The first in this year’s Christmas series of wine recommendations from MW Nick Adams!
Christmas parties and gatherings
Christmas isn’t only about celebrating, but is a great time to indulge. Good food, wine and company are essential to the success and memories which make this time so special.
I have put together several suggestions for various plans you may have for this Christmas – and to kick off, we’re talking about parties – hosting a drinks and canapés party for a group of people during the festive season.
The featured wines which are mostly either “crowd pleasers”, “try something different” or “treat yourself”.
Three affordable and crowd-pleasing wines to match nibbles and canapés
No doubt many of us will be hosting family and friends at various times over Christmas and New Year. If you are planning such an event and will be serving nibbles and canapés, what you need are good value, all-round crowd-pleasing wines. You are probably looking for a white, a red and maybe a sparkling wine which will please most people without having to breaking the bank – and which are also versatile with light foods. Here are my suggestions:
Prosecco Spumante Extra Dry Vallate – £10.95
Maybe no surprise here. The most popular sparkling wine style in the UK right now and ticks all the boxes for an off-dry, fruity, easy drinking wine which also works well with light foods.
Picpoul de Pinet Coteaux de Languedoc Baron du Bassadiere – £10.50
This is the hugely popular Southern French modern style white wine which delivers with upfront, citric fruit flavour and a gentle texture and mouthfeel. Made from the local Picpoul grape, it is unoaked and no more than medium bodied, but nicely crisp – perfect with light foods and canapés.
Merlot Reserve Chateau los Boldos – £9.95
Chile does the Merlot grape very well and this is a soft, bright, black fruits flavoured wine, with a rounded and juicy mouthfeel. No more than medium bodied, not too dry but with enough personality for slightly richer nibbles and canapés.