Red wine belongs to the Christmas table of many Finns. Adobe Stock / AOP
Christmas is a time of traditions, and it can also be seen in Finns’ glasses. Alko’s product communication manager Matti Syrjä says that red wine is still the overwhelming number one favorite at the Christmas table.
According to a survey conducted by Alko, up to 76 percent of respondents choose red wine for the Christmas table.
However, there is a surprising note about red wine: the most popular drink is often the most difficult choice in terms of taste.
– The Finnish Christmas table is really challenging when it comes to drink choices. There are lots of vinegary, sweet and wonderful flavors. If you think about the whole food, red wine is perhaps the least suitable option, says Syrjä.
However, Syrjä reminds us that the most important thing at Christmas is to drink what you like.
– Ham is important and people like red wine, so it’s well suited to this time of year. It’s perfectly okay to choose your favorite drink in a glass, even if it’s not the best option for everyone.
Make this change half an hour before eating
Many people make a mistake at Christmas with the serving temperatures of wines: red wine is drunk too warm and white wine too cold.
Syrjä gives an easy rule of thumb to get the best aromas out of wines.
– White wines should be stored in the refrigerator. About 20–30 minutes before eating, bring the white wine to room temperature and at the same time put the red wine in the refrigerator to cool down.
Why should you do this?
– We are used to red wine at room temperature, but today the room temperature is over 20 degrees, while before it was closer to 18 degrees. A little coolness lightens the feel of the wine and brings out the aromas nicely, explains Syrjä.
In the case of white wine, the coldness of the refrigerator can mask the flavors. The optimal serving temperature for white wine is 10–12 degrees.
– If the wine is really cold, the fine fruity and spicy aromas or the nuances brought by the oak maturation do not get their rights.
Syrjä does not recommend the freezer for rapid cooling of any wine, as a rapid temperature change is a shock to the drink and can change its aromas.
A jug of juice for young wine
If a young red wine has been chosen for the Christmas table, and vintages 2020 and younger can now be counted as young, the wine benefits from aeration. However, simply opening the cap a couple of hours before is not enough.
– Quick decanting can be done by pouring the wine into a juice jug and then back into the bottle. That’s where the wine appears and the tannins soften, and there’s no need to have a separate carafe on the table, Syrjä advises.
According to the survey, 36 percent of Finns choose beer for the Christmas table. According to Syrjä, beer is an excellent and versatile choice for food.
The expert’s exact tips for the beer shelf
- Fish table: Cold lager or pils.
- Ham and boxes: Dark lager, Bock or Belgian-style ale. They have plenty of flavor and a bit of cuteness that is perfect for Christmas dishes.
- Dessert (chocolate): Stout, porter or Trappist beers.
The temperature of the beer also matters. Lagers can be served cold from the refrigerator, but darker stouts and porters should be brought to room temperature about 15–20 minutes before consumption.