As the Christmas pudding makes its grand entrance, the traditional glass of tawny port may not be the only worthy companion for your festive feast. Experts and sommeliers are championing a range of alternative, and often overlooked, dessert wines that can transform the final course of your holiday meal.
Reimagining the Classic Pairings
While ruby and tawny ports remain stalwarts of the season, there is a world of flavour beyond them. A Late Bottled Vintage (LBV) port, aged for up to six years in barrel, is a superb match for chocolate-based desserts or a strong cheeseboard. Meanwhile, the intensely sweet Pedro Ximénez sherry, made from sun-dried grapes, offers rich fig and raisin notes that pair fabulously with traditional Christmas pudding and can even be used in recipes like tiramisu.
Unexpected Sweet Wines to Discover
For a truly distinctive pairing, look to Italy's Recioto della Valpolicella. This sweet red dessert wine, also crafted from dried grapes, delivers flavours of dried cherry, brown sugar, and baking spices. "It tastes like Christmas fruit cake," says Elleisha Adriana, head of wine at London's Elephant restaurant. She notes it works "amazingly" with rich, salty blue cheese, creating a complete dessert experience.
From France, the fortified wines of the south offer excellent value. Rivesaltes and Banyuls, primarily from Grenache grapes, bring swathes of rich, tropical fruit and a citrussy character that stands up beautifully to dense Christmas cakes and intensely chocolatey treats.
The Sparkling Alternative
Often overshadowed by richer fortified wines, sparkling options provide a refreshing counterpoint. Demi-sec champagne, containing between 32g and 50g of sugar per litre, is a perfect partner for lighter desserts like lemon tart, pavlova, or any dish featuring fresh fruit. This trend is also growing within the English sparkling wine sector, offering a superb homegrown option for your festive table.
Four Bottles to Try This Christmas:
- Cockburn’s LBV Port (£17, Ocado): A classic late-bottled vintage, ideal with chocolate or cheese.
- Morrisons The Best Pedro Ximénez (£10.50 for 50cl, Morrisons): Packed with fig and raisin notes for your Christmas pudding.
- Domini Veneti Recioto Della Valpolicella 2022/23 (£19, Majestic): Bursting with dried red fruits and a hint of vanilla.
- Muscat de Rivesaltes Domaine Bertrand-Bergé 2024 (£15.50, The Wine Society): A great-value, tropically-fruited French fortified wine.
This Christmas, venturing beyond the familiar decanter can add an exciting new dimension to your dessert course, offering perfect pairings for everything from a classic pudding to Ravneet Gill's brown-sugar meringues with coffee cream and cherries.
