Our Deli aims to stock everything you may need at Christmas (except your turkey!) and the Mainstreet team are here to help provide recommendations and suggestions if need be. Bill has brought together his 12 wines of Christmas – perfect for gifting or bringing out when hosting friends and family. From a bottle of bubbly to a new orange wine, there should be something in this mix to suit everyone’s tastes.

So that everyone has the specifics, the layout of information is as follows [Bottle, year (Country) – Grape | Vineyard (extra information)]

Sparkling

Brut, Non-Vintage (England) – Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Pinot Meunier | Wiston (Vg)

A gorgeous glass of English bubbly to go with Scottish Smoked Salmon. What more do you need on Christmas morning? Tasting notes of green apples and creamy, refreshing citrus mousse with a long dry finish.

Stars Brut Reserva DO Cava, 2021 (Spain) – Macabue, Xarel-Lo, Parellada | Perelada (Vg)

Amazing value for an aged Cava. Perfect for all the celebrations over the coming month. Fine bubbles, aged charcteristics, dry and both fruity and biscuity on the palette.

White

Cami del Drac Carignan Blanc VDF, 2022 (France) – Carignan Blanc | Terres Fidèles (Vg, no fining)

A good all rounder; ample acidity to go with fish dishes, bags of Roussillon character making it an interesting aperitif also. Has an aromatic, grassy and a balanced mineral acidity.

Armador, 2021 (Chile) – Sauvignon Blanc | Odfjell (Organic, Vg)

For those in the family who particularly like a very dry sauvignon, this Chilean white made by a Dane in Valle de San Antonio would be a perfect accompaniment for seafood or salad. It has an intense fresh and slightly mineral nose, with notes of grapefruit and citrus flowers.

Malvasia, 2022 (Italy) –  Malvasia | Fabulas (Organic)

This wine is a star like it’s label. The lush aromatic and exotic floral notes, with it’s golden texture, make it a wine fit for the three Kings of the Orient.

Red

Rosso Biologico, 2022 (Italy) – Nero D’Avola | Fabrizio Vella (Organic, unfiltered, Vg)

This is our go to fruity red. Unfiltered, unfined full of Sicilian goodness. Nothing has been taken away from this and nothing has been added (apart from a tiny bit of sulphate at bottling). This is a wine which is spicy and packed full of punchy liqourice, chocolate, and dark fruits. Crisp, pleasant and persistent in the mouth.

Cotes du Rhone Nature, 2021 (France) – Grenache, Syrah | Domaine Roche-Audran (Organic, no added Sulphites, biodynamic, native yeasts)

If you want a red that’s got all the low intervention characteristics that you are looking for and delivers a spicy, fruity, grown up wine, full of flavour then this one knocks it out of the park. With southern Rhone spiced fruit and wild strawberries, it is silky and with good medium tannins.

Chianti Classico Riserva DOCG, 2020 (Italy) – Sangiovese, Merlot | Castello di Meleto (Vg, Organic practices)

Bring this out for the main meal at Christmas or New Year. Treat yourself to a Riserva with all the taste from Tuscany to push the Turkey, Beef or Ham to another dimension. This wine has tastes of intense ripe fruit with hints of Christmas spice and oregano. Soft and opulent.

Orange/Rosé

MK1 Pinot Noir Rosé, 2021 (New Zealand) – Pinot Noir | Zephyr Wines (Vg, Organic Certified)

Don’t overlook Rose at Christmas. This wine is so versatile and matches with all sorts of dishes; it will go with smoked salmon, the turkey and is lovely on it’s own. With it’s salmon pink colour and tasting notes of strawberry and cherries it has a good acidity.

Solara Orange, 2022 (Romania) – Riesling, Sauvignon Blanc, Feteasca Albă, Chardonnay | Cramele Recas (Vg, Skin contact, unfiltered, unfined, organic practices, native yeast, low intervention)

Fresh and citrusy but with complex structure making this wine so good to match with spicy food and mature cheese. A long standing best seller at Mainstreet. It has tasting notes of elegant stone fruits and structured tannins.

To Retire With

Cadillac, 2019 (France) – Semillon | Chateau Haut Mouleyre (50cl, Botrytis desert wine)

This stunning pudding wine from Bordeaux is fabulous with Stilton as well as being a go to for sticky puddings. Or try with a baked apple and extra thick cream. It is an opulent textured sweet wine with essences of honey and creamy pears.

Pedro Ximenez, NV (Spain) – Pedro Ximenez | Diatomist (Traceable, oxidative sweet sherry)

There is so much going on in a good PX. It’s a meal in itself. Luxuriously sweet and with bags of dark boozy fruit. Obviously goes well with Stilton but will give the Christmas pudding a run for its money so you don’t even have to have any if you are too full! Has tasting notes of dark chocolate, figs and baked plums, leather and smoke.

When prompted to pick his favourite of this selection Bill could not help but choose a bottle of elegant red. The Chianti Classico Riserva came out top for him but what will you choose?