Wine expert gives their perfect Christmas food and wine pairings

Master of wine Philippa Carr toasts the SPAR tipples that will elevate any meal this Christmas

Knowing what wine to pair with which dish is a serious business at any time of year, but at Christmas, it’s magic. After all, if you get the balance right, the perfect tipple can transform any meal into something special.

Thankfully, whether you fancy yourself as a bit of a wine buff, or just want a tasty glass to enjoy with your turkey, SPAR’s ultra-knowledgeable master of wine, Philippa Carr, has made the job easy with this fail-safe guide to pairing festive food and wine like a pro.

Christmas Eve

• Food: Cheeseboard
• Wine: Letter Collection Pinot Noir

A great Christmas wine to pair with a fully stocked cheeseboard, this medal-winning Pinot Noir is, says Philippa, “full of raspberry-style flavours”, making it the perfect partner to fresh cheeses and savoury snacks alike.

• Food: Canapes and nibbles
• Wine: SPAR Valdobbiadene Prosecco DOCG

Can’t resist a nibble? You’ll need something to complement those savoury flavours. With “an elegant, light and fruity taste”, this festive fizz is recommended by Philippa as the ideal match for cheesy canapes.

Christmas Day

• Food: Smoked salmon
• Wine: Marquis Belrive Champagne Brut Reserve

Kickstart the morning with a smoked salmon bagel for breakfast – and a suitably sparkling accompaniment. Philippa’s pick here is Champagne Marquis Belrive, a “smooth and gentle champagne that everyone will enjoy” either on its own or as a spritzer.

• Food: Seafood starter
• Wine: Regional Selection Fern Hills Sauvignon Blanc

Fresh, crisp and zesty, continue your day with Philippa’s go-to for pairing with prawn cocktails and shrimp-based starters alike – a New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc, with “flavours of gooseberry, green apple and ripe melon”.

• Food: Turkey
• Wine: Regional Selection Languedoc Red

An iconic Christmas meal requires an iconic Christmas wine, so if you’re serving turkey and all the trimmings, Philippa suggests the IWC gold medal-winning Languedoc Red, a top-drawer wine with blackberries, peppers and fruit conserve flavours.

• Food: Vegetarian/Vegan Main
• Wine: Regional Selection Bordeaux Red

All SPAR wines are suitable for vegetarians and vegans but if you’re looking for a special – and smooth – red to share at Christmas, Philippa recommends this Merlot-based number from the classic region of Bordeaux in France.

Boxing Day

• Food: Buffet
• Wine: Regional Selection Primitivo (red) or Regional Selection Grillo (white)

Whether it’s a dressed-up or dressed-down affair, the Boxing Day buffet is unpredictable, and for that reason, you’ll need a versatile tipple. Philippa recommends a Grillo white, a glass of citrussy freshness or a Primitivo red – rich, jammy and as smooth as velvet.

New Year’s Eve

• Food: Seafood or chicken dishes
• Wine: Regional Selection Dolomiti Pinot Grigio

“Pairing well with lighter seafood or chicken dishes, you can’t go wrong with a classic Pinot Grigio for a special sit-down meal,” says Philippa.

• Food: Savoury snacks
• Wine: Letter Collection Merlot

“Stronger-flavoured snacks require a heartier classic Merlot,” says Philippa. This “plummy and plump” wine is a perfect party red.

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^{Please note alcoholic products are only available to people aged 18+. SPAR follows the ‘challenge 25 policy’ so you may be asked for ID when purchasing. Please drink responsibly. Do not drink if you are pregnant.}