Specially Selected Pouilly Fumé Aldi, €16.99
This has to be one of the best value wines you’ll come across this Christmas. Pouilly-Fumé, one of the best appellations of sauvignon blanc in the world, is always on my festive wine list. Apple, peach and citrus notes burst from the glass, complemented by a touch of smokiness and that characteristic flinty finish. With a silky mouthfeel, it is just the kind of elegant French wine that you’ll be looking to pair with a scallop starter or a warm goat’s cheese salad. Alternatively, keep this one to enjoy with a warming fish pie in those cosy days between Christmas and New Years Day.
M&S Chablis Marks & Spencer, €22
From one French classic to another, personally I’m a fan of Chablis with my Christmas dinner. Classically elegant, it has good body and that unctuous flavour works well with the turkey and trimmings. It also has the versatility to journey with you from a delicious seafood starter into your turkey dinner and then a nice cheeseboard. This M&S Chablis has crisp citrus and tangy apple flavours. It’s well-balanced with a rounded mouthfeel and a good gush of minerality. Chablis can demand a hefty price but it’s worth it for the most important meal of the year and this one offers good value, given the quality.
Luna Malbec Lidl, €11.99
Malbec is one of those wine varieties that has become really popular in Ireland over the last decade and it has a crowd pleaser feel to it when friends stop by for a glass of red. Luna comes from a single vineyard in the Agrelo region of Argentina, close to the city of Mendoza – which is home of some of the best Malbec in the world – and has plenty of blackcurrant and cherry flavours on the palette complemented by subtle vanilla and cassis notes. The finish has a savoury touch with smooth tannins and hints of chocolate. This wine is a beef lover’s dream, perfect with a juicy burger or a rare steak dripping in pepper sauce.
Cloudy Bay Sauvignon Blanc
Available nationwide from independent stockists including O’Briens Wines, Donnybrook Fair and select SuperValu stores, €37.60
If you’re a fan of New Zealand sauvignon blanc, this is the one that started it all by putting the Kiwi version on the wine map. Grown on the vines of Marlborough, this Cloudy Bay beauty is brimming with fresh green herbaceous notes along with tropical fruit flavours like grapefruit, passion fruit and pineapple. Stone fruit gives it that distinctive minerality and a really impressive finish. Prep a Thai chicken curry and leave the flavours to develop. After a long day Christmas shopping, you can enjoy with a glass of this crisp white wine. If you have a New Zealand sauv blanc fan in your life, this would be a lovely gift.
Simply Better Château Tour Bayard Montagne Saint-Émilion Dunnes Stores, €17
When you think about chilling beside the fire with a glass of red wine, imagine this Château Tour Bayard Montagne Saint-Émilion in your hand. I expected this wine to be really big and bold but it has lots of classical elegance, with the merlot adding a nice smoothness and the barrel ageing giving good structure. Ripe flavours of raspberry, blackberry and plum are complemented with nice spice and an earthy tone on the finish. This is one for a cosy night in with a beef casserole or spaghetti with ragú. If you’re thinking of pairing it with a cheese board, you could go a little softer with some Brie, Camembert and Comté.
Marqués de Murrieta Rioja Reserva O’Briens Wines, €34.99 reduced to €29.99 until 4 January
For red wine lovers, every Christmas should feature a Rioja Reserva, and Marqués de Murrieta is a bit of a gem. From the prestigious family-owned estate, it is a blend of tempranillo, graciano, mazuelo and garnacha from a secluded vineyard site inside the Ygay estate. Dark cherries, cranberries and jammy redcurrant notes – all of the flavours of Christmas in a glass – are complemented by peppery tones, Mediterranean herbs and smoky, oaky notes on the finish. The silky-smooth tannins are noteworthy. If you’re thinking of enjoying this with a charcuterie board or cheese board, think of cheese with nutty and earthy tones like aged cheddar, Manchego and Gruyère.
M&S Prosecco Rosé Brut Marks & Spencer, €12
Let’s get the party started with some pink prosecco. This celebratory wine is bursting with fruity flavours of wild strawberries, raspberries and a pop of cherry. Crisp and refreshing, it also has notes of white peaches and a nice, lingering finish. This is a great party wine to serve when guests come to visit, so start planning your canapés menu. Mini bruschettas or caprese skewers will add to the Italian flavours, or opt for some light seafood such as prawn skewers. If that all sounds like too much hassle, put out a few crackers and cured meats like salami or prosciutto on a plate. Relax and enjoy yourself.
Simply Better Bonnet Ferdinand Champagne Brut Dunnes Stores, €49.99
This season, we picked not just one but two champagnes to celebrate. It is Christmas, after all. Bonnet Ferdinand Champagne from the village of Les Riceys in Côte des Bar is part of the Simply Better range. It has all the qualities of a fine sparkling wine with a good, steady bead of bubbles and developed apple flavours, refreshing acidic notes and a hint of floral. Many assume champagne should be an apéritif, but it is a fine food wine and this is one you could serve with your Christmas dinner. Its acidity lifts the richness of the meat – just don’t go too heavy on your sauces.
Veuve Clicquot Yellow Label Available from leading independent off-licences including O’Briens Wines and Avoca, €66
Veuve Clicquot’s signature champagne is a classic for the Christmas period with a consistency that delivers pop after pop. Its delicate bead is noteworthy, complemented by fruit flavours of apple and pear followed by dried fruit and a little vanilla. Those buttery brioche notes add a real touch of elegance and a little creaminess gives great balance to this wine. If you’re planning on taking a French approach on Christmas Eve with some oysters, pop this bottle open. On the big day itself, enjoy with some smoked salmon blinis or goat’s cheese tartlets. Alternatively, keep it as a special toast to 2026.
Specially Selected Pouilly Fumé Aldi, €16.99
This has to be one of the best value wines you’ll come across this Christmas. Pouilly-Fumé, one of the best appellations of sauvignon blanc in the world, is always on my festive wine list. Apple, peach and citrus notes burst from the glass, complemented by a touch of smokiness and that characteristic flinty finish. With a silky mouthfeel, it is just the kind of elegant French wine that you’ll be looking to pair with a scallop starter or a warm goat’s cheese salad. Alternatively, keep this one to enjoy with a warming fish pie in those cosy days between Christmas and New Years Day.
M&S Chablis Marks & Spencer, €22
From one French classic to another, personally I’m a fan of Chablis with my Christmas dinner. Classically elegant, it has good body and that unctuous flavour works well with the turkey and trimmings. It also has the versatility to journey with you from a delicious seafood starter into your turkey dinner and then a nice cheeseboard. This M&S Chablis has crisp citrus and tangy apple flavours. It’s well-balanced with a rounded mouthfeel and a good gush of minerality. Chablis can demand a hefty price but it’s worth it for the most important meal of the year and this one offers good value, given the quality.
Luna Malbec Lidl, €11.99
Malbec is one of those wine varieties that has become really popular in Ireland over the last decade and it has a crowd pleaser feel to it when friends stop by for a glass of red. Luna comes from a single vineyard in the Agrelo region of Argentina, close to the city of Mendoza – which is home of some of the best Malbec in the world – and has plenty of blackcurrant and cherry flavours on the palette complemented by subtle vanilla and cassis notes. The finish has a savoury touch with smooth tannins and hints of chocolate. This wine is a beef lover’s dream, perfect with a juicy burger or a rare steak dripping in pepper sauce.
Cloudy Bay Sauvignon Blanc
Available nationwide from independent stockists including O’Briens Wines, Donnybrook Fair and select SuperValu stores, €37.60
If you’re a fan of New Zealand sauvignon blanc, this is the one that started it all by putting the Kiwi version on the wine map. Grown on the vines of Marlborough, this Cloudy Bay beauty is brimming with fresh green herbaceous notes along with tropical fruit flavours like grapefruit, passion fruit and pineapple. Stone fruit gives it that distinctive minerality and a really impressive finish. Prep a Thai chicken curry and leave the flavours to develop. After a long day Christmas shopping, you can enjoy with a glass of this crisp white wine. If you have a New Zealand sauv blanc fan in your life, this would be a lovely gift.
Simply Better Château Tour Bayard Montagne Saint-Émilion Dunnes Stores, €17
When you think about chilling beside the fire with a glass of red wine, imagine this Château Tour Bayard Montagne Saint-Émilion in your hand. I expected this wine to be really big and bold but it has lots of classical elegance, with the merlot adding a nice smoothness and the barrel ageing giving good structure. Ripe flavours of raspberry, blackberry and plum are complemented with nice spice and an earthy tone on the finish. This is one for a cosy night in with a beef casserole or spaghetti with ragú. If you’re thinking of pairing it with a cheese board, you could go a little softer with some Brie, Camembert and Comté.
Marqués de Murrieta Rioja Reserva O’Briens Wines, €34.99 reduced to €29.99 until 4 January
For red wine lovers, every Christmas should feature a Rioja Reserva, and Marqués de Murrieta is a bit of a gem. From the prestigious family-owned estate, it is a blend of tempranillo, graciano, mazuelo and garnacha from a secluded vineyard site inside the Ygay estate. Dark cherries, cranberries and jammy redcurrant notes – all of the flavours of Christmas in a glass – are complemented by peppery tones, Mediterranean herbs and smoky, oaky notes on the finish. The silky-smooth tannins are noteworthy. If you’re thinking of enjoying this with a charcuterie board or cheese board, think of cheese with nutty and earthy tones like aged cheddar, Manchego and Gruyère.
M&S Prosecco Rosé Brut Marks & Spencer, €12
Let’s get the party started with some pink prosecco. This celebratory wine is bursting with fruity flavours of wild strawberries, raspberries and a pop of cherry. Crisp and refreshing, it also has notes of white peaches and a nice, lingering finish. This is a great party wine to serve when guests come to visit, so start planning your canapés menu. Mini bruschettas or caprese skewers will add to the Italian flavours, or opt for some light seafood such as prawn skewers. If that all sounds like too much hassle, put out a few crackers and cured meats like salami or prosciutto on a plate. Relax and enjoy yourself.
Simply Better Bonnet Ferdinand Champagne Brut Dunnes Stores, €49.99
This season, we picked not just one but two champagnes to celebrate. It is Christmas, after all. Bonnet Ferdinand Champagne from the village of Les Riceys in Côte des Bar is part of the Simply Better range. It has all the qualities of a fine sparkling wine with a good, steady bead of bubbles and developed apple flavours, refreshing acidic notes and a hint of floral. Many assume champagne should be an apéritif, but it is a fine food wine and this is one you could serve with your Christmas dinner. Its acidity lifts the richness of the meat – just don’t go too heavy on your sauces.
Veuve Clicquot Yellow Label Available from leading independent off-licences including O’Briens Wines and Avoca, €66
Veuve Clicquot’s signature champagne is a classic for the Christmas period with a consistency that delivers pop after pop. Its delicate bead is noteworthy, complemented by fruit flavours of apple and pear followed by dried fruit and a little vanilla. Those buttery brioche notes add a real touch of elegance and a little creaminess gives great balance to this wine. If you’re planning on taking a French approach on Christmas Eve with some oysters, pop this bottle open. On the big day itself, enjoy with some smoked salmon blinis or goat’s cheese tartlets. Alternatively, keep it as a special toast to 2026.
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