Festive tipples

Les Mouettes Picpoul de Pinet, €16.99, on sale at €13.50 until January, Simply Better at Dunnes Stores

At Christmas time, the French celebrate oysters with big platters served at family gatherings on Christmas Eve and more Irish people are embracing this tradition, especially given the quality of Irish oysters. Les Mouettes Picpoul de Pinet is just the thing to enjoy – whether you’re serving oysters or not.

It is wonderfully crisp with zingy lemon flavours sitting alongside peach and melon with a touch of honey rounding it out. With good minerality and high acidity, it cuts through the fattiness of fried food so it is also a great wine to enjoy with fish and chips on those lazy winter evenings when you couldn’t be bothered cooking.

Specially Selected Chablis Premier Cru, €19.99, Aldi

This is, in my opinion, the Christmas dinner party pleaser. Chardonnay is a good pairing for turkey, especially a big buttery Californian, if you are to strictly stick to the wine rules. However, that isn’t for everyone, and chablis is more of a party pleaser. Chablis can be expensive, but this Premier cru from Aldi has all the flavour without the excessive price tag.

Citrus and pear flavours come to the fore and the apple has a richness to it, more a spiced apple, with notes of honey and a touch of créme Anglaise. Flint flavours add good minerality on the finish.

Robert Weil Riesling Trocken, €26.95, on sale at €23.95 until 1 January, O’Briens Wines

A good riesling is always on my Christmas wine list and the Robert Weil Riesling is one that has been developed on a family-run winery in Rheingau, Germany, where there is an emphasis on sustainably managed vineyards.

This is a dry riesling with pops of green apple, pear, apricot and peach which gives it a good freshness and acidity, balanced with some aromatic tones. As the grapes are grown in soil dominated by loess, it has clean minerality on the finish. This would be great with a charcuterie board with plenty of prosciutto.

Santa Rita Medalla Real Gold Medal, €20, on sale at €15, Dunnes Stores

In those lazy days between Christmas and New Year’s, I love to put on a rich ragu early in the morning and let it bubble away, developing flavours all day. Then following an afternoon Christmas movie, it’s ready to be enjoyed. And this Medalla Real Gold Medal from the Santa Rita range is the perfect accompaniment.

A Chilean cab sauv, it has rich fruit flavours of blackberries and blueberries with dried figs. A little hint of vanilla and and some soft spice notes accompanied by well rounded tannins lead to a really satisfying finish.

Châteauneuf-du-Pape, €18.99, Lidl

Lots of families like to serve châteauneuf-du-pape with their Christmas dinner. Why? It’s a Christmas treat in many households, ours included. And when better to enjoy than the big dinner?Technically, the wine snob in me would suggest a pinot noir, but given the nation’s love of châteauneuf-du-pape, it does work well, especially if you’re partial to accompanying the turkey and ham with lots of sauces.

Lidl is serving this up at a great price point, especially if there are lots of people around the table. With a soft palette, strawberry jam, red cherry and blackberry notes are complemented by soft tannins, leading to a good finish.

M&S Collection, Margaux, €28, on sale until 4 December, M&S

Margaux gives me Downton Abbey vibes. Not surprisingly, it can have a high price point and isn’t an easy find on the wine shelves, so it was a real treat when M&S Collection added margaux to their offering. A blend of cabernet sauvignon and merlot, and aged for 12 months in oak barrels, it has succulent notes of blackcurrant, plum and spice.

What really makes this red shine is its silky mouthfeel. The tannins are well balanced, making it an elegant wine. If you’re steering away from the traditional turkey for Christmas dinner and thinking about beef, duck or lamb instead, this would pair exceptionally well.

Arthur Metz Crémant D’Alsace, €15, SuperValu

Crémant is a gem in the wine world. It’s made in the same traditional method as champagne, which is labour intensive and complex, but the grape varieties used aren’t as limited. Hence, the reason you get lots of great bubbles but without the big price tag.

Arthur Metz is one of the largest wine groups in Alsace, with plenty of expertise, and this crémant – made mostly from pinot blanc – has notes of baked apple and brioche flavours, with a fig mousse and a toasty finish. If you’re planning on serving Irish smoked salmon for your Christmas dinner starter, this would start the meal on the right note.

M&S Delacourt Rosé champagne, €39, M&S

This is a champagne with plenty of flavour but without the price tag that comes from the traditional champagne houses. With strawberry, redcurrant and red cherry flavours, it has a delicious brioche base and pops of caramel sweetness. A hint of spice gives it a memorable finish.

Consider this wine for an after-dinner treat. You could serve with a fruit-based dessert such as a winter berry pavlova or alternatively, pair with a cheese and charcuterie board. Don’t go too heavy on the cheese – instead, stick with soft, creamy options, such as brie, camembert or goats cheese.

Veuve Clicquot Yellow Label, €66, available from leading

independent off-licences including O’Briens Wines and Avoca

A real Christmas treat, this is a champagne to savour. The Veuve Clicquot Yellow Label is the house’s signature champagne and a very well-balanced blend of pinot noir, which adds structure; chardonnay, which gives it finesse; and a touch of meunier, which rounds out the blend.

A beautiful bead of bubbles set within a brilliant golden palette invites you in. Then, notes of apple and peach, intensified with dried fruit and pastry notes, set the scene for that distinctive brioche finish. This a bottle with real elegance, perfect for a cosy and intimate New Year’s Eve celebration or a great gift to give a friend.