Translation missing: en.Wines to Start Stocking Up On for Christmas 2015: Wines to Start Stocking Up On for Christmas 2015

Christmas is a time when people are generally in a celebratory holiday mood, and the wine is flowing to accompany an array of scrumptious foods!

Some households might be planning a formal sit-down dinner with separate courses and all the trimmings, including traditional turkey with vegetables and cranberry sauce, and plum pudding with brandy sauce to follow.

Others might decide on a more informal affair such as an Aussie barbecue of beef, chicken and seafood with salads followed by pavlova (naturally!) or platters of food for people to help themselves.

Whichever way you choose to celebrate, it’s really very easy to find suitable wines from Veno to match with your Christmas menu.

Here are a few suggestions.

Italian sparkling wines:

Italian sparkling wines can go beautifully with elegant finger foods and of course to propose a toast. Examples of food pairings include:

Food: Canapés and / or seafood such as prawns, crayfish, or scallops.
Wine: These can pair particularly well with an Italian sparkling rosé or white. Examples include Bortolomiol Filadra Brut Sparkling Rosé from Veneto, Angelo Bortolin Prosecco also from Veneto, or the lively and fresh Mirabella Franciacorta Brut NV.  

Whites:

In general, whites pair well with lighter dishes such as the following:

Food: Chicken, grilled fish, risotto, pasta, veal, quail, or pork dishes.
Wine: A lovely Pinot Grigio white, such as the La Vendetta Pinot Grigio from Veneto, or a citrusy flavoured Australian Sauvignon Blanc.

Reds:

Reds are usually better with more hearty meals such as red meat. Here are some examples:

Food: A traditional roast such as rare fillet of beef with Yorkshire puddings, or beef steak cooked on the barbecue.
Wine: A Central Otago Pinot Noir variety such as the full-bodied and plummy biodynamic Burn Cottage Pinot Noir from New Zealand makes a good match for these dishes. Another affordable option is Wild Rock Cupids Arrow Pinot Noir with its red berry aromas and dark spices.

Food: Roast turkey with cranberry sauce, or a seafood option such as grilled salmon.
Wine: A lighter-bodied fruity Australian Pinot Noir, such as Warramate Pinot Noir from the Yarra Valley in Victoria, or Moorooduc Devil Bend Creek Pinot Noir with its spicy raspberry flavours from Moorooduc winery.

Pinot Noir wines can also pair well with coq au vin, duck, or a traditional Christmas ham.