Top Christmas Wine Picks 2025

'Tis the season once again. When we at FromVineyardsDirect put our heads and palates together in the interest of shortlisting those wines which we feel will be particularly appropriate this Christmastime. When first and foremost in our considerations is what will resonate strongest with tradtional festive fare — and which bottles offer especially outstanding value for money. 

Start with the bubbles: 

Fizz

2020 Cave de Lugny, 'Cuvée Millésimée', Crémant de Bourgogne

Really, it might as well say 'Champagne' on the label. 'Vintage Champagne', for that matter. Because you'll simply not come closer to true méthode champenoise than this — not for just under £18 a bottle. Here, bags of fresh fruit on the nose with a hint of creamy nuttiness that lends real complexity to the palate. Extra bottle age deepens this complexity in more savoury layers that develop, making for a crémant of real sophistication offering remarkable value for money.

NV Champagne Guilleminot, 'Tradition' Brut

As ever, our go-to festive grower Champagne.  Made from 100% pinot noir for a fruit-led, yet elegant aperitif-styled champagne. Look for fresh, fragrant fruit on the nose, then crunchy berry fruit flavours combining with a classic biscuity note, a gentle mousse, and a pure, vibrant, appetising accent. Serve either as the natural aperitif or, better still, alongside oysters, prawns, any seafood selection, deep-fried hors d'oeuvres and goats' cheese.

Whites

2023 Dom. Collovray et Terrier, Saint-Véran Réserve

Essential, white Burgundy for Christmas which, at under £19 a bottle, is another example of what exceptional value there is to be enjoyed from the Mâcon. Here, one offering honeyed, tropical fruit so beautifully balanced by the crisp dryness and minerality its limestone-based terroir has provided. A glorious match with Christmas turkey and festive cheeseboard. 

2024 Famille Brocard, Chablis 1er Cru Montmains

Another Christmas staple for the smoked salmon, seafood platters and cheeseboard. Here is true, premier-cru, Chablisienne elegance:  A classically styled, 1er Cru Chablis focused especially on flinty minerality and elegance of fruit. Invigoratingly crisp, racy, expressive, and intriguingly complex, here is sleekness and the essence of cool-climate Burgundian Chardonnay.  

2024 Domaine Les Grands Bois, Côtes du Rhône Blanc, Viognier

An utterly delectable alternative for the roast bird — especially for chicken — via this classic Viognier expression from the Southern Rhône:  Golden-yellow, with an intense floral nose and hints of pear, peach, apricot, white flowers, and honey. Fresh and supple, it delivers tangy pear and lemon pith flavours, crisp minerality, and a long, full finish with subtle spicy, gingery notes and a touch of bitter quince. Also superb with creamy cheeses such as brie, camembert and chaource.

2024 Jean Pabiot et Fils, Domaine des Fines Caillottes, Pouilly-Fumé

Indispensable to the festive season. From where Sauvignon Blanc finds some of its highest expression. Here, in classic, grassy aromas with a marked hint of citrus on the nose where on the palate, a crisp mineral character and green fruit finishing long. A perfect balance of ripe, zesty fruit, and characteristic minerality. Put precisely where you would proper champagne and Chablis. 

2023 Dopff & Irion, 'Cuvée René Dopff', Pinot Gris, Alsace

Pinot Gris' natural richness, slightly exotic character and good levels of acidity mean it makes for a delicious marriage with roast pork and duck. With soft cheeses, as well. In the 'Cuvée René Dopff', perfumed and aromatic on the nose, off-dry on the palate with lychee, stone fruit, rose petal and subtle spice on the finish. Opulent, rounded, it's also superb match clove- and aniseed-seasoned gammon.

2023 Domaine des Aubuisières, 'Le Petit Clos', Vouvray Sec

Mouth-watering, 100% Loire Valley Chenin Blanc offering a refreshing core of Bramley apple fruit, a delicate, creamy texture, and thirst-quenchingly crisp freshness. A fabulous alternative to Sauvignon Blanc. And with Chenin's naturally high acidity and prominent appley fruit character, it's the perfect match with any festive roast pork or gammon recipe.

Rosé

2024 Famille Sumeire, 'Nautic' Rosé, IGP Mediterranée

A simply fabulous all-rounder rosé and very much in the Provençal style. Delightfully pale, light, and crisp; a 50/50 blend of Grenache and Cinsault for a classic-style rosé that is soft, fruity, and effortlessly drinkable — an easy crowd-pleaser and outstanding value for money. 

2024 Château Léoube Rosé, Côtes de Provence

From Provençal rosé royalty, a delicate blend of Grenache, Cinsault, Syrah and Mourvèdre, manually harvested, gently pressed, slowly extracted then fermented in all stainless-steel tank for supreme freshness and finesse and as the ultimate Christmas rosé aperitif and pairing with seafood, fish dishes and cheeseboard. 

Reds

2010 Cardus de La Cardonne, 'Cuvée Grande Réserve', Médoc

Because there must be good claret for Christmas... And much of it. Which means one offering classic expression and outstanding value. Here's a Haut-Médoc with almost a decade and a half of maturity showing aromas of dried red fruit and spice, rich favours with soft tannins and a lingering finish. Very pure and classical in style and from one of the greatest-ever vintages. It's where classic, Left Bank expression meets supreme value for money. As gorgeous a match with roast chicken and turkey as it is with beef, lamb or pork, and an indispensable Christmas all-rounder.

2017 Marqués de Tosos, Cariñena Gran Reserva

Indisputably one of our best-value finds from Spain - ever. From a far lesser-known Cariñena D.O. in east-central Spain. A Rioja-styled cuvée now offering a full eight years of maturation which, for just under £13 a bottle is value for money almost unheard of. A complex array of aromatic flavours which explode on the palate. Warm, luscious cherry and plum fruit with woodsmoke, exotic spice, and finely polished oak. Uncork this for a roast leg of lamb and prepare to marvel.

2006 Bodegas Urbina, Rioja Reserva Especial

When you find the above appealing, here's how you up the ante. With almost 20 years of mellow complexity, dazzling freshness, flavour and length - and an absolute steal for under £25 a bottle. For here is Rioja as it's meant to be experienced: with a nose of well defined black cherry, ripe plum, leather and tobacco, with seamlessly integrated oak. where the palate is round, silky and smooth, with a sumptuous, sweet mid-section of ripe berry and mature fruits. Refreshing acidity; elegant, complex, utterly classic in style. Any festive lamb dish is thus transformed. 

2024 Maison Jaffelin, Pinot Noir, Vin de France

A serious quaffer and youthful, fruity all-rounder offering hallmark pinot aromas and flavours at a ridiculously good price. Don't let the modest 'Vin de France' AOC fool you: Maison Jaffelin achieve a true authenticity of varietal expression here to provide an impressive prowess for pairing with any festive cheesboard, charcuterie platter or roast fowl dishes. 

2023 Château de Fleurie, Fleurie, Beaujolais

But what fruity, earthy, savoury, vibrantly structured red will well and truly complement the festive gammon, roast chicken, duck or fowl? Top-class cru Beaujolais from Ch. de Fleurie. Whose Fleurie '23 offers bold aromas of blackberry, blackcurrant, liquorice and spice, plus a whisper of orchard fruit. Where a mouth-watering palate bursts with dark cherry and currant, fine-grained tannins and a refreshing lift, finishing long with lingering notes of sweet cherry and spice. That's what.

2022 Bindi Sergardi, 'Achille' IGT Toscana Rosso

Christmas just isn't Natale without a bit of Tuscan goodness. Enter the ancient Bindi Sergardi family, whose lip-smacking Sangiovese-led Vino Nobile — its ripe plum, black cherry and subtle exotic spice, its vibrant, flavourful profile and soft, silky tannins, — makes for a perfect palate-freshening partner for duck, lamb and pork's natural fattiness. Smooth, medium-bodied; naturally, it's immensely drinkable on its own. 

2022 Château Saint-Jean, Plan de Dieu, Côtes du Rhône Villages

Always make room for Rône reds at Christmas. Rich, warming, spicy, deeply flavoured Syrah/Grenache-based reds, few pair so seamlessly with festive roasts — especially lamb. Especially this Côtes du Rhône Villages: pouring a deep, dark red, the 2022 bursts with aromas of spiced plum, cherry, blueberry and a hint of bell pepper. The palate brims with juicy dark and red berries, subtle spice and cracked pepper, all rounded by the vintage’s sunny generosity. 

Explore Our Full Festive Selection

Of course, it doesn't end there. (We haven't even mentioned your fine-wine options!) For further inspiration, then — not to mention terrific gift ideas — click through to our full Christmas range here. Peruse, shop, stock up: ensure you're pouring the most deliciously fitting wines throughout this festive season and beyond. 

-- David Adamick, FromVineyardsDirect