Christmas is a wonderful time to celebrate with family and friends, and what better way to get the festivities started than with a great glass of red wine.
But with so many red wines to choose from – where do you start? You’re in luck, here at the Ideal Wine Company we’re running down the best red wines – and pairings for your table this Christmas.
Pinot Noir
An oldie but utterly delicious, Pinot Noir is one of the most celebrated red wines in the world. Hailing from Burgundy, Pinot Noir is brewed on almost every continent in their distinct style. With the composition of berries, plums, and almonds, these versatile wines are the staple of every dining table. From family feasts to dinner parties, wine tours to date nights, these flavourful wines are easy-to-pair and available almost everywhere.
Pinot Noir pairs perfectly with a wide variety of foods. If this exquisite red wine is your pick for Christmas dinner, then consider matching it with salmon or fatty fish, roasted chicken, or pasta dishes. Pinot Noir also pairs well with game birds and stews like beef bourguignon.
Cabernet Sauvignon
The world’s most famous red wine has its roots in Cabernet Franc and Sauvignon from Bordeaux. The rich concentration and age-worthiness of Cabernet Sauvignon make it one of the best red wines for Christmas dinners.
Cabernet Sauvignon is the most planted wine grape in the world, making it an undisputed go-to wine option. Its ample plantation makes its availability easier and cheaper. Wine lovers can enjoy a wide range of Cabernet Sauvignon options. Some Cabernet Sauvignon red wines are savoury, and others are fruity. It all is based on where the Cabernet Sauvignon brewed and how it’s is turned into wine.
The rich tannin and sumptuous flavour of Cabernet Sauvignon make it the ideal companion to savoury sauces and grilled meats.
Petite Sirah
Loved globally for its vibrant colour and extraordinary flavour, Petite Sirah hails from France. Sirah or Shiraz offers a lovely sweet taste. This red wine blends fruity notes of blueberry, plums with bold flavours of chocolate, and black pepper. Its one-of-a-kind burst of flavour lets wine drinker relish its full-bodied flavour.
Petite Sirah is an exceptionally rare grape, with Israel and California producing the highest quality Petite Sirah. If Petite Sirah is your pick for the festive season, then make sure you do due justice to this exceptional wine. Serve it at a slightly cooler temperature for a floral aroma along with its typical bold fruit aroma taste. This unique wine deserves food pairing as bold as the wine itself. With its smoky fruit flavour, Petite Sirah complements exotic herbs and bold spices. Meats, stews, grilled meats, and barbeques of all types go nicely with Petite Sirah.
Barbera
With its origins in Italy, Barbera remains an overlooked wine delicacy. Despite its understated position, this quintessential red wine is crowned as the wine of the people. Available cheap and easily, Barbera wine is meant to be enjoyed while it is young.
Barbera lets your palates relish both rich and light tastes. Its dark staining pigment lends the wine a near-black tint. However, it’s cherry, and blueberry flavours offer light-bodied characteristic. Its high acidity and light tannin properties have earned it the distinct descriptor of ‘juicy’.
The idea of food pairing with Barbera red wine is to let the acidity of wine complete the dish. Match Barbera wine with high-tannin dishes like rich dark meat, mushrooms, root vegetables, and braised greens.
Malbec
Famed for its rich, plump colour, Malbec offers a great Christmas table option.
Malbec is a celebrated full-bodied red wine. It exhibits the characteristic of standing on its own without the need for any food pairing. It’s the ideal crowd-pleasing option for serving to a diverse range of guests.
As a full-bodied red wine, Malbec complements strong-flavoured food. And Malbec and steak are the perfect partners. The spicy nature of Mexican and Indian foods truly brings out the strong flavour of Malbec – so it’s a great option to have with leftovers too. Apart from meat and spicy curries, any dish that offers bold flavours goes deliciously with Malbec.
Read more about building up your Christmas wine stash here.
Ideal Wine Company 