As the holidays approach, the joy of sharing and the desire to elevate festive meals with perfect pairings take on new meaning. Every year, the same question arises: how do you choose your wine for Christmas, a meal often rich and celebratory? The wines of Bordeaux offer remarkable stylistic diversity: a mosaic of terroirs, mastery of blending, aging potential, and aromatic complexity. These qualities make it possible to select a Bordeaux wine that pairs beautifully with every course of your Christmas menu.
1. Our Selection of Wines for Christmas
Which wine to serve as an aperitif?
Sparkling wines are always a favorite, but a Bordeaux wine for the aperitif can be just as delightful. Choose a light, elegant dry white Bordeaux wine, such as an Entre-deux-Mers, a Pessac-Léognan, or even a white Médoc. Their freshness, minerality, and citrus or white-flower notes make them perfect companions to assorted appetizers. If you prefer red, opt for a light and refined Bordeaux red, also from Entre-deux-Mers or Pessac-Léognan, ideal for awakening the palate without overpowering it and preparing your guests for the meal to come.
Which wine to serve with oysters?
Fresh and briny oysters call for a very crisp wine with pronounced minerality. They pair beautifully with a dry white Bordeaux from Pessac-Léognan, Graves, or the Médoc. Their natural acidity and lemony notes enhance the oysters’ freshness and balance their saline character.
Which wine to serve with foie gras?
Traditionally, sweet white Bordeaux wines are the classic choice with foie gras. A Sauternes, Barsac, or Loupiac, with honeyed and candied apricot aromas, creates a smooth and indulgent pairing. For a more original approach, a supple, lightly spiced red Graves offers an intriguing contrast to the richness of foie gras, especially when served pan-seared.
Which wine for capon and other poultry?
Capon, stuffed turkey, or guinea fowl with chestnuts: these festive birds deserve a subtle, well-balanced Bordeaux red wine. A Saint-Émilion or a Pomerol is ideal, with silky tannins and notes of black fruit and a savory, earthy complexity. If the stuffing is rich (with dried fruits, foie gras, or truffle), these Bordeaux wines will bring the perfect depth and structure to your dish.
Which wine for duck and red meat?
For duck, lamb leg, roast beef, tenderloin, or game, the dish calls for power and refinement. These red meats require a structured yet elegant Bordeaux red wine. Saint-Estèphe and Pauillac offer firm tannins and spicy notes that balance the richness of the meat, while Saint-Julien and Margaux provide aromatic complexity that complements duck beautifully. This is also the perfect moment to open an older vintage, a true pleasure alongside such refined dishes.
Which wine for cheese?
Cheese calls for a Bordeaux wine capable of matching its aromatic intensity. A Saint-Émilion or a Médoc with refined tannins pairs wonderfully with strong cheeses. For blue cheeses, the contrast with a sweet white Bordeaux wine, such as Sauternes, Barsac, or Cérons, creates a surprising sweet-and-salty harmony. For goat cheese, choose a dry white Bordeaux made primarily from Sauvignon Blanc and Sémillon.
Which wine for dessert?
If you wish to serve wine with dessert, sweet notes pair perfectly with sweet white Bordeaux wines. Sauternes remains the benchmark for a Christmas yule log or rich desserts, thanks to its candied fruit aromas and perfect balance between sweetness and acidity. For red fruit or chocolate desserts, avoid tannic red wines. Instead, choose a soft, fruity Bordeaux red based on Merlot for a red-fruit log, or a Saint-Émilion or Haut-Médoc with smooth tannins to accompany chocolate delicacies, adding richness without overwhelming the palate.
2. Serve Your Own Wine for Christmas
Why not break tradition and serve your own wine at Christmas? This celebration of sharing is the perfect opportunity to surprise your loved ones and enjoy your very own creation.
With VINIV, you have the opportunity to create your own Bordeaux wine, entirely to your taste, without the constraints of owning a vineyard. You shape your wine according to your preferences, senses, and imagination. By living the VINIV experience, you will learn the art of blending alongside the oenologists of Château Lynch-Bages, and receive your personalized wine, bottled and labeled to your specifications, in its custom wooden case, delivered to your home.
Your cuvée reflects your personality, your intentions, and above all, your taste. It is the perfect opportunity to imagine the wine you would love to serve at Christmas and to share it with those who matter most.
If there is one motto to remember for choosing your wine for Christmas, it is to take pleasure in playing with styles, textures, and aromas to create balanced and indulgent pairings.
The diversity of Bordeaux wines is a treasure, use it to make your festive table shine.
And why not go one step further with VINIV, and learn to create your own wine for the occasion?
Par Marion Clerc, Le Stylo Vert, avec l’expertise de Nicolas Lainé, VINIV.
