How to save money with great wines that match festive foods
Christmas is a budget-busting time for most of us, even if the pain is delayed until the credit card bills arrive in late January. We’ve put together a shortlist of great wines to drink over Christmas and New Year, at prices you’ll love. We’ve also matched them to the kinds of food most Aussies eat at this time. Please check our post on buying wine the smart way as well over HERE.
Traditional Christmas dinner
Roast turkey with with roast potatoes, pumpkin and the rest. You’ll see wine writers suggesting a light red such as Pinot Noir or Beaujolais, but a sparkling red will match the cranberry sauce better.
For the Turkey per se, a big, rich Chardonnay is the best bet. Domaine Astruc Chardonnay 2012 is $15 at Dan M’s. It’s a rich, nutty beauty from the south of France that’ll stand up to the big bird. West Cape Howe Old School Chardonnay – $16 at Winesellersdirect – is a good choice from W.A.
For those of you who love roast beef for Christmas, here are a couple of great Aussie reds: Amberley Secret Lane Cabernet Merlot 2012 – $11 at MyCellars, and Gipsie Jack ‘Terrier’ Shiraz Cabernet Sauvignon 2012 – $15 at WSD. Both have won more bling than Paris Hilton wears.
For barbecued meat and salads, we’ve picked a couple easy-drinking but tasty reds: Luccarelli Primitivo Zinfandel 2013 – $13 at Winesellersdirect, and St Hallett Gamekeepers Shiraz Grenache Touriga 2013 – $12 at Winesellersdirect. Both offer superb value.
Cold cuts
Cold meats like roast chicken and honey-glazed ham Riesling and chicken are a match made in heaven – try Annie’s Lane Riesling for $12 at Jim’s Cellars or Claymore Joshua Tree Riesling 2013 – $14 at Kemenys.
With the traditional Christmas ham, a good, well-chilled rosé makes a great partner on a hot Christmas day. Yalumba Y Series Sangiovese Rosé is just $10 at Dan M’s and fits the bill nicely. Hidden Label McLaren Vale Sangiovese Rosé 2014 – $13 at Kemenys is a more refined type with an Italian accent.
Roast Pork (cold or cooked) and a rich Pinot Gris go really well together, even in Asian dishes, with the wine matching the sweet nature of the pork. Hidden Label Adelaide Hills Pinot Gris 2013 is a great choice for $13 at Kemenys. Another option is Taylor’s Gewurztraminer for $14 at Jim’s Cellars. This is a dry but rich wine that tends to surprise people with its great flavour.
Seafood
Barbecued seafood is a good match with a fuller-flavoured Chardonnay like the Ravenshead Margaret River Chardonnay 2012 – $10 at Kemenys. For more spicy Asian seafood dishes, a tangy, savoury Savvy is a better counter – Yealands Land Made Series Sauvignon Blanc 2013 is about as good as it gets and just $14 at Kemenys.
Delicate fish dishes like tempura prawns or battered flathead will go well with a modern, clean and tangy style of Chardonnay such as the Lock & Key Chardonnay 2012 – $13 at Kemenys. This chardy from cool Tumbarumba is a terrific example.
Dessert
With the traditional Christmas pudding, we’d serve a Rutherglen Tokay slightly chilled. Buller’s Fine Old Topaque is $19 at Dan M’s for a 750ml bottle, a real bargain. Morris Classic Liqueur Topaque is $17 for a 500ml bottle at Dan M’s. A touch more class here but both work really well all kinds of desserts including chocolate.
For lighter, more modern desserts, we’d choose a ’sticky’, a sweet dessert wine such as Taster’s Choice Botrytis Semillon 2010 375mL for $8.50 at Dan M’s or de Bortoli Deen Vat 5 Botrytis Semillon 2009 375mL – $10.50 at Dan M’s. Both offer apricots and marmalade with a hint of honey.
Bubbles
Azahara Chardonnay Pinot Noir Nv – $9 at Graysonline in an unbroken 6-pack. You won’t believe how smooth this is. Madame Coco Brut NV $14 at Kemenys is a smart bubbly with a smarter label and a strong French accent. For a few dollars more, Petaluma Croser NV is a serious bargain for $17 at OurCellar.
When you feel like red bubbles, Leconfield Syn Sparkling Coonawarra Shiraz is a rich, velvety number for $15 at Winedirect. Seppelt Original Sparkling Shiraz 2012 – $18 at WSD – is the original and a very good choice.
If you’ve had a great year and feel like making a big splash, you could go nuts and buy a lovely bottle of Dom Ruinart Blanc de Blancs for $89 at Wineonline.
