“Tis the season to be drinking, fa la la la la, la la la la…”

OK, I promise not to corrupt this piece with too many Christmas puns but the festival season is in full swing and rather than getting stuck with the house wine at every after-work drinks get-together (which you detest, but hey, you paid for it so of course you’ll get it down), I thought I’d offer some suggestions so that you can drink and be merry. If you’re going to feel a little delicate the next day, you may as well have drunk what you liked not just chugged down for the hell of it. So here’s my guide to the 12 Wines of Christmas.

Bubbly

In my humble opinion, no celebration is complete without a glass of bubbly. I’ve been known to celebrate random holidays that have nothing to do with my nationality or religion just to crack a bottle (Thanksgiving anyone?) But not all bubbly is created equal.

Champagne

I used to think proper champagne was a bit pretentious and couldn’t really see what all the fuss was about, until I went to Champagne and drank some, (the really good stuff too), so trust me when I say it lives up to the hype. Good champers might smell a bit like bread (but don’t worry, it’s still low carb!) and is expensive so order a glass if the boss is paying.

Sparkling

There are some great sparkling wines out there these days, many of which are made the same way as champagne so don’t feel like you’re slumming if you pop a bottle from Canberra or ; both who make some of the best in the country. Sparkling wine goes to the head pretty quickly so drink this if you’re sitting with the IT department listening to them discuss the latest Dungeons and Dragons instalment—it should soften the blow.

Moscato

I cringe at putting Moscato in the same category as champagne but it is bubbly and I know it’s popular—probably among those who still secretly chug Passionpop. It’s a seriously sweet drink. If you’re drinking Moscato you probably also like alcopops and should definitely pace yourself this season.

Where to find the local bubbly gems

Obviously there’s no champagne in Canberra but Greg Gallagher spent time in Champagne learning his craft so I would recommend his Sparkling Duet. Granitevale Estate does an interesting Sparkling Sauvignon Blanc and Shaw Vineyards have a Sparkling Rosé Moscato (called Riscato) if you’re looking for something super girly!

Whites

Ahh, white wine—the perfect summer drink but such a rather risky move if ordering the house white when you have no idea what it is. I’m not saying house wines are bad but if you find yourself spiking your own drink just to mask the flavour, then it might be time to try something new. Obviously wine varieties can differ massively in style but here’s some tips to keep the twinkle in your toes.

Chardonnay

Poor old Chardonnay fell massively out of favour after Australia saturated both the local and international markets with big oaky wines which had a disturbingly orange tinge to them. However, Chardonnay is back in favour (you heard it here first!). No longer oak driven, but fruity and creamy. Drink this wine if you fancy yourself a trendsetter and are a fan of fruity cocktails.

Sav Blanc

I have such a love/hate relationship with Sav Blanc. I love the French stuff, can’t stand the NZ varieties. Bad Sav Blanc tastes like big mouthfuls of passionfruit. But don’t be lured in dear Passionpop drinker, this wine is not for you—it’s very acidic and much more suited to those who enjoy sucking on lemons. French versions generally tone down the acid and may taste a bit like asparagus but use this to convince yourself you’re getting one of your five a day.

Pinot Gris

Probably the safest of all the white wines. Sometimes it tastes like water it can be that flavourless (but also inoffensive). Good Pinot Gris (or Pinot Grigio –same wine, Italian name) is zesty with a handful of citrus flavours thrown in. A great wine for those who like to play it safe.

Rosé

Avoid the super pink stuff unless you are a Moscato drinker. Good Rosé is blush in colour rather than pink and should have hints of strawberry not big mouthfuls of sugar. Drink Rosé if you don’t really like wine but you’re trying to fit in—you can always spike it with a dash of lemonade and no one will know the difference.

Where to find the local White gems

Mount Majura Chardonnay is a winner with the Sav Blanc from Wily Trout quite lovely with more of a French style to it. Eden Road’s Long Rail Pinot Gris is a great summery drink and finally ‘The Abstainer’ Rosé from Capital Wines is very moorish.

I have deliberately left Riesling off my list – simply because it varies in style possibly more than any other wine and I would need a separate article to write about it! Canberra Rieslings are some of the best in the country and, at risk of stating the blooming obvious, Ken Helm is a genius with this grape.

Reds

Without a meal, red wine is less commonly seen at a Christmas drinks soiree while those that are quaffing tend to look either ultra sophisticated or a bit wanky. In my opinion, red wine is the nectar of the gods and deserves a place at every occasion.

Pinot Noir

Probably the best choice for warmer weather as it should be lighter in style (and alcohol) than other wines. Pinot is generally more savoury than other reds so it’s a good choice if you shun desserts and want to pace yourself.

Cab Sav

Trusty old Cab Sav is a wine you rarely go wrong with. It’s usually fruity enough to satisfy the sweet-toothed but spicy enough for those that want a bit more of a hit. Typical flavours include cherries, liquorice and dark chocolate so what’s not to like!

Shiraz

The choice of the serious wine drinker who talks about ‘tannins’ and ‘balance’. Ignore the faff and order a glass with a big fat steak, you can’t go wrong.

Where to find the local Red gems

There are some great Pinots in Canberra and standouts include vintages from Yarrh and Lerida Estate. Helm Wines and Granitevale Estate do fabulous Cab Sav while Clonakilla and Nick O’Leary have been widely recognised for their Shiraz (and rightly so!). And finally, Pankhurst Wines do a great Temprenello alongside Malaluka Wines who have a fab Sangiovese and Mount Majura a superb Grenache.

The others

Varieties such as Temprenello, Sangiovese and Grenache are starting to pop up all over the place. Order a glass of these beauties and you’ll demonstrate how well travelled you are and you can spend the rest of the night regaling  your colleagues with tales of sipping Chianti (mostly Sangiovese) in Tuscany or quaffing Rioja (mostly Temprenello) at a tapas bar in Spain. You may find your audience number depletes as the night goes on so consider switching back to a Cab Sav…

Sweet wines and port

If you’ve made it this far through Christmas drinks, you’ve had too much and it’s time to go home!

Merry Christmas everyone!

Please drink responsibly and enjoy the experience. If you’ve consumed more than the legal limit, do not drink and drive—jump in a taxi, phone a friend or catch the Nightrider bus this festive season. If you or someone you know has a problem with excessive drinking, help is available. Call Lifeline on 13 11 14. 

Feature image of two glasses of red wine with gingerbread man and bauble courtesy of Shutterstock.