Christmas and Wine

For 2020, this is a very easy task. Because the perfect Christmas gift is wine. Why? Quite simply, coronavirus is bringing us closer together in small, intimate circles, and we still want to make the occasion really special.

Red Wine for the Christmas Roast

Many people are surely looking forward enormously to their festive meal. But a splash of red wine is needed for more than just cooking: the festive roast deserves the perfect companion, too. Traditionally full-bodied reds such as French Bordeaux and Spanish Rioja dominate here, but there are also a few insider tips. How about a red found only in Franconia’s Tauber Valley? Tauberschwarz, as it is called, is not so heavy, tastes of cherries and makes a wonderful red wine pairing for the Christmas roast. German Pinot Noir from the Palatinate is another top recommendation. Neither wine, incidentally, needs to cost more than 6–8 euros to deliver sheer drinking pleasure.

Winemakers’ Christmas Rituals

White Wine as an Alternative for Christmas Duck

Of course, not everyone in Germany serves Christmas duck or wild boar. Other Christmas menus with plenty of vegetables and perhaps fish are excellent alternatives to the traditional meal. Not that you cannot drink red wine with these dishes: light Italian reds such as Barolo or Primitivo are particularly strong contenders here. But a white wine naturally soon suggests itself as an alternative. A French Semillon, a Riesling from the Rheingau or a Gutedel from Württemberg pairs well with these dishes. The same applies to white wines: there is no upper price limit, but 5–7 euros is enough to get you started with something you will love.

Sweet Wine for Dessert

Once the starter and main course have fallen victim to knives and forks, the children’s eyes really begin to sparkle. For them, the creamiest adventure of Christmas is about to begin. The adults, meanwhile, usher in the festive mood with a very special combination. Now comes the sweet wine to accompany dessert, which need not be particularly large. A small spoonful paired with a sip of white dessert wine, such as a Riesling Beerenauslese or a Muskateller Beerenauslese, tastes heavenly. Just be warned: good noble-sweet wines cost money. A smaller bottle for 5–6 euros will happily do the trick. After all, a little sip is enough.

How to Find the Right Wine on the Shelf

Unfortunately, supermarket selections are usually confusing, and it will take a little time to get an overview. Avoid picking wines displayed under fluorescent lighting, as their flavour may already have faded. 
Instead, choose a bottle from the back rows or from a dark cardboard box. Check the vintage: not every older wine is automatically good; it may simply have been sitting unsold on the shelf. White wines and rosés should never be more than two years old. With red wine, on the other hand, choosing an older vintage can pay off.

Everything You Need to Know About the Label

If you do not have a particular wine in mind, look for gaps on the shelf. What other people are buying cannot be all that bad. In general, supermarkets remain focused on selling cheap wines. Wines without a vintage or a precise designation of origin should not end up in your shopping trolley.