You'd better watch out, you'd better not cry, you'd better not pout, I’m telling you why...Santa Claus is coming to town.
Oh yes, start your engines and steady yourselves for the festive season. To help you through the event, I rather hope to be able to entice you along to The Wine Rooms to stock up with lovely wines. My encouragement is to look for quality as opposed to quantity, but I would say that of course.
We have lined up some special Christmas case options, all available to for online purchase at www.thewineroomschewmagna.com and free delivery within BS39, BS40 and BS41 (£5 for all other Bristol and Bath postcodes). You can also collect in store.
Here is our Five Days of Christmas Wine Survival Kit
1. The pre-Christmas gathering
Whether you are hosting or lucky enough to be invited, we need some nice party wines. I recommend our lovely French Viognier at £11.99, our White Rhone (LA Fleur Solitaire) at £12.49 or our gorgeous ever popular Provence Rose at £15.99.
In terms of fizz, our Blanquette de Limoux at £16.99 or the surprisingly lovely Croser Brut from Adelaide Hills at £15.99.
2. Christmas Eve
Many of us have our own traditions for Christmas Eve; a long walk, a trip to the cinema or quite often a night of calmness before the storm with a Christmas movie, a warm fire and an early night for the kids.
I recommend a rich textured white wine or a smooth red to ease our way into the busy day that follows. Try the Kleine Zalze Vineyard Selection Chenin Blanc at £14.00 or the Monte Velho Portuguese White wine at £11.99.
As for the Red wine, our lovely Rhone Villages Les Coteaux at £12.49 or the Robert Oatley McClaren Vale G21 Grenache at £13.99.
3. The Big Day
Only the best options will do on the big day. I highly recommend our house champagne, Bouche. It really is a lovely champagne and priced at £27.99 a bottle.
The roast turkey needs a rich white wine but will also take a softer red. For the white wine, I recommend Argiles Blanche Cairanne; a wonderful elevated, richly textured and classy white wine from the Cru Rhone village of Cairanne at £15.99. For a lighter red I recommend our Saint Amour Cru Beaujolais at £15.99.
Of course, many of you will also have a sirloin, a rib or a fillet of beef and you will need a big classy red to pair with this. I recommend the Kleine Zalze Family Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon 2008. You won't taste anything better for £29.99 a bottle. It’s a truly wonderful example of a Cabernet Sauvignon. A memorable wine.
4. Boxing Day
My favourite day. Take in the air, walk off the excesses, watch some sport, gather with family and friends. A couple of beers in the local pub and back home for the cold cuts, the pickles and, of course, the bubble and squeak.
I am recommending our Chapoutier Rouge Clair at £13.49, a red wine made specifically for chilling. It's soft and fruity and will sit alongside the buffet food nicely. Maybe a glass of fizz – a nice Cremant de Loire at £16.49.
With the cheese and/or the leftover christmas pud, I recommend our wonderful Malmado Fortified Malbec (50cl at £9.99) or try our Gonzales Byass PX Nectar Sherry (£19.99) poured over vanilla ice-cream, a brownie or a mince pie – wonderful and never to be forgotten.
5. The annual gathering with the neighbours
How do we spread the love with our neighbours without emptying our wallets? Whether you are hosting or visiting, the idea here is to find wines that punch well above their price. Try these for size; Domaine Verdhilan Viognier – classy, lean and aromatic at £11.99. Codorniu Organic Brut Cava – a lovely fizz, champagne style at £11.99. Monte Velho Tinto – a Portuguese red blend from Alentejo at £11.99. Masseria Borgo dei Truilli Primitivo Appassimento (so popular) at £13.00.
CHRISTMAS WINE CASES
We know, simple is great at Christmas time, and so we've put all these wines into our Five Days Of Christmas Wine Survival Kit just for you (12 bottles for £180.00).
Domaine Verdilhan Viognier (2)
LA Fleur Solitaire (2)
Blanquette de Limoux Fizz
Kleine Zalze VS Chenin Blanc
Rober Oatley G21 Grenache
Bouche Pere et Fils Reserve Brut Champagne
Argiles Blanches Cairanne
Kleine Zalze Family Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon 2018
Chapoutier Rouge Clair
Malmado Fortified Malbec
I will be opening bottles of the above in the shop throughout December for you to taste. This and an additional two Christmas cases are now available on our website.
- The Classic Christmas Case - 12 bottles for £150.00
- The ‘You Only Live Once' Special Christmas Collection - 12 Bottles for £240.00