What wine to choose for Christmas? Our ideas for each dish…
Among the great pleasures of the holiday season, gathering with family around a true feast is certainly one of the highlights. These meals, always memorable, feature refined ingredients and carefully crafted recipes. The final touch to a successful menu, food and wine pairings must also be perfectly orchestrated. So, what wine to choose for Christmas? Discover our suggestions to elevate your different dishes, with selections available online from the Château La Nerthe, Château de Corcelles, and Château des Tours boutiques.
Which bottle to serve as a Christmas appetizer?
Among all the Christmas meal ideas, many include a refined appetizer. Foie gras is one of the classic staples. Whether cooked or semi-cooked, it forms a superb pairing with the Clos de Beauvenir 2023 from Château La Nerthe. This blend of Roussanne and Grenache Blanc from the Châteauneuf-du-Pape appellation is distinguished by its exceptional, infinitely elegant and deep personality. Its freshness and nectarine-like sweetness create a wonderfully balanced contrast with the richness and creaminess of foie gras. For a pan-fried version, opt for a fruity and supple red wine, such as the Le Perréon 2022 from Château de Corcelles.
Another festive classic is scallops, for example, enhanced by a topinambour cream with hazelnuts. To accompany this with style while surprising your guests, turn to a wine from Beaujolais, such as the Chardonnay 2023 from Château de Corcelles. Behind its pale golden hue, this white wine blends the minerality of its grape variety with the delicately wooded influence of barrel aging—perfect to complement the scallops.
What food and wine pairing to favor for the main course of a Christmas meal?
Christmas main courses, often generous and flavorful, call for wines that will magnify their intensity. For bold meats in sauce, such as game, the Cuvée des Cadettes 2020 from Château La Nerthe is the ideal companion. This Châteauneuf-du-Pape wine, dominated by Grenache Noir and complemented by Syrah and Mourvèdre, is both powerful, complex, and refined.
The Les Tours 2022 from Château des Tours, in the Brouilly appellation, also ensures a remarkable pairing. This 100% Gamay from Beaujolais is made from old vines perched on an amphitheater around the estate, releasing all their richness and concentration. With aromas of cassis and cherry, accented by subtle spicy notes, it combines complexity, balance, and indulgence.
However, if you prefer to serve a white meat to your guests, such as a roasted turkey with a butternut-hazelnut-parmesan crumble, let yourself be seduced by the Brouilly Les Roches 2021 from Château de Corcelles. This 100% Gamay boasts smooth tannins, nourished by a refined and persistent style. The Les Clavelles 2021 from Château La Nerthe, from an extraordinary plot of pure Grenache, is also a delightfully harmonious choice with its elegant density and the purity of its fruit.
Which wine to choose for Christmas at the cheese course ?
The cheese platter remains one of the most anticipated parts of the festive meal. Choosing the right wine for this key moment deserves special attention.
For white wine, opt for the Les Cassagnes de La Nerthe 2023, a Côtes-du-Rhône Blanc blending Viognier, Grenache Blanc, Roussanne, and Marsanne. This wine, reflecting its vineyard between Mediterranean forests and garrigue, is seduced by aromas of apricot, fresh pear, and white peach. Its citrusy mouth offers the ideal liveliness for enjoying fresh goat cheese. It also pairs beautifully with a young comté, whose firm texture and delicate aromas complement the wine’s freshness.
For a red wine and cheese pairing, head to Beaujolais with the Fleurie Poncié 2022 from Château de Corcelles, which invites you to a moment suspended between strength and finesse. Its mineral and undergrowth notes, along with dark fruit, elegantly unfold throughout a powerful yet refined mouthfeel. This wine pairs perfectly with a creamy brie, whose smooth texture and softness complement the richness of the Fleurie. You could also opt for a mild blue cheese like blue de Gex, whose creamy texture and slightly tangy flavor pair wonderfully with the fruity and mineral notes of the Fleurie.
Finally, which wine with a festive dessert?
The grand finale of the meal, dessert, adds a touch of indulgence to the Christmas dinner or Christmas Day lunch. And the chocolate Yule log often seems like an obvious choice. In this instance, the Château La Nerthe 2021 cuvée makes a lasting impression. This blend of Grenache Noir, Mourvèdre, Syrah, and Cinsault perfectly embodies the terroir of Châteauneuf-du-Pape. Its notes of ripe cherries and strawberries, enhanced by spicy touches, pair well with the richness of the chocolate, while its freshness and the subtlety of its tannins add a pleasant lightness.
In AOP Brouilly, the Combiaty 2020 from Château des Tours is also an excellent choice with its enticing concentration, expressive fruit, and the typical minerality of its appellation. For spirits enthusiasts, the Fine du Château La Nerthe (only available at the estate’s cellar) is a vintage eau-de-vie perfect for a chocolate Yule log, with its ample mouthfeel, dried fruit aromas, and a long, balanced finish.
From appetizers to desserts, you now know which wine to choose for Christmas. And if, after finalizing your menu, you still need to complete your gift list, our gift ideas for wine lovers are here to inspire you. Merry Christmas to you!