is a steal.
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If you’re looking for a wine to gift this Christmas, don’t miss these tips.
