How to choose the best Christmas wine and festive fizz, tips from an English winemaker
Making the perfect Christmas dinner is somewhat of an art form. And picking the ideal Christmas wine and festive fizz can really set your celebrations apart. Like the star on your tree.
To whet your appetite and help you pick the best wines this Christmas, we talk to The Grain Store’s local wine expert Al Pippard. Al owns and runs Beacon Down vineyard, a producer of award-winning English sparkling wines, with husband Paul.
Whether you can’t tell your champagne from your cava or need inspiration on how to pair wines with your festive foods, we’ve got it covered. Al shares her top tips for your 2020 Christmas wine selection, including what to have with the traditional turkey roast, something for vegans, the best dessert wines, and her favourite cheeses to enjoy with a crisp glass of wine.
We hope you enjoy the recommendations and join us in raising a glass to the end of what has been a difficult year. Cheers.
Beacon Down Wine Sparkling at The Grain Store
(image: Sarah Weal Photography)
Prosecco, Buck's Fizz, Cava, Champagne or English Sparkling - what is your favourite festive fizz?
English Sparkling Wine all the way. It’s made in the same way as Champagne, with the same grape varieties and often beats it in blind-tasting competitions. There are over 700 vineyards in England, so buying English Sparkling is a great way to support local. If you prefer something a little sweeter then Prosecco is a great option though.
What is your most popular wine at Christmas time?
Last Christmas we launched our first ever sparkling wine – from the first ever harvest at Beacon Down Vineyard. The Pinot Noir grapes that go into the wine were picked in October 2017 and the wine spent over 18 months ‘on lees’ which means undergoing its’ secondary ferment in bottle. Quality English Sparkling wine is fermented twice – once in a tank and once in bottle – just like Champagne. It proved extremely popular – everyone loves a bit of fizz at Christmas! This is the wine that the guests at The Grain Store enjoy in their welcome pack.
Where do people usually go wrong when pairing wine and food?
The best thing is to drink what you love. It is interesting though how the taste of wine can change depending on what you eat with it. For example, if you are drinking red wine when you move onto dessert, the wine is likely to taste a little more bitter.
Which wine do you recommend with a traditional turkey dinner?
A crisp dry white – our Bacchus-Pinot Gris still wine is perfect. Unfortunately, it is almost sold out (now available from just a few of our stockists) so we might go for a good Macon Village this year. A light red such as a Pinot Noir, from Burgundy in France or New Zealand would also be fabulous.
What about wines for vegetarians and vegans?
Both our sparkling wines – the 2017 Blanc de Noirs white fizz and the 2018 Rose fizz are vegan.
Moving to dessert, what do you recommend?
We produce a medium sweet Riesling wine. It’s the only still Riesling produced in the country and pairs perfectly with desserts (and cheeses). For a dessert wine it is really light and refreshing with flavours of peach and mango, lightly honeyed notes and a hint of creaminess.
What is your favourite cheese to pair with a delicious wine?
Sussex produces some amazing cheeses, our favourites are Sussex Charmer, Mayfield Smoked and Brighton Blue.
What will be on your table this Christmas?
We are away visiting family this year, but when we host in Lewes I normally order a turkey and lots of the trimmings from Holmansbridge Farm, in Barcombe, just north of Lewes. I stock up on cheeses, chutney and crackers from Cheese Please on Lewes High Street. Beer from the Harvey’s brewery shop and Beacon Down Wine of course.
What do you love most about Christmas?
We love everything about Christmas! The best thing though is seeing the faces of our two boys when they see that Father Christmas has been – excitement levels are generally through the roof at this point!
What is your Christmas wish this year?
I think we all wish that 2021 brings good health, happiness and a bit more normality for everyone.
Beacon Down Wines Sparkling Pinot Noir as part of The Grain Store welcome pack
Discover more from Beacon Down Wines
Beacon Down is a family run vineyard in East Sussex, specialising in award-winning English sparkling wines. They offer guided tours and tastings in the summertime, have an online shop and are the official wine supplier to The Grain Store.
To find out more about Beacon Down Wines and to discover Al and Paul’s story, visit their website: beacondown.co.uk
You can also browse their wine selection of many of the wines featured in this blog.
Book your celebration at The Grain Store
As a luxury, open and contemporary setting with everything you need, The Grain Store is perfect for small celebrations.
You’ll get to sample Beacon Down’s award-winning sparkling wine as part of your welcome pack, along with a selection of other delicious artisan goods from Lewes and East Sussex. We can also help source catering for your special occasion. For more information on private dining with our local suppliers, see the plan your visit page.
To secure your booking or if you’d like any further information about The Grain Store, contact our team: