Pairing The Perfect Wine With Your Christmas Lunch
Marketing Manager
Keep up to date with the latest properties, rural business insights, market commentary and events:
Join mailing listThis Christmas, forget the “rules” and enjoy a few versatile bottles that work with whatever is on your festive menu. Hear from Charlie Stanley-Evans from Private Cellar Wine Merchants on his take on the best wines this season.
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
An Exhilarating Month of Racing in the Cotswolds
Get ready for an incredible month of racing in the Cotswolds, headlined by the much-anticipated Cheltenham Festival this week, the premier event in the British jumps racing calendar.
An Exhilarating Month of Racing in the Cotswolds
Why Sellers Need To Be Prepared To Sell
January and February are traditionally a time of assessment in the Cotswolds property market. Conversations begin in earnest with market appraisals requested and plans discussed. With spring now underway, the outlook feels more defined, helping confidence to build as the market moves forward. We have been particularly busy with market appraisals in recent weeks; it seems many are firmly in the mindset to move this year and are making a good start by getting ahead with their preparation.
Why Sellers Need To Be Prepared To Sell
Popular Local Establishment Re-opens – Hurrah!
Nestled in the picturesque village of Ewen, just a stone’s throw from Cirencester, this delightful 16th-century pub has long been a much-loved local landmark. Now, after a careful and considered restoration, The Wild Duck has officially reopened its doors and wow what a return it was!
Popular Local Establishment Re-opens – Hurrah!
Why the Cotswolds Remains One of the Strongest Property Markets in the UK
Few regions in the UK combine lifestyle appeal, long-term value and consistent demand quite like the Cotswolds. Despite periods of national market uncertainty, the Cotswolds continues to stand out as one of the country’s most resilient and desirable property markets, attracting homeowners, investors, and international buyers alike. So, what underpins this enduring strength?
Why the Cotswolds Remains One of the Strongest Property Markets in the UK
