Christmas is almost here and I am counting down the minutes until I can sit back and relax with a glass of wine in hand! Of course, Christmas is a time for spending time with family, sharing gifts and love, and lots of delicious food! But our Christmas celebrations would not be complete without some seriously good wine! That’s why it’s essential to work out what your wines for the holidays are!
Both my partners family and mine have feasts at Christmas time (lucky us) and these feasts are accompanied by so much good wine. Although we don’t have snow here, we will be at the beach soaking up the sun with a glass of Champagne in hand and full bellies!
Picking wine to enjoy with your Christmas feast, or even to give as a gift, can be a tough task for anyone! How do you get something everyone will like? Will it match the food? Should you drink red even though it is 40 degrees outside? All very valid questions!
Never fear, because the Cheeky Vino is here with the top four wines for the holidays! Based on some of the wines I’ve enjoyed throughout the year, I’ve compiled a list of those that I think would take a Christmas celebration to the next level! So you can drink and be merry without needing to worry about the vino.
Top wines for the holidays #1: Ciao Bella Prosecco
My family always celebrates Christmas with Prosecco, and Ciao Bella Prosecco is one of my favourites! It is my go-to at the bottle shop, so it makes the list because it’s perfect for celebrations! You can normally pick it up for around $20 a bottle too, so for an affordable Christmas wine, this would be my pick. You can buy a case and not think twice about drinking the whole thing amongst family and friends!
Prosecco screams celebrations and the dryness in the Ciao Bella Prosecco makes it perfect for summer sipping. It is refreshment at its finest, so perfect for cooling down on a hot Christmas Day in Australia! Plus the label is super fun with the polka dots!
Sure, you could be drinking Champagne, but Prosecco is far more affordable. If you’ve got many sparkling wine lovers to please, Prosecco would be my go-to! Plus, you can even get fancy and serve up Aperol Spritz before you serve the food! Something about this simple cocktail makes me think of Summer, and its refreshing taste is sure to cool your guests down.
Top wines for the holidays #2: Miraval Côtes de Provence Rosé
When you are sitting down to a Christmas lunch in Australia, sometimes red wine is out of the question. You want something refreshing to help you cool down, rather than something too heavy. But if you love red wine, you may not want something as light as a white wine. The solution? A really delicious Rosé.
I’m obsessed with Rosé from Provence, but the Miraval Rosé is definitely one of my top picks! For starters, it has a fancy bottle which will fit right in with your Christmas decorations. But more than that, it is absolutely delicious! Easy-drinking with a good hit of acidity to make for a super refreshing drop. Keep a couple in the fridge and pull out as you go for the perfect wine for a hot day! It also goes well with so many different foods, especially seafood, which makes it perfect for Australian Christmas.
This wine would also make for a great gift because of its beautiful bottle. You can find it in most bottle stores and it is often on sale, so you can usually grab it for under $30 a bottle!
Top wines for the holidays #3: Unico Zelo Fresh A.F.
If you are in the market for a red, because hey, what’s a roast Christmas dinner without a good red, look no further than the Unico Zelo Fresh A.F. This wine is exactly what the name suggests, making it perfect for Christmas sipping. It’s the sort of red that you can drink on a hot Summer’s day because it is so lively and bright in its flavours. Being Nero d’Avola, it will also go with a lot of different dishes, making it easy to pair.
The other reason I think it is perfect for Christmas is the label and name. It’s a conversation starter, and totally Instagrammable. It is interesting and unique meaning you can show up with it to a Christmas celebration and impress people with your wine knowledge. Plus it is super affordable at around $25 a bottle!
If you are looking for something different for your Christmas table that will also keep you refreshed in the hot weather, look no further than the folks at Unico Zelo!
Top wines for the holidays #4: Taltarni Cuvee Rosé 2013
My final pick for the holidays is the Taltarni Cuvee Rosé 2013. This wine brings together my two loves: Sparkling Wine and Rosé in the best way. If you’re entertaining and want to offer something different to the usual Chandon or Prosecco, this would be my pick!
Reasons I love it? The colour for starters! Its salmon hue is gorgeous, but not as amazing as the taste of this wine! It is subtle, complex and ultimately incredibly refreshing. Not as dry as a Prosecco but with fruity characteristics that make it so easy to drink. It pairs so well with a hot Summer’s day, which means it will be right at home on your Christmas table!
This wine is perfect for Rosé lovers who want a bit of bubbly to celebrate! At under $30 a bottle, it is also quite affordable, and very easy to drink!
The final word
I hope this list helps you pick your perfect wine for Christmas. It can be hard to find wines that will bring the Christmas cheer when everyone is sweating their makeup off, but these wines are perfect for hot days. They are refreshing, different and super easy to drink! They are sure to bring the Christmas cheer to your celebration!