Planning the perfect Christmas Day feast involves more than just the turkey and trimmings. The drinks selection can make or break the festive atmosphere. For 2025, wine expert and author Hannah Crosbie has shared her definitive guide to navigating the day's beverages, ensuring every course and moment is complemented by the perfect pour.
The Festive Fizz: Starting Christmas Day Right
According to Crosbie, the day should begin with a sense of occasion, but that doesn't have to mean breaking the bank on vintage Champagne. She champions the quality and value found in English sparkling wine, which has earned a formidable reputation. For those seeking a reliable and widely available choice, she suggests a Crémant de Bourgogne as an excellent French alternative that offers great value.
Her key advice is to serve any sparkling wine properly chilled and in a suitable glass to maximise enjoyment from the first toast of the day.
Navigating the Main Event: Wine Pairing for Christmas Dinner
The centrepiece of the day requires careful consideration. Crosbie moves away from the automatic choice of a heavy, oaked Chardonnay with the turkey. Instead, she proposes a more versatile and food-friendly option: Pinot Noir.
She explains that a good Pinot Noir, with its lighter body and red fruit character, has the acidity and subtlety to pair beautifully with both white and dark turkey meat, as well as the myriad of accompanying sides from pigs in blankets to roasted parsnips. For white wine lovers, she recommends an Albariño from Spain or a Grüner Veltliner from Austria, which offer the necessary zest and structure to cut through the rich meal.
Beyond the Bottle: Signature Cocktails and Non-Alcoholic Cheer
Crosbie's guide extends beyond traditional wine. For a festive pre-dinner cocktail, she unveils her "Mulled Wine Martini", a sophisticated take on a classic. This creation combines a spiced syrup, made with classic mulling ingredients like cinnamon and star anise, with vodka and a splash of red wine for colour, resulting in a potent and flavourful drink.
Importantly, she also addresses the growing demand for impressive non-alcoholic options. Crosbie advises against simply serving juice or sugary sodas. Instead, she points towards the burgeoning market of alcohol-free wines and spirits, suggesting that a quality zero-proof sparkling wine or a complex non-alcoholic aperitif can make all the difference for designated drivers or those abstaining, ensuring they don't feel left out of the festive cheer.
Hannah Crosbie's ultimate message is one of preparation and personal preference. By thinking ahead about the drinks journey of the day—from the morning fizz to the post-pudding digestif—hosts can craft a seamless and celebratory experience. Her tips empower readers to make confident, delicious choices that will complement their Christmas feast and create memorable moments around the table in 2025.
