Wine expert reveals the unusual style you should be serving on Christmas Day
By Charlotte Kristensen
I recently introduced myself at a wine tasting as a ‘365 rosé girl’. Sipping the pink drink poolside or at a beach club with friends in warmer climates is what we dream of on these grey winter days.
But our darling rosé isn’t just a summer fling – it’s an effortless crowd-pleaser that will delight palates over the festive season just as it does in the sun.
As the wine expert of the family, I’ve been steadily introducing new traditions in the vino department over the last few years.
The most controversial – now fully embraced by our multi-generational table of drinkers – is a magnum of rosé served with our beetroot and gin-cured salmon starter, perfected by my dad, on Christmas Day.
It’s the perfect middle ground for those who don’t enjoy an oaky white, squirm at an aromatic Sauvignon Blanc, brace themselves for the acidity of other crisp styles, or generally ‘just drink red’.
The British choice is typically a Provence-style pale pink: elegant, fresh, with just the right level of juiciness…
The best food and rosé pairings to try this Christmas
Salmon: Rosé wines cut through the rich, smoky, and oily textures of smoked salmon, while their silky texture and delicate flavours create a harmonious pairing with cured salmon.
Cured meats: Prosciutto, Jamón Ibérico, salami, and similar cured meats are flavourful, salty, and fatty, making them a perfect match for the crispness of rosé, which provides a vibrant lift.
Pomegranate salad: This pairing plays on the red fruit notes found in both rosé and pomegranate, creating a light, lively, and festive match.
Lobster, prawn and crab: The succulent, subtly sweet, and salty-mineral flavours of shellfish are complemented by rosé wines, which echo and enhance these delicate attributes.
Glazed ham: Rosé is a delightful match for the meaty, honeyed flavours of glazed ham, offering a bright, crisp counterpoint to this rich and satisfying Christmas favourite.
The best rosé wines to drink this Christmas
2022 Garrus Rose, Chateau d’Esclans, Cotes de Provence
A splurge-worthy gourmet rosé from the Whispering Angel family – unusually it is oaked, offering a structured, spiced sip with depth.
Pale salmon, this is opulent and ripe with plum, peach and apple mingling with oak spice and red fruits. Very creamy textured with herbal spicy notes, vanilla and summer berries. Long and fresh.
