A time for indulgence, it’s hard to escape sweet treats around Christmas time. From mince pies to seemingly endless supplies of bite-sized chocolates, there is always something to tuck into. Amy McCudden has hand-picked a mouth-watering selection of festive favourite pairings.
Desserts and sweet food can be very tricky to pair, but a well-known rule of pairing sweet with sweet can help you decide which bottles make the naughty or nice list.
….Christmas Pudding
A perennial centrepiece on Christmas Day, a hearty Christmas pudding is filled with tradition and a wonderful way to round off a hearty feast; after all, there is always room for dessert!
Try: Henriques & Henriques 10 year old Malvasia Madeira – 50cl
Showing complex notes of sweet, dried fruit on the nose, followed by caramel and freshly ground coffee on the finish, this is truly rich and intense. It tastes like Christmas in a bottle - the ideal match for a richly fruited Christmas pudding!
….Christmas Cake
Whether you follow an indulgent festive lunch with a slither of Christmas cake or are building up to the big day with a cake-box staple, elevate your Christmas cake experience this year and pair it with a glass of sweet Muscat.
Try: Stanton & Killeen Muscat, Rutherglen – Half. Brimming with sweet aromas and flavours of caramelised brown sugar with hints of raisins, it’s a fantastic half bottle to have on-hand this festive season.
….Mince pie
A Mince Pie or two will spread some Christmas cheer in the busy run-up to Christmas. Whether you prefer yours simply as it is, or perhaps served slightly warm with a drop of cream, Tanners has the perfect tipple to enjoy alongside it.
Try: Tanners Cream Sherry
It's sweet and oh-so festive! Bursting with rich flavours like dates, prunes and figs, this sumptuous wine is the perfect apéritif with a mince pie.
….Christmas chocolate: bite-sized treats to yule log
From boxes full of your favourite bite-sized branded treats to decadent yule logs or even a mouth-watering Chocolate Gâteau, Christmas time is filled with chocolate. But what wine do you pair with chocolate? There are many nuances when it comes to chocolate, but we have a great crowd-pleaser suggestion.
Try: Brachetto d'Acqui, "Braida"
A staff favourite, this bottle of lightly sparkling red is the go-to chocolate partner. A must-have for anyone with a sweet tooth, it’s sweet but not sickly. Bursting with succulent red fruits it’s dangerously moreish but at only 5.5% you can indulge yourself the only trouble is you may need more than one bottle this Christmas!
Or if you fancy a truly indulgent Chocolate pairing…
Try: Rivesaltes Grenat, Sur Grains, Domaine Boudau 2022 (organic) - Half
Silky, smooth and oh-so-delicious, this sweet red dessert wine will wow your guests and their taste buds! Bursting with ripe red and black fruits, it’s utterly moreish and superb value.
….Christmas gingerbread biscuits
Whether you’re making your own gingerbread house or feel like decorating the tree with some homemade treats, there is a true Christmas tipple that will pair beautifully with the warming soft spices.
Try: Rotwild Glühwein
A glass of Glühwein is a classic Christmas drink. Filled with mouth-watering festive aromas and flavours such as cinnamon, clove and citrus, this warming tipple is perfect for cold winter days. Or, impress your guests with a homemade version using the brand new Tanners Marvellous Mulled Wine Kit.