It’s Christmas time – there’s no need to be afraid about buying wine

Some handy shopping hints for festive social gatherings

Buying wine for Christmas isn’t as stress-free as it should be. There is so much to choose from, and even if you know what you want to drink, your chosen bottles may not go down as well with others.

But let me relieve some of your potential dilemmas by providing some tips for choosing the right bottles for the right occasion. Remember, at Christmas it’s more about having a party or a good time with those close to you, rather than obsessing about what to drink.

Below are some Christmas-related scenarios and recommendations for what to purchase.

We’re going to have a party tonight . . .

Hosting a party Guests will be bringing their own bottles (if they have any manners) so there’s probably no need to stock up too much. When I’ve hosted I’ve normally purchased some fizz for everybody as an introductory drink, but don’t spend too much as most won’t be obsessing over quality levels.

Cheap prosecco is fine, as is cava. An interesting option is a few bottles of cremant from France, made in the same way as champagne but a lot cheaper. Cremant de Bourgogne would be my choice, with Asda and Sainsbury’s both selling them for about £12.

Going to a party If the host is a wine geek wind them up by bringing something like a Bread and Butter Chardonnay. If you want to stay friends, bring an orange wine to look trendy, but be prepared to hate it (it’s not for everyone). For non wine-geek hosts, don’t spend too much and stick with safe bets, so albarino for white and malbec (even Beefsteak) for red.

If you want to bring fizz then the Graham Beck Chardonnay Pinot Noir Brut is a wise choice. It’s from South Africa (so it’s good value) and made in the traditional method (a la champagne). It’s on offer for just £11.99 at Waitrose throughout December.

A merry little Christmas . . .

Small gathering with friends Unlikely to be as rowdy as a party, so a degree of sophistication wouldn’t be a bad idea, but no need to stress. If you’re eating a meal don’t worry too much about pairing wine with food – just bring a bottle of something you think everybody will enjoy.

For whites sauvignon blanc or chardonnay aren’t necessarily the safe bets you may think they are as both have their haters. Instead, an assyrtiko from Greece is an interesting option as it’s usually well made and has a saline, citrus streak which should play well. Santowines Assyrtiko from Santorini (£29.99 Majestic, £22.49 mix six) is a classy choice.

A Verdicchio dei Castelli di Jesi from Italy should also be considered as it tends to be good quality and off-beat enough to look original. It too has nice acidity and citrus/orchard flavours. Lina Stores stock it for about £17.

If you prefer red I would steer clear of pinot noir because bold styles tend to be more popular. Don’t bring a Barolo (too expensive) or something from Bordeaux (can be hard to find value options). Southern Italy produces reds with some heft and will go down well.

Nero D’Avola is a variety that is beginning to gain popularity and is an option, but a value punt is the Villa Antinori from Tuscany. It’s a blend of sangiovese, cabernet sauvignon and merlot, has good body and the clincher is that it’s reduced in price at Waitrose to £11.99 from £18.99.

Christmas Eve You don’t want to be getting stuck into your best wines now (unless you’re rich), but something decent wouldn’t go amiss. A Beaujolais from one of the ten cru regions represents excellent quality and great value. If you can get down to Berry Bros. & Rudd on Pall Mall, Louis Boillot’s 2020 Moulin-a-Vent Vielles Vignes (£22) should go down well with others as it’s fruit-forward with more body than a pinot noir. In my experience gruner veltliner is liked by most, and this could be the white of choice – not too showy but reliable.

The bells were ringing out for . . .

Christmas Day If you’re hosting for friends and family and are unsure about their preferences then go neutral. That means albarino and chablis for white (I’ve yet to hear anybody say a bad word about either, even though chablis is made from chardonnay) and rioja for red. Majestic does an excellent range of chablis, and a premier cru has a touch of class – the Moillard-Thomas Chablis Premier Cru 2022 (£29.99 Majestic, £22.49 mix six) should go down well.

I tasted the Contino Reserva 2019 (£25.99, Waitrose Cellar) recently and it does everything a good rioja should do – fruity and sweet spices with a touch of class.

You need decent fizz on Christmas Day, and the champagne houses go into promotional overdrive in December, so take advantage of some of the deals, such as the Bollinger-owned Ayala Brut Majeur from Waitrose, which is now £27.99 (from £36.99). Ayala’s ‘Extra Age’ (for a more textured style) is a cracking £30 with Majestic (from £50) under the Mix Six deal.

It’s traditional to drink port at Christmas, and the Taylor’s 10-Year-Old Tawny is £24.99 (from £29.99) at Waitrose. This is a classy bottle and it’s worth paying a bit more for quality. Don’t forget you can also drink dessert wine with cheese, although it’s not particularly fashionable. Try turning your guests on to the joys of sweet wine with the reliable Royal Tokaji Blue Label 5 Puttonyos Aszu, which is now £12.49 (from £14.99) for a half bottle from Waitrose.

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Flint Vineyard Silex 2023 (£26.99, Virgin Wines)
Tasted at the Three Wine Men walkaround a few weeks ago. English still wine doesn’t tend to impress me, but this one definitely did. Quite flinty with great structure. A blend of chardonnay, pinot blanc, pinot gris and pinot noir.

Chateau Franc Mayne Grand Cru 2001, St Emilion (£21 a glass)
I had this at the Covent Garden wine bar Compagnie des Vins Surnaturels, which has an excellent selection, including by the glass. This Right Bank bordeaux is getting on a bit but is still lively, albeit with dried fruit and tobacco having a big influence. 90 per cent merlot, ten per cent cab franc.

Yangarra Old Vine Grenache 2022, Blewitt Springs, McLaren Vale (£19.95 half bottle, Little Fine Wine Company)
Some Australian grenache can be a tad too jammy for my liking but not this one. Fresh, red fruit with hints of herbs. Nicely structured tannins and will age. Left a lasting impression.