Perhaps the question a wine merchant is most frequently asked is which wine to drink with which food. It is a question I used to loath, there are no rules to follow, we all have different preferences, so I would greatly over think the answer. While the consensus view is that a fine Loire Sauvignon Blanc will be the perfect partner for Dover Sole, I know there are some who would prefer a sturdy claret, because that’s all they drink, quite possibly with breakfast too. It seemed impossible to get right, but now, after 34 years in the wine trade, I have worked out it is impossible to get wrong. What matters is that the food and wine are both delicious and if the pairing is not quite perfect, so what.

The English have been trading and drinking wine since the 12th century, Henry II’s marriage to Eleanor of Aquitaine in 1152 marked the beginning of a strong commercial relationship between Bordeaux and England. To this day, London wine merchants remain at the forefront of the world’s fine wine trade, importing and exporting on a huge scale. Given our long-standing love of wine, it is perhaps surprising how few of us would drink it; it is thought that a little as 10% of the adults in Great Britain drank wine in 1970.

While this figure has multiplied more than sevenfold since in this country, as a nation we are still at the early stages of really understanding wine and with that comes a lack of wine confidence. Couple this with our social insecurity, wanting to be seen to be doing the right thing, we are left in a position of not understanding how to handle wine, how to store wine, how to pour wine and with what. To my mind, this is the reason we make too much effort in getting the wine and food matching ‘just so.’ I am not saying the correct pairing doesn’t matter, but I do strongly believe it is something we worry too much about.

Here are a few versatile and delicious wines to drink this Christmas. Whether eating turkey, goose, ham, beef, fish or a vegetarian feast, these will all work.

Private Cellar's House White Burgundy, Cave de Buxy 2023 £16.90

Good with all meat/fish and for those that don’t want meat.

Creamy white fruits on the palate, ripe with a lovely zingy finish.

Private Cellar's House White Burgundy, Cave de Buxy 2023

Château Tayet, Cuvée Prestige, Bordeaux Supérieur 2018 £16.95

For the turkey, or whatever else you may choose.

Velvet soft on the palate, with cedary red and black fruits, and a rich finish.

Château Tayet, Cuvée Prestige, Bordeaux Supérieur 2018

Private Cellar's House Red Burgundy, Cave de Buxy 2023 £16.90

For a lighter red alternative, perfect if you want a red with fish.

Gorgeous nose of juicy Pinot Noir, red berry fruits and strawberry on the lively palate.

Private Cellar's House Red Burgundy, Cave de Buxy 2023

Château des Mailles, Sainte Croix du Mont 2023 £18.75

Perfect for puddings or cheese.

This sweet white is rich and unctuous, with notes of caramelised orange and wild honey.

Château des Mailles, Sainte Croix du Mont 2023

Prices are per bottle including VAT. Free delivery in England & Wales for orders of 12 bottles or more. If ordering online, please use code DECEMBER25 at check out.

Private Cellar Ltd, Farmington, GL54 3NG

01993 670 920 charlie@privatecellar.co.uk

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