The must-have wines for Christmas Eve

The categories you can't miss

Before we start with our suggestions, it is important to get some perspective on the whole dinner. To do this it is important to think about the different moments of the dinner and try to group them together so that we don't go crazy.

By groups you can't miss bubbles, and depending on our tastes you can vary the moment: appetizer, seafood, main courses or desserts. The key in the choice will be in the styles and the dosage.

Another essential category is usually the great Atlantic whites. In almost all of Spain, the great products of the sea usually have a place or a main position at dinner. Spider crab, goose barnacle, prawn, oyster, langoustine... all these succulent products deserve an accompaniment to match.

Of course it is a time of the year when we always make room in our hearts and especially in our mouths for a great red wine with substance. Roast meats and fish dishes are frequent among the main dishes and many of us like to accompany them with a great red wine.

The world of the generous also deserves a special place on our Christmas tables. In many homes, it is the usual suspect accompanying Iberian cured meats and our hams and shoulders. In others for being a fantastic after-dinner companion, with a little less alcohol than distillates (which we are grateful for the day after).

Finally, why not, it's a night when the after-dinner drink is enough to open a bottle of wine or sweet cider to accompany the polvorones. They can also be of interest at a specific moment of the dinner, such as the aperitif, or the foies and terrines, if the case may be.

No bubbly is no Christmas

National or international, but bubbles. Earlier we told you that what is really important is to know when we want to drink them.

Seafood and aperitifs, look for dry, refreshing wines, with good acidity, Brut Nature in cavas or Non Dosage in Champagne and a perfect moment for Blanc de Blancs. Wines with more ageing for the more intense main courses, and bruts and slightly higher dosages to accompany the polvorones and other sweets.

Sommelier's advice/request/prayer: forget the brut nature for toasting with desserts (especially chocolate).

A couple of names that never fail: Gramona in the field of domestic sparkling wines (Corpinnat) and Bollinger in Champagne are two great examples of guaranteed successful bubbles. If you are looking for producers to discover, we throw in two gloves, AT Roca, the latest great little project from the third generation of the family and Jacques Lassaigne, one of the stars of the vigneron Champagne universe.

And in a year like this, perhaps a great label to celebrate being alive, if only one had to be chosen, ours is Krug

Good seafood is worth a good white

The time has come to peel prawns, gnaw on crabs, and bite the life out of crab legs. And with sticky hands to sip Atlantic with a great white wine. Or enhance the flavour of the oysters with a fine French chardonnay.

Albariños or godellos are the most comfortable company, our firm bet is Rafael Palacios for a moment like this, and if we are indissoluble partners of albariño La Comtesse de Pazo de Barrantes is our first choice.

If you've got a traveller's palate, it's time to land in Chablis to discover the most mineral and electric chardonnay. If you want to play at home, one of our must-try wines is Enate 234 (and in its magnum version even better) or its Chardonnay Fermentado en Barrica if you are looking for more volume in the mouth.

The moment of the great reds

Lechazo from Castilla y León, Ternasco from Aragón, Ternera Gallega... whichever meat you choose from the dozens of local specialities and delicacies throughout Spain, they all deserve a red wine to match. And one that everyone will love.

We love the classics, or the Gran Reserva 904 from Rioja Alta for moments like this. If you are more of a Ribera lover, you cannot miss wines like Pago de Carraovejas or Aalto.

If you want to discover varieties and areas that will make you enjoy the moment, we give you a couple more options: a succulent Tinta de Toro like Almírez from the Eguren brothers or an elegant and exclusive Aragonese Garnacha from Fernando Mora MW like El Jardín de Las Iguales Garnacha.

Jerez, not only in consommé

In many homes we NEED them when opening the ham, to brighten up the consommé and to enjoy after dinner. Find a place for them because they are simply exceptional wines.

On a night like this where Iberian cured meats are important, and to warm up for a snack (although this year that moment will be significantly reduced) a Fino de Añada from Williams & Humbert or an Amontillado Escuadrilla from Lustau can work fantastically.

If you're not superfans but want to dip your toes into the world of sherry, try a family of sherry wines that always works, the creams, amorosos or abocados. These wines have a part of sweet wine (usually PX), and combine their friendliness with the complexity of the biological and/or oxidative ageing wines of palomino fino. They are very versatile and can be served with starters such as pates, or vegetable dishes such as cardoon with almonds or even game dishes, and always with sweet desserts such as nuts and nougat.

Sweet moment

And because there is no room for excess on a holiday like this, we always have a sweet option for those with a sweet tooth.

Our favourites on these tables don't have to be just dessert wines. For example, we love how a good Moscato d'Asti DOCG like Alice Bel Colle works with a good foie, or a Eric Bordelet Sweet Cider.

If what you are looking for is a pairing for the end of the dinner we could choose between ice wines or late vintages among others, without forgetting a sweet sherry option. But if we only have to choose one for a special day, we travel to Hungary to uncork the wine of kings, the Tokaji.

Make every day count and remember that life is too short to drink bad wine!

We've got to make every day count!

Ah! and if you are one of those who prefer to get the job done, we leave you our Christmas selection with 6 bottles (2 magnums among them) so you don't have to think and you will get it right for sure!