Pippuri.fi asked three top experts in the field for Christmas wine recommendations. These wines crown the Christmas table.
Which wine should you choose for the Christmas table? We asked three wine experts, Anna Sukava, Sari Sirén mixed Santeri from Lank to give their own recommendations for the Christmas table.
One red wine, one white wine and one sparkling wine had to be found among the recommendations. The upper price limit for wines was 25 euros. Although one champagne that exceeded the price limit ended up in the recommendations, because in Santeri Lankinen’s opinion, this drink cannot be missed when talking about the wines on the Christmas table.
Here are the recommendations of wine experts, where there is guaranteed to be an option for every taste.
Anna Sukava recommends:
Red wine: Thörle Saulheim Spätburgunder Kalkstein 2016, Germany, 19.99 e
Pinot Noir is a challenging grape for the winemaker, and although the end result is often at most medium-bodied, more time and skill than average has been spent on growing and making the wine, which makes Pinot Noir wines adaptable to many tastes without being too much or too little.
With the great popularity and price increase of French Pinot Noirs, Pinot Noir lovers should turn their eyes to Germany, where you can find really great and even more moderately priced Pinot Noirs, or Spätburgunders, as they are known in Germany.
White wine: José Pariente Varietal Verdejo 2020, Spain, 16.89 e
When you think of Spanish wines, the first thing that comes to mind is full-bodied red wines, but lately the spotlight has been on Spanish white wines, whose popularity I believe will increase in the coming years.
This elegant and aromatic Verdejo has a slightly wider mouthfeel and more moderate acidity than trendy Rieslings, which makes it suitable for a diverse Christmas table.
Sparkling wine: Bouvet Saphir Saumur Vintage Brut 2019, France, 19.95 e
The Loire river valley in France is a strong white wine region, but also produces elegant sparkling wines from the Chenin Blanc grape, whose aroma has a pleasant honeyiness.
Sparkling wines are made using the traditional champagne method, so the wine, which may seem bland at first, has layers that make it very gastronomic, i.e. suitable for many dishes. Personally, I like to combine sparkling wine to make a versatile Food Table drink, in which case the wine works more as a palette cleanser between different flavors than as a classic wine pairing for food.
What kind of wines are suitable for the Christmas table, Anna Sukava?
– Christmas is especially a time for enjoyment and there are usually many delicacies on the dining table, so I personally put aside thoughts about perfect wine and food pairings and choose wines based on the preferences of the dining group. If the party doesn’t like red wine, then there’s no point in getting it, because the most perfect wine for a varied dinner table is often the one you like the most.
– In general, I encourage you to leave your comfort zone and try, especially when paired with food, wines that you wouldn’t otherwise like, but the Christmas table isn’t necessarily for that anyway.
THE FACTS
Anna Sukava is a long-time sommelier from Helsinki, for whom good wine is a part of quality everyday life and life comparable to culture. Sukava has traveled a lot, lived abroad for a long time and worked in the best restaurants in Helsinki, but her heart is in the Finnish countryside, so she boldly examines Finnish wine culture from many different directions and is taken by the positive direction it is developing.
Sari Sirén recommends:
Red wine: Pagos de Rey Condado de Oriza Gran Reserva 2014, Spain, €22.99
An elegant, toasty and sweet spicy wine with flavors of mocha and cherry. A multi-dimensional, soft tannic and great wine also for a container. Great value for money.
White wine: Dr Thanisch Riesling 2021, Germany, 15.98 e
A very acidic, semi-dry wine with a sugar content of 11 g/l. The floweriness, lightness and liveliness typical of Mosel are combined with delicious yellow fruitiness. Also a wonderful companion wine.
Sparkling wine: Fernand Engel Crèmant d´Alsace Blanc de Noir Dosage Zero 2017, France, 19.99 e
A very dry and elegant organic crémant as an aperitif, light fish or shellfish. A clear, lightly toasted and fruity wine with a wonderful structure accentuated by fine minerality. A refreshing option even after a meal.
What kind of wines are suitable for the Christmas table, Sari Sirén?
– The dishes on the Christmas table are known to be challenging for the wines, so it is good to have the right amount of fruit, roundness in the wines and even a little sweetness in the fish table. For a cheese table, it is good to pair a classic red wine with a white sweet wine, which is perfect for mild cheeses.
– Since there is also a lot of socializing at Christmas, presents and presents are expected, I think it is fine to choose different drinks, as long as they are approachable and suit many tastes.
THE FACTS
Sari Sirén is a wine expert who doesn’t snob for nothing. Wine writer, trainer and judge, whose tastings combine food with interesting wines.
20180910 Wine expert Sari SirenPhoto: Inka Soveri Inka Soveri
Santeri Lankinen recommends:
Red wine: Domaine du Crêt d’Oeillat Régnié Vieilles Vignes 2020, Beaujolais, France, €18.99
Wine from another favorite region of France, Beaujolais. The reputation of the region’s wines has suffered enormously due to Beaujolais Nouveau, but the region also produces very fine quality wines with an excellent price-quality ratio.
Wine from the Cru-classified wine village of Régnié, known for its light, aromatic and mineral Gamay style. A light, rich red berry, slightly floral, tart and even mineral red wine that will certainly go well with ham. A pair worth trying also as a companion to the carrot box.
White wine: Vouvray Les Perruches Sec 2021, Loire, France, €19.99
White wine from my own favorite variety, Chenin Blanc, which resembles the more familiar Riesling. Mouth-filling, aromatically fruity and multidimensional, but very acidic Chenin Blanc is great for many kinds of Christmas table.
Champagne: Champagne GH Martel 150 Ans Vintage Champagne 2009, 64.90 e
Vintage champagne of an excellent, warm vintage. The warm vintage brings with it to the champagne the ripe, yellow fruitiness longed for by Christmas dishes, and the age of the wine and the long yeast lees maturation softens the acidity and brings with it an enjoyable, creamy mouthfeel. A multitasker at the dinner table.
What kind of wines are suitable for the Christmas table, Santeri Lankinen?
– The foods on the traditional Finnish Christmas table are rather difficult pairings for wines – there are many different dishes and the flavors are intense, often a little sweet and spicy. It is impossible to give one or even two exact recommendations. However, the real contenders on the Christmas table are slightly richer champagnes and slightly residual sugar, but refreshingly tart, semi-dry Rieslings and also Chenin Blancs.
– Our Christmas table is quite traditional, and the drinks always include at least vintage champagne and my mother’s favorite variety, Riesling. With rather heavy Christmas dishes, I personally avoid wines that are too rich. Nor should beer be overrated as a drink pairing for the Christmas table. However, in my opinion, the most important thing when combining food and drink is to eat and drink what you enjoy.
THE FACTS
Santeri Lankinen works as a sommelier at Ravintola Savoy and was awarded the PRO award of restaurant industry professionals in the sommelier/butler series last spring. Lankinen’s favorite wine changes almost every day, but in general he likes quite acidic and fresh wines the most, whether they are bubbly or still, or red, pink or white in color.