Whether you’re a seasoned wine connoisseur or an enthusiastic beginner, this festive wine guide promises to inspire your celebrations and make every sip as magical as the season itself.
The festive season is here — a time for twinkling lights, bountiful feasts, and the clinking of glasses raised in celebration! Whether you’re hosting a cosy dinner, a boisterous large party, or simply savouring intimate moments with loved ones, nothing sets the mood quite like the right bottle of wine for the right occasion.
For the first part of our festive guide this year, we’ve curated a collection of lovely wines – across a price range to cater to different budgets – to usher in the season. From the lively effervescence of Italian Prosecco to the velvety embrace of Australian Cabernet Sauvignon, each wine in this guide brings its own story and flavour to the table. Here we also unabashedly make some bold recommendations with festive food pairings to help with your menu planning unless, of course, you simply want to drink them on their own, which is fine by us as well.
So pick up a bottle, pour out a glass or two, and let us toast to a season of joy, love, and togetherness.
Marks & Spencer Bellante Prosecco DOC Brut
So here’s a little Santa’s secret: unbeknownst to many, the food section of Marks & Spencer is actually home to an amazingly well-curated range of wines. In fact the upmarket British retailer works closely with producers to spotlight some of the best examples from well-regarded appellations in different winemaking regions around the world.
Such as the Marks & Spencer Bellante Prosecco DOC Brut. Produced in the Prosecco DOC region of northern Italy, this Italian sparkling embodies the festive spirit with its crisp, lively and easy-drinking profile. Made from Glera with some Chardonnay and a touch of Pinot Bianco, this prosecco offers inviting aromas of green apple, unripe pear and a hint of grapefruit, while the lively palate showcases flavours of crisp orchard fruits like white peach and rounded out with a hint of lemon, jasmine, and marzipan. The finish is clean and dry, making it as good for sipping as an aperitivo during warm evenings or to kickstart your festive meal.
Recommended food pairings
Baked brie, Margherita pizza, prosciutto, shortbread cookies, gingerbread, and mince pies.
The Marks & Spencer Bellante Prosecco DOC Brut is available at all Marks & Spencer outlets in Singapore at the recommended retail price of S$34.90.
Champagne Tsarine Rosé Brut
Crafted by Champagne Chanoine Frères – a champagne house with a rich heritage dating back to 1730 – the award-winning Champagne Tsarine Rosé Brut is an absolutely captivating bubbly drop. Don’t be misled by its flirting enchanting ruby-red hue or the ornate bottle with its soft whorls; this serious rosé champagne is a blend of tradition and artistry.
Crafted from the classic blend of Pinot Noir, Pinot Meunier, and Chardonnay, the wine offers an enchanting fruit-driven bouquet of wild berries and currants, while on the palate is luscious fruit compote supported by a lovely creaminess provided by its persistent fine bubbles along with a bright freshness that makes it a great pairing with most festive dishes. A worthy addition to your holiday table.
Recommended food pairings
Roast salmon, British-style fish pie, Christmas fruitcake, and American cheesecake.
The Champagne Tsarine Rosé Brut is available from FairPrice at a recommended retail price of S$200.
Amelia Chardonnay 2022
A standout premium white wine crafted by Chile’s highly-esteemed Concha y Toro, the Amelia Chardonnay 2022 is a brilliant showcase of the heights of what Chardonnay from Chile can achieve with its elegance, structure, and sense of place. Produced from Chardonnay grapes grown in the country’s cool Limari Valley – the Quebrada Seca D.O, the oldest Chardonnay vineyard in the valley, to be exact – this wine strikes a beautiful balance between textural richness and vibrant acidity that exceptional winemaking can bring.
On the nose you can expect stone fruit characters such as ripe peach and apricot, intertwined with lemon peel and grapefruit zest, along with roasted nuts and subtle vanilla from some oak aging, while the palate offers layers of ripe citrus and orchard fruits with creamy notes of buttered brioche along with a touch of flint and limestone for a refined edge. This is a far cry from the usual bog-standard white wine that often come out of Chile, and one that any wine connoisseur – host or guest – at a festive party will heartily approve of.
Recommended food pairings
Lobster thermidor, panfried or poached salmon, roast chicken, roast turkey with gravy, macaroni and cheese, and Camembert.
The Amelia Chardonnay 2022 is available from all good wine merchants such as One Cellar and Vivino Wine Shop at a recommended retail price of S$125.
XiGe Estate N28 Chardonnay 2022
A Chardonnay from China? Really? Well, hear us out. Prestigious XiGe Estate is based in the Ningxia winemaking region of China, an emerging powerhouse in the world of fine wine. The XiGe Estate N28 Chardonnay 2022 is an excellent example of how Ningxia’s unique terroir and the winery’s dedication to modern winemaking and quality has combined to produce a Chardonnay that can rival some of its best New World contemporaries. In fact, the earlier 2021 vintage claimed the awards for both ‘Best White Wine’ to emerge out of the whole of Ningxia as well as overall ‘Best Value Wine’ during the Wynn Signature Chinese Wine Awards earlier this year.
This is a wine overflowing with regional character. On the nose is tropical pineapple and melon, as well as fresh citrus and white flowers such as jasmine and camellia, while you’ll find lush ripe pear, zingy green apple and lemon curd on the palate, along with wild floral honey and creaminess thanks to barrel fermentation and 12 months aging in oak. This wine will definitely elicit some bewildered surprise when it makes its appearance at a festive feast and delight once it’s tasted. If nothing else, it’ll create some lively conversation!
Recommended food pairings
Fried chicken, crispy roast pork, lasagne, turkey stuffing, scalloped potatoes, and bread and butter pudding.
The XiGe Estate N28 Chardonnay 2022 is available from online retailers Lazada and RedMart at a recommended retail price of S$70.
Domaine Thomson Explorer Central Otago Pinot Noir 2023
Pinot Noir from the Central Otago wine-producing region of New Zealand has in recent years started to steal some thunder from Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc, and the Domaine Thomson Explorer Central Otago Pinot Noir 2023 is a good example why.
Central Otago Pinot tends to be a lot more fruit-forward, often playing down the typical forest floor and earthy notes that’s the hallmark of its Old World counterparts. And while it’s a more entry-level expression from the Cromwell-based producer, the Explorer is brimming with exuberant red cherry, raspberry and cranberry notes, complemented by undertones of wood spice and a touch of wild herbs that characterise a good Central Otago Pinot. There’s also a graceful tension between fruit intensity and a savoury, mineral quality, while a refreshing acidity provides a lively finish that will have you reaching for your glass again before long.
Fun fact: Domaine Thomson has a Singapore connection, with owner the late David Hall-Jones married to Singaporean Pui Mun Chan but was also a descendant of John Turnbull Thomson, a government surveyor during Singapore’s colonial period after whom Thomson Road is named.
Recommended food pairings
Honey glazed ham, roast turkey with cranberry sauce, Southern-style barbecued ribs, and truffled cheeses.
The Domaine Thomson Explorer Central Otago Pinot Noir 2023 is available from Richfield Brands at a recommended retail price of S$55.59 (use discount code EXPXMAS2024 for 20% off at checkout redeemable up to 27 December 2024).
E. Guigal Cotes du Rhône 2020
A benchmark wine from one of Rhône Valley’s most iconic producers that consistently delivers exceptional quality at an accessible price, the E. Guigal Côtes du Rhône 2020 is a classic Rhône red blend comprising Syrah, Grenache, and Mourvèdre that is altogether approachable in its youth but also capable of some aging.
Not that you’ll want to keep the wine for long, because its approachability and versatility is exactly what makes it perfect for any occasion, whether it’s a festive feast or for sipping over a tête-à-tête. Expect a wash of black berries, currants, and red cherries on the nose, along with hints of black pepper, liquorice, and even charred herbs, while the palate is expressive with juicy ripe black fruit, fresh-picked raspberries and bouquet garni, underscored by some black spice, leather and tobacco. Thanksgiving, Christmas, or New Year, this wine can do it all.
Recommended food pairings
Roast duck or duck confit, grilled lamb chops, mushroom risotto, ratatouille, grilled Mediterranean vegetables, or blue cheeses like Roquefort or Stilton.
You can find the E. Guigal Côtes du Rhône 2020 direct from Grand Vin at a recommended retail price of S$45.
Hardys Thomas Hardy Cabernet Sauvignon 2017
Every Christmas feast demands a big and bold red wine, and few come bigger and bolder than the Hardys Thomas Hardy Cabernet Sauvignon 2017. This flagship wine from one of Australia’s most iconic producers – South Australia-based Hardys has a legacy dating back to 1853 – is a stunning example of Cabernet Sauvignon from that iconic Australian winemaking region, crafted from premium fruit sourced from select vineyards in either Coonawarra or McLaren Vale (or both).
A cooler year for South Australia, the 2017 vintage emerges more refined and balanced than some of its earlier releases. Deep garnet and tinged in purple, this wine is barely restrained power and concentration with a captivating bouquet of blackcurrant, cassis and plum wrapped around subtle layers of cedar, eucalyptus, and graphite, along with suggestions of tobacco and rich cocoa. As for the palate, expect an assault of jammy black fruit and berries, underscored with dried Mediterranean herbs and some oak. The finish is luxurious, sensual, and long.
Recommended food pairings
Roast beef or rack of lamb, braised lamb shank, Southern-style beef brisket, aged Cheddar, Christmas log cake, and panettone.
The Hardys Thomas Hardy Cabernet Sauvignon 2017 is available in Singapore in Duty Free at Changi Airport, or direct from Amber Nectar at a recommended retail price of S$140.
[Photo credits: Joel Lim Photography]
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