Best Wines for Christmas
Christmas is one of those times when the right wine can lift the whole occasion. Christmas wines need to handle a long meal with multiple courses, rich foods and a wide range of guests. This guide gives you the styles to look for, the bottles that consistently deliver, and ideas if you are bringing wine as a gift.
What to pour at the table
Sparkling for the toast, a versatile Pinot Noir or Burgundy for the meal, and a dessert wine for the pudding. The traditional choices for Christmas have evolved over the years and there is no single right answer — but the styles below are the ones that hosts and guests both reach for time and again.
If you are giving wine as a gift
Vintage Champagne, a top Burgundy, Brunello, or a great Tawny Port all work as a Christmas gift bottle. A bottle of wine remains one of the most thoughtful christmas gifts because it gets used, shared and remembered.
Find wines for this guide at Prism Fine Wine
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Frequently Asked Questions
What wine is traditional for Christmas?
Christmas wines need to handle a long meal with multiple courses, rich foods and a wide range of guests.
What is the best christmas wine to gift?
Vintage Champagne, a top Burgundy, Brunello, or a great Tawny Port all work as a Christmas gift bottle.
How many bottles do I need for christmas?
Plan on roughly half a bottle per adult guest as a baseline, more if the meal runs long or you are pairing different wines with different courses.