Christmas is fast approaching again this year!
Christmas is a time to spend time relaxing with loved ones, such as family, loved ones and friends.
The perfect drink for such a situation is wine.
Having good wine at Christmas will naturally get the conversation flowing and liven up the atmosphere.
If you are planning a lavish Christmas meal, be sure to find the perfect wine to go with it and prepare it in advance.
Having the right wine to go with your meal will surely make for a special and memorable Christmas.
In this article, a sommelier who loves New Zealand wine will introduce some recommended wines for Christmas, focusing on New Zealand wines.
We'll introduce wines that are suitable for different occasions and dishes, as well as wines that make perfect gifts, so be sure to find your favorite wine in time for Christmas.
What's your favourite wine for Christmas?
In this article, I will introduce my favorite New Zealand wines. But first!
Here is a brief explanation of Champagne, a Christmas classic.
Champagne is perfect for glamorous events.
Champagne is the most famous sparkling wine in Japan.
In fact, its official name is "Champagne," which is said to be the closest pronunciation to the French word "Champagne."
Champagne is a sparkling wine produced in the Champagne region of France. In addition to its high-quality aroma and flavor, it is also gorgeous, making it a popular wine for events and celebrations.
It is brewed using a very time-consuming process called "secondary fermentation in the bottle," and as "there is no such thing as cheap champagne," it has become a popular wine gift item.
So, the wine you can't go wrong with at Christmas is Champagne.
However, for those who want to try wines that are not standard this year, or who want to try something different from the usual, I recommend New Zealand wines.
Now, we will introduce some New Zealand wines recommended by our sommeliers, depending on the occasion.
A homely dinner with family and friends
When spending Christmas with family, friends, and other close people, many people may want to enjoy a relaxed meal with a relatively affordable wine.
However, since Christmas only comes once a year, you want to choose a wine that is affordable but has a reputation for its aroma and flavor, making it a great value for your money.
The New Zealand white wine we recommend for such occasions is Villa Maria Private Bin Sauvignon Blanc .
Villa Maria is a leading New Zealand wine company.
This wine has a strong, gorgeous aroma of citrus fruits such as lime and grapefruit, and sweet aromas like passion fruit. It is very fruity and has a refreshing style that is easy to drink even for those who are not used to drinking alcohol.
Villa Maria Private Bin Sauvignon Blanc
| Winery Name | Villa Maria |
|---|---|
| Series name | Private Bin |
| Grape variety | Sauvignon Blanc |
| Origin | Marlborough |
| Vintage | 2022 |
| Suggested retail price | 2,200 yen (tax included) |
Villa Maria is a winery that has won numerous awards, including a silver medal at the 2018 New Zealand Wine of the Year awards.
It's great value for money, so it's recommended for those who are drinking New Zealand wine for the first time.
A large-scale house party
If you have a large number of guests at a party, what kind of wine should you choose? Whether you are the host or a guest bringing wine, it can be a bit of a hassle.
At such a large and glamorous party, you can't go wrong with sparkling wine. Opening a bottle of wine itself is a great way to liven up the party, and it's also perfect for toasting.
Furthermore, at parties where people often bring in food or prepare hors d'oeuvres, a versatile wine that can be paired with a variety of dishes is useful, and sparkling wine is excellent in this respect as well. It goes well with any type of food, whether Japanese, Western, or Chinese.
The standard sparkling wine is, of course, "Champagne". However, if you think it's a bit expensive, we have some recommended New Zealand wines for you.
It is Mansfield & Marche Méthode Traditionnelle NV . It is a full-fledged sparkling wine made by secondary fermentation in the bottle (Champagne method), but it is affordable at less than 3,000 yen.
It features fine bubbles and a lemon-like acidity that will make your party even more lively.
Mansfield & Marche Methode Traditionelle NV
| Winery Name | Wine Portfolio |
|---|---|
| Grape variety | 51% Pinot Noir, 39% Chardonnay, Pinot Meunier 10% |
| Origin | Hawke's Bay |
| Vintage | Non-Vintage |
| Suggested retail price | 2,915 yen (tax included) |
For things to keep in mind when bringing sparkling wine to a party, please refer to the "Sparkling Wine Etiquette" section in the latter half of the article.
Dinner with a special someone or anniversary
When choosing wine for a special dinner with your lover or someone special, there is one thing you should keep in mind: choose a wine that has many elements , such as concentration and complexity .
Such complex wines, far from simple, go well with rich, flavorful dishes, giving you a special taste.
For a special Christmas dinner, the New Zealand red wine we recommend is Mahi Pinot Noir .
It has an elegant and gentle flavor, but also has many layers of complex umami, creating a unique flavor. This Mahi Pinot Noir goes well with a wide range of dishes, from delicately flavored dishes to meat dishes.
Mahi Marlborough Pinot Noir
| Winery Name | Mahi |
|---|---|
| Grape variety | Pinot Noir |
| Origin | Marlborough |
| Vintage | 2019 |
| Suggested retail price | 4,950 yen (tax included) |
By the way, the name "Mahi" comes from the Maori word for "handicraft," the indigenous people of New Zealand.
I think it would be wonderful to drink handmade wine that is full of the maker's feelings while talking with a loved one.
An all-purpose wine that can be enjoyed as an aperitif, toast, or with a meal
For an aperitif or toast, we recommend a slightly rich sparkling wine .
We have just introduced some casual sparkling wines that can be enjoyed by a large group, but if you want to splurge a little more and choose a special sparkling wine, we have some recommended New Zealand wines.
It is an authentic sparkling wine that rivals Champagne. It is "Perolus" made by the prestigious New Zealand winery "Cloudy Bay" , and is made through secondary fermentation in the bottle.
Cloudy Bay Perolus
| Winery Name | Cloudy Bay |
|---|---|
| Grape variety | 60% Chardonnay, Pinot Noir 40% |
| Origin | Marlborough |
| Vintage | Non-Vintage |
| Suggested retail price | 4,730 yen (tax included) |
Cloudy Bay is a winery under the umbrella of MHD, the company that produces the famous champagnes Dom Perignon, Moet & Chandon, and Veuve Clicquot.
This wine also has an elegance reminiscent of champagne.
Wines to pair with classic Christmas dishes
So far, we have introduced wines that go well with different Christmas occasions.
However, wine is typically chosen based on how it pairs with the food, so if you have already decided on your main dish, one approach is to look for a wine that goes well with that dish.
From here, we will introduce wines that go perfectly with popular Christmas dishes.
Roasted chicken/Fried chicken
For dishes that feature chicken, such as roasted or fried chicken, try pairing a slightly richer white wine.
The recommended New Zealand wine is Pegasus Bay Chardonnay .
The strong aroma of the barrel makes this a wine suitable for special occasions. It is quite expensive for a New Zealand wine, costing over 5,000 yen, but the aroma and flavor are unmistakable.
Pegasus Bay Chardonnay
| Winery Name | Pegasus bay |
|---|---|
| Grape variety | Chardonnay |
| Origin | Canterbury/Waipara |
| Vintage | 2019 |
| Suggested retail price | 7,480 yen (tax included) |
Although it is a white wine, it is a little heavy. If you are preparing several bottles, it is best to bring them later in the dinner.
Roast beef and beef stews
When you eat dishes that use red meat such as beef, you want to pair them with red wine. In particular, Bordeaux blend wines, such as Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot, are a perfect match for red meat.
When it comes to red wine in New Zealand, Pinot Noir, with its gentle aroma and flavor, is the mainstream, but Bordeaux-style wines are also produced in New Zealand, although in small quantities.
A recommended Bordeaux-style New Zealand wine is Osawa Wines ' Flying Sheep Merlot Cabernet Sauvignon .
This winery is run by a Japanese man, Taizo Osawa. Osawa Wines specializes in making wines with rich flavors, and this wine has a rich fruit flavor and a fragrant barrel aroma, with a pleasant aftertaste.
Osawa Wines Flying Sheep Merlot Cabernet Sauvignon
| Winery Name | Osawa Wines |
|---|---|
| Grape variety | Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon |
| Origin | Hawke's Bay |
| Vintage | 2016 |
| Suggested retail price | 3,520 yen (tax included) |
This wine has lovely flavors of blackcurrant and blackberry and goes great with stewed beef dishes!
pizza
Pizza is also popular at Christmas as it is easy to eat and everyone can enjoy it together.
Nowadays, it is becoming more common to have a single pizza with different sauces and toppings. For such pizzas, we recommend rosé wine, which can be paired with a wide range of ingredients.
Our recommendation for a New Zealand wine is Atarangi Rose.
The gorgeous, slightly deep pink hue will liven up the Christmas party mood.
The wine uses five different kinds of grapes, giving it a complex flavor. It has multiple elements, such as the freshness of the fruit and the bitterness from the skin, but the firm acidity balances them all out.
Atalangi Rosé
| Winery Name | Ata Rangi |
|---|---|
| Grape variety | Pinot Noir, Cabernet Franc Merlot, Syrah, Pinot Gris |
| Origin | Martinborough |
| Vintage | 2022 |
| Suggested retail price | 3,300 yen (tax included) |
Dry rosé wine can be called an "all-purpose wine" and goes well with a variety of dishes, from vegetables to fish and meat.
It's also great for parties!
[Extra Edition] Japanese cuisine seasoned with soy sauce and sugar (such as sukiyaki)
Since Christmas is originally an overseas event, the main dishes at parties tend to be Western-style. However, as an extra, we thought up a "Japanese Christmas" version.
When it comes to Japanese food that is often eaten on special occasions, there are dishes that use soy sauce and sugar, such as sukiyaki. Pinot Noir, a classic New Zealand red wine, goes well with the seasoning of this classic Japanese dish.
The recommended New Zealand wine is Lawson's Dry Hills Reserve Pinot Noir , an authentic Pinot packed with fruitiness.
Although it has a complex flavor, the berry nuances dominate, so it's not too difficult to understand, which is the wine's greatest appeal.
Lawson's Dry Hills Reserve Pinot Noir
| Winery Name | Lawson's Dry Hills |
|---|---|
| Grape variety | Pinot Noir |
| Origin | Marlborough |
| Vintage | 2019 |
| Suggested retail price | 4,125 yen (tax included) |
Pinotir's gentle aroma and flavor go well with delicately seasoned dishes such as Japanese cuisine.
Wines to pair with desserts
Speaking of Christmas, one of the things to look forward to is the cake after the meal. This year, why not try pairing wine with dessert as well as with the meal?
In Europe, the basic combination is to pair sweet desserts with sweet wines. Sweet wines go well with cakes and ice cream, of course, but they also go well with salty or strong cheeses, such as Gorgonzola blue cheese.
The recommended dessert wine from NZ is Seyfried Sweet Agnes Riesling .
This sweet wine has won numerous awards around the world. It has a concentrated flavor like stewed fruit, and the flavor lasts for a long time.
Seyfried Sweet Agnes Riesling
| Winery Name |
Seifried |
|---|---|
| Grape variety | Riesling |
| Origin | Nelson |
| Vintage | 2019 |
| Suggested retail price | 4,400 yen (tax included) |
Try pairing this sweet wine with Christmas cake or after-dinner desserts. It will make for a very rich dessert time.
Affordable wine for loved ones
After introducing recommended wines for different occasions and meals, we will now introduce wines that are perfect as gifts for special people.
Let's start with relatively affordable wines, with a base price of less than 5,000 yen.
A recommended NZ wine is Palliser Estate Pencarrow Pinot Noir .
Martinborough, where Palliser Estate winery is located, is said to be the region in New Zealand with the closest climate to Burgundy. Many of Martinborough's Pinot Noirs are known for their elegant flavor.
Palliser Estate Pencarrow Pinot Noir
| Winery Name | Palliser Estate |
|---|---|
| Grape variety | Pinot Noir |
| Origin | Martinborough |
| Vintage | 2020 |
| Suggested retail price | 4,235 yen (tax included) |
The label is also artistic and stylish. This is one of my personal favorites.
A rich wine for someone special
If you want to give a slightly more luxurious gift, give a wine that can be enjoyed with age.
One NZ wine I would recommend is Man O' War's Ironclad Bordeaux Blend .
This wine is in a class of its own among NZ wines, and while it is delicious now, it can also be aged for another 5 to 10 years.
Osawa Wines Prestige Collection Cabernet Sauvignon & Merlot
| Winery Name | Osawa Wines |
|---|---|
| Grape variety | Cabernet Sauvignon 50% Merlot 50% |
| Origin | Hawke's Bay |
| Vintage | 2013 |
| Suggested retail price | 5,500 yen (tax included) |
If you like strong red wines, you will surely scream "This is it!" the moment you drink this wine.
It really has a rich flavor!
Ideas for enjoying wine at your Christmas party
From here on, we will introduce some useful things to remember and ideas to help you enjoy Christmas even more.
Sparkling wine making
When you want to enjoy sparkling wine at a party, it's useful to know a few basic tips.
There are two things to be careful of:
- Do not subject the product to vibrations when carrying it.
- Chill in the refrigerator for at least half a day
Sparkling wine bottles are filled with carbon dioxide gas. If you accidentally shake the bottle while carrying it, it can be dangerous when opening it. It can also affect the taste of the wine to some extent, so please be careful when carrying it.
As a guideline for chilling, it is recommended to keep it in the refrigerator for at least half a day, so it is a good idea to deliver the wine to the party venue the day before.
Similarly, if you are the organizer, please make sure to purchase your supplies the day before and keep them properly chilled in the refrigerator.
Get a wine cooler
If you want to enjoy white wine or sparkling wine at a party, a wine cooler is useful.
A wine cooler is a container that can be used to simply cool wine on a table. Ice water is placed inside the container to cool the wine bottle.
With this wine cooler, you can keep your wine cool even in a heated room or next to hot food such as a hot pot.
There are some relatively affordable ones available now, and if you're having trouble storing them, a vinyl bag type that can be folded up compactly may be convenient.
Choose a wine glass to make your special day even more special!
Once you have chosen your wine, you will probably also want to consider the wine glass.
Here we will introduce "champagne glasses" and recommended wine glasses.
Champagne glasses
Depending on the type of wine, different glasses may be used.
Especially for champagne, the long and narrow "flute glass" is popular. This is because the bottom of the glass is scratched, which makes it easier for bubbles to form. In addition, because the glass is long and narrow, the surface area that the wine comes into contact with the air is small, so the carbonation does not escape as easily.
The beautiful sight of the bubbles rising is a great way to lift your spirits, making flute glasses ideal for celebratory occasions such as parties and weddings.
However, the shape of the glass has recently undergone some changes, and it is becoming more common to see glasses that are wider in the middle and have a narrower mouth. This type of glass has a large surface area, which allows you to enjoy the aroma of the drink.
If you don't have a champagne glass like the ones above, you can use a regular wine glass. It may not have the same special feel as a flute, but it has the advantage of allowing you to fully enjoy the aroma of the wine.
Maximilian Riedel of Riedel, a leading wine glass manufacturer, has said that the time has come when it is acceptable to drink champagne from large wine glasses such as Bordeaux glasses.
Certainly, I think that many people want to enjoy the richness of the aroma, so pouring sparkling wine into a large glass is a good choice.
Riedel Glasses
Riedel is an Austrian company that was the first in the world to propose using a different glass for each type of wine grape, allowing you to enjoy the aroma and flavor together.
Riedel wine glasses are also recommended for those new to wine.
This Christmas, it might be a good idea to choose a proper wine glass. You will be able to enjoy the aroma and flavor of the wine even more!
For more information on wine glasses, check out this article.
▶ Wine Basics [Drinking Wine] Part 1. About wine glasses
Let's make mulled wine!
Finally, we will introduce "mulled wine" as a way to prepare wine.
Drinking mulled wine on a cold day will warm not only your body but your soul as well.
The wine used for mulled wine does not have to be expensive; it can be anything that has been opened a few days ago or left over from cooking.
I'll also post the recipe.
【material】
- Red wine…100ml
- Orange juice…40ml
- 1-2 cloves
- Cinnamon powder...a little
【How to make】
- Place all ingredients in a heat-resistant cup and mix gently.
- Heat in the microwave for about 1 minute
summary
Many people may choose to spend Christmas relaxing at home with loved ones, such as family, friends or a partner.
For a "Christmas at Home," why not try serving wine? It will instantly brighten up your usual dinner table!
Read this article to find the perfect wine for the occasion and dish, and have a wonderful Christmas!
