Australian Wines for Christmas: The Perfect Pairings for Your Holiday Celebrations
Australian Wines for Christmas: The Perfect Pairings for Your Holiday Celebrations
As Christmas approaches, thoughts naturally turn to festive gatherings, delicious meals, and, of course, the perfect wine to accompany the occasion. Whether you’re planning a traditional Christmas lunch, or a laid-back holiday brunch, choosing the right wine can elevate your celebration and bring a touch of elegance to the festivities. And what better way to celebrate than by investing in some great Australian wines?
Australia is renowned for its diverse wine regions and exceptional varietals, offering a wide range of wines that are ideal for Christmas. Whether you prefer sparkling wine, refreshing whites, bold reds, or sweet dessert wines, Australia has something to suit every taste and every course of your holiday feast. In this blog, we’ll guide you through some of the best Australian wines for Christmas, highlighting festive pairings and recommendations for different holiday occasions.
Australian Wines Online provides a huge choice of wines suitable for the Christmas feast, and also puts together some great special cases suitable for celebrating that special day. Full details are shown in the section below.
- Sparkling Wines: A Festive Start to Christmas
No Christmas celebration is complete without the pop of a bottle of bubbly. Whether you’re toasting on Christmas morning, starting your holiday lunch, or raising a glass at a party, sparkling wine brings an air of celebration to any occasion. Australian sparkling wines are a fantastic choice for Christmas, offering elegance and finesse at a fraction of the price of their European counterparts.
- Tasmanian Sparkling Wines
Tasmania, Australia’s cool-climate region, has earned a reputation for producing some of the finest sparkling wines in the country. Known for their bright acidity, fine bubbles, and complex flavours, Tasmanian sparkling wines are perfect for starting your Christmas celebrations.
One standout option is Jansz Premium Cuvée, a sparkling wine made using the traditional method (just like Champagne). With its zesty citrus notes, green apple flavours, and creamy texture, Jansz is ideal for serving alongside canapés, oysters, or smoked salmon on Christmas morning.
- Australian Sparkling Shiraz
For a real Australian twist try one of the many great sparkling shiraz wines available in the UK. Sparkling shiraz is hugely popular in Australia as a drink for all celebrations.
Try the Peter Lehmann Black Queen Sparkling Shiraz as an example of the best this style of wine has to offer.
- White Wines: A Versatile Choice for Christmas Lunch
For Christmas lunch, white wines can be a versatile and refreshing option, particularly when paired with seafood, poultry, or vegetarian dishes. Whether you’re enjoying a classic roast turkey, prawns on the barbecue, or a festive ham, there’s an Australian white wine to complement the meal.
A well-balanced Chardonnay is a classic choice for Christmas, offering richness and depth without being overpowering. Australian Chardonnays from regions like Margaret River, Victoria and the Yarra Valley deliver beautiful expressions of this versatile grape.
For a holiday feast, try Ladies Who Shoot Their Lunch Chardonnay from Fowles. It has been the winner of multiple awards including best wine with food, and is a great option for the lighter courses of Christmas lunch.
If your Christmas menu features seafood or ham, a Riesling from Australia’s Clare Valley or Eden Valley regions can be the perfect match. With its bright acidity, citrus notes, and sometimes a hint of sweetness, Riesling pairs wonderfully with dishes that have a touch of spice or sweetness, such as glazed ham or Asian-inspired seafood.
Grosset Alea Riesling is a top pick for Christmas, offering zesty lime and lemon flavours with a crisp, refreshing finish. It’s perfect for cutting through rich, savoury dishes, adding a vibrant contrast to your Christmas table.
- Red Wines: Bold Choices for a Hearty Christmas Meal
For many, red wine is the star of the Christmas table, especially when served alongside rich, hearty dishes like roast beef, lamb, or even a Christmas ham. Australia is famous for producing bold, fruit-driven red wines, making them an excellent choice for your festive feast.
When it comes to Australian reds, Shiraz is a classic. Known for its bold flavours of dark fruit, spice, and velvety tannins, Shiraz is a perfect match for the strong flavours of roast meats, especially lamb or beef.
A bottle of Tyrrells Rufus Stone Heathcote Shiraz is a great option for Christmas dinner. This wine offers a wonderfully fragrant, intoxicating aroma of dark berries and white pepper. The palate is medium to full bodied with great fruit intensity and a perfect balance between the French oak, silky tannins and bright acidity.
Great for a well-balanced Christmas lunch. Quality without being obtrusive.
For those who prefer a more structured red wine, Cabernet Sauvignon from regions like Coonawarra or Margaret River is a fantastic choice. Cabernet’s firm tannins and flavours of blackcurrant, mint, and eucalyptus pair beautifully with roasted meats, especially beef, or even a festive beef Wellington.
Try Vasse Felix Filius Cabernet Sauvignon for your Christmas feast. This wine is luscious and juicy upfront, the dark berry fruit is complemented by savoury elements of beef stock and dried woody herbs. There is a wonderful length of flavour as the palate transitions to a fine, textural and dusty drying finish, in classical Cabernet style. A perfect wine to enhance the Christmas feast.
If you’re looking for a lighter red wine option, Pinot Noir is a great choice, especially for poultry dishes like turkey or duck. Australian Pinot Noir, particularly from regions like Yarra Valley and Tasmania, offers bright red fruit flavours, silky tannins, and a hint of earthiness.
Soumah Yarra Valley Pinot Noir from Yarra Valley is a standout option for Christmas. It has a nose of wild strawberry and allspice veiled with black pepper. The palate shows fresh summer pudding notes of berries and cream, underlined with a bright seam pf acidity and very gentle minerality.
An ideal wine for meat and mushroom dishes
- Dessert Wines: A Sweet Finish to Your Christmas Meal
No Christmas celebration is complete without dessert, and having the right wine to accompany it can make the finale even more memorable. Whether you’re serving Christmas pudding, mince pies, or a cheese board, an Australian dessert wine can be the perfect accompaniment.
Australia is renowned for its fortified wines, and Rutherglen Muscat is one of the country’s most iconic styles. Rich, sweet, and packed with flavours of dried fruit, nuts, and caramel, Muscat is the perfect wine to pair with Christmas pudding, fruitcake, or even a rich chocolate dessert.
The Campbells Rutherglen Muscat is a decadent choice for the holiday season. With its intense sweetness and velvety texture, it’s a wonderful way to finish your Christmas meal, whether sipped on its own or paired with dessert.
Luscious, honeyed flavours of peach and pineapple are well balanced by a refreshing, natural freshness.
- Mixed Cases: An Easy Option for Christmas
If you’re hosting a large gathering or simply want to cover all your bases, a mixed case of Australian wine can be a convenient and cost-effective solution. Many online wine retailers, including Aus Wines Online, offer curated selections of Australian wines, featuring a variety of reds, whites, and sparkling wines to suit every taste and course.
Choosing a mixed case ensures you have the right wine for every moment, from the pre-dinner toast to the dessert course. It’s also a great option if you’re looking to try something new or introduce your guests to a range of Australian wines.
We have two different special cases for Christmas. These are tailored to suit your budget and tastebuds.
Both cases contain Two whites, Two reds, a sparkling and a sweet wine.
You can see our entertaining case 1 by clicking here and our case 2 by clicking here.
Conclusion: Celebrate Christmas with Australian Wines
Christmas is a time for celebration, and there’s no better way to elevate your holiday festivities than with a selection of exceptional Australian wines. Whether you’re starting the day with a sparkling toast, enjoying a hearty Christmas lunch, or indulging in a sweet dessert wine, Australian wines offer a diverse range of styles and flavours to suit every moment of your Christmas celebration.
At Aus Wines Online, we offer a wide selection of Australian wines perfect for the festive season. From bold Shiraz to elegant Chardonnay and everything in between, explore our range and find the perfect wines to make your Christmas merry and bright.
Australian Wines for Christmas: The Perfect Pairings for Your Holiday Celebrations.