The 20 best wines for Christmas 2019
Pick from good-value supermarket reds and whites, a brilliant own-label champagne, cheap yet cheerful fizz and a gorgeous port – discover our best wine buys for the festive season.
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Whether you want to treat yourself or impress family and friends, we've hunted out this year's best value reds, whites, port and fizz – and even an olive oil – ranging from bargains to more indulgent buys. There are 10 bottles to keep for entertaining, an 10 bottles that make fabulous gifts.
Read on to discover our 20 standout buys. For more gift ideas and foodie buys, visit our review section. You'll find gift inspiration, spirit reviews, taste tests and over 200 buyer's guides offering unbiased, expert advice on which products are worth investing in.
Bouvet Ladubay Saumur Brut NV France
One sip of this sparkling wine, made in the Loire, and you will never say 'prosecco' again.
£12.99 single bottle or £10.99 on mix six deal – buy now from Majestic Wine
Niepoort The Senior Tawny Port NV Portugal
Tawny port is aged for a long time in barrels so it’s paler in colour, with rich flavours of raisins, caramel and roasted nuts. Just gorgeous with hard cheese or chocolate, or chilled on its own.
£20.95 for 70cl bottle – buy now from slurp.co.uk
Valpolicella Valpantena 2018 Italy
A red that is as bright and juicy as a black cherry; the bittersweet flavours of valpolicella go beautifully with festive food. Pour with a turkey, cranberry and sausagemeat stuffing sandwich.
£7 per bottle, £42 for case of 6 – buy now from M&S
Villa Pani Pecorino Terre di Chieti 2018 Italy
This pecorino (the grape not the cheese) is from Abruzzo and all about the thick taste of white peach and preserved lemon. Smoked salmon here we come.
£8, buy in-store from M&S
Araldica Piemonte Cortese 2018 Italy
Crisp and light, all lemons, pine needles and a hint of stone, this is a great white for every occasion from quiet nights in to Christmas parties.
£6.50 per bottle, £78 for a case of 12 – buy now from The Wine Society
Taste the Difference 12 Year Old Pedro Ximenez
This sherry is one of the sweetest wines in the world, tasting like molasses with liquidised raisins. Pour it over vanilla ice cream for an instant dessert.
£8 for 75cl bottle – buy now from Sainsbury’s
Old Vine Garnacha 2018 Spain
Some of the world’s best value red wine is made in Spain from garnacha – this is exuberant and juicy, all red berry flavours. Great for large gatherings.
£5.35, buy in-store from Co-op
Robert Oatley Signature Series Chardonnay 2017 Australia
White burgundy lovers ahoy – modern Australian chardonnay is great value and very satisfying. Think toasted hazelnut with hints of lemon curd.
£12 a bottle – buy in-store from Co-op
Caronne Ste Gemme 2014 Haut-Médoc Bordeaux France
A rich, cabernet sauvignon-based claret, all cassis and cedar, that tastes even better the day after opening. A good Christmas Day option.
£16.99 single bottle or £14.99 on mix six deal – buy now from Majestic
Les Pionniers Brut Champagne NV France
An outstanding champagne – easily the best supermarket own-label. Based on pinot noir, it’s savoury and structured. For a creamier, chardonnay-based champagne, try Tesco Finest Premier Cru NV (£20).
£18.99 a bottle – buy in-store from Co-op
Taste the Difference Touraine Sauvignon Blanc 2018
This crisp breeze of a sauvignon blanc is suitable for plant-based eaters because it uses a clay called bentonite as part of the clarification process, rather than egg or milk-derived casein.
£6.50 a bottle – buy now from Sainsbury's
Cosme Palacio Vendimia Seleccionada 2016 Spain
A gloriously smooth and polished rioja that has been aged in oak but doesn’t foreground the oak in the style. Beautiful.
Currently unavailable
Davida Navarra 2018 Spain
My osteopath said he and his partner were seeking to cut down their consumption of sulphites – could I recommend a wine with none added? Yes! This juicy red from northern Spain.
£8 a bottle – buy in-store from Co-op
Baron de Ley Reserva Rioja 2015 Spain
Proper red wine in a two-thirdssized bottle isn’t easy to find, but this one’s a gem.
£6.25 a bottle – buy now from Morrisons
Les Jardiniers Muscat St Jean de Minervois France
Refreshing as well as sweet, this vin doux naturel tastes of orange blossom, fresh grape juice, honey and white blossom. Great for dessert with chocolate cake.
£5.25 for 37.5cl bottle – buy now from Sainsbury’s
Berry Bros & Rudd Blanc de Blancs Champagne by Le Mesnil Grand Cru Brut NV France
A glorious champagne, made entirely from chardonnay, all creamy with Grace Kelly elegance and a lemon posset brightness.
£33 a bottle – buy now from Berry Bros & Rudd
Cullen Mangan Vineyard Sauvignon Blanc Semillon 2017 Margaret River Australia
Vanya Cullen is something of an Earth mother. Her wine is biodynamic, she buys natural power through the state electricity grid and offsets carbon emissions. Oh, and the wine is beautiful.
£20.64 a bottle – buy now from Drinks & Co
Oeil de Perdrix Rosé NV Champagne
An elegant pink champagne that smells of crushed summer berries and brioche.
£27.99 single bottle, £24.99 in mix six deal – buy now from Majestic Wine
Domaine du Grapillon d’Or Gigondas 2016 France
This gorgeous, ripe gigondas from the southern Rhône is a sumptuous festive drink.
£20.99 a bottle – buy now from Waitrose
This review was last updated in December 2019. If you have any questions, suggestions for future reviews or spot anything that has changed in price or availability please get in touch at goodfoodwebsite@immediate.co.uk.
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