Jonathan Ray rounds up some perfect wine-related presents
Four of the best Christmas wines – including champagne and port
1.Champagne Legras & Haas Intuition NV (£37.85, Private Cellar)
Why go for ordinary supermarket or pricey big brand champagne when you can have this corker?
2. 2022 Hugel Classic Riesling (£23 Majestic)
From the glory that is Alsace, a crisp, clean, citrus-fresh white to match any starter.
3. 2023 Domaine Millet Côtes de Gascogne (£12.50, Yapp Bros)
A crowd-pleasing dry/ off-dry white from d’Artagnan country: perfect for hordes of unexpected guests.
4. 2019 CVNE Reserva Rioja (£14.75, Waitrose)
Exemplary Rioja from one of the finest of all producers. Spot on with turkey or rib of beef.
See our list of the best ports for Christmas here.
More of the best for Christmas wines
Drinks books always go down well at Christmas and here are two I’d recommend. The Wine Flavour Guide from Sam Caporn (£14.09 Amazon) and the third, fully updated edition of The World Atlas of Whisky (£34.73 Amazon) by Dave Broom. Caporn is one of just 425 Masters of Wine in the world and her book tells you everything you need to know about wine and how to get the best out of it. And as for Broom, what he doesn’t know about whisky ain’t worth knowing, and if you are aware of a better book on this glorious subject, pray lead me to it.
Fine fizz always makes a memorable gift, especially fine English fizz. Chapel Down, the UK’s leading producer, has a number on offer, including its inimitable Rosé Brut in a gift box that you can personalise (£37). If it has to be champagne and you adore the recipient, then go for the Gosset 21 Ans de Cave a Minima (£290 The Whisky Exchange), a new release from the oldest champagne house of all. A stunning sparkler, aged for 22 years in Gosset’s cool, dark, chalk cellars, it’s an eye-watering price but makes a canny investment too.
The exquisite 2022 Royal Tokaji Blue Label Aszú 5 Puttonyos, one of the great sweet wines of the world, makes a charming stocking filler in its 25cl size (£16.50, Waitrose), while you’d need a pillow case to conceal the decadent magnum of the greatest liqueur of all: Mentzendorff Kummel (Whisky Exchange).
A pick-me-up for Christmas
Finally, the Original Pick-Me-Up from DR Harris. Crammed with restorative plants such as milk thistle, ginseng, gentian, bergamot and cloves, it’s an infallible tonic of which I remember taking regular draughts at the counter of DR Harris’s pharmacy in St James’s back in the day. It’s ideal for drink-sodden travellers or for use at home. Indeed, it’s essential kit this time of year.
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And finally from The Field
Something for an arrival
If you’ve been invited to a house party this Christmas we think that arriving with this Sparkle Crate from Daylesford would guarantee a warm welcome.
It features a trio of sparkling rosé and white wines; two full bottles of award-winning prosecco and an organic rosé frizzante, all made in family-run vineyards in Italy.
Buy now
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You might also like to read our guide to Christmas hampers. All products are independently selected by our editors. If you buy something, we may earn an affiliate commission. Learn more.