As the festive season approaches, thoughts turn to cosy gatherings, twinkling lights, and delectable treats. Our kitchens will have their chance to shine, as should the food and drink we offer our nearest and dearest. And what better way to elevate the merriment than with the effervescent elegance of a glass of fizz? Champagne and sparkling wine are synonymous with celebration and luxury and have long been a staple of Christmas festivities, adding a touch of magic to every occasion.
Pairing Champagne with Christmas Fare
We’re decorating the tree and getting our luxury kitchens ready for the festivities, but we’re also planning menus and drinks. The versatility of champagne makes it an ideal pairing for a wide range of Christmas delicacies. Consider indulging in smoked salmon, caviar, or oysters alongside a glass of chilled fizz for festive appetisers. As the meal progresses, rosé champagne and sparkling wines, with their delicate strawberry and raspberry notes, complement roasted poultry or rich salmon dishes perfectly. And for dessert, a touch of sweetness from a demi-sec harmonises beautifully with traditional Christmas puddings or fruitcakes.
Beyond the Traditional: Festive Champagne Cocktails
While fizz is often enjoyed on its own, it also lends itself to various creative cocktails that add a touch of whimsy to the holiday season. A classic Kir Royale combines crème de cassis and champagne for a delightful blend of sweet and tart flavours. For a taste of winter spice, infuse sparkling wine with cloves, star anise, and cinnamon sticks. Or, for a refreshing and vibrant twist, mix champagne with fresh fruit juices like pomegranate, cranberry, or mandarin.
Serving Champagne with Flair
No luxury kitchen is truly luxurious without a bottle or two of champagne in the wine fridge. You can elevate the festive experience by ensuring that the wine is served chilled to perfection, ideally between 6-8°C (42-46°F). Use tulip-shaped champagne flutes, which allow the bubbles to rise gracefully and showcase the wine’s elegant aroma. When pouring, gently tilt the flute and pour slowly down the side to minimise foam.
With celebration and the festivities in mind, here are a few of our favourite champagnes and sparkling wines to try during the season. Your luxury kitchen party will flow with fun and merriment with the addition of one or two of these delightful cuvees.
Krug Rosé 27ème Édition
Krug Rosé is a unique rosé champagne that combines elegance and boldness. The broad palate is full of fruit characters, with spicy notes and an astonishing breadth and depth.
It’s lovely with savoury dishes and perfectly replaces a good red wine at the dinner table. We love it with pâté and crackers, lamb, game or white meat, or even dishes with spices. This non-conformist champagne is ideal for cinnamon, clove and anise spices, and the balance of finesse and substance is perfect.
Moët & Chandon Nectar Imperial (Demi-Sec) Champagne
Probably one of the most recognised champagnes in the world, Moet & Chandon has been expertly producing champagne since 1869. The Moet & Chandon name guarantees excellent and consistent quality through every bottle. It epitomises those who live a fabulous life and have celebration as a part of their lifestyle, especially in their luxury kitchens!
Nectar Imperial is the boldest and most unexpected Moet & Chandon champagne. It reflects the diversity and complementarities of the three champagne grapes and the richness of the region’s best vineyards to reveal the magic of the world’s most loved champagne.
It’s lively and generous and distinguishes itself by its tropical fruitiness. It’s rich on the palate with a crisp finish, so it’s ideal with desserts and sweet treats. The nuances of grain (malt) and sweet spices (cinnamon and vanilla) make it perfect for sweet or sour, sugary-spicy sweet dishes.
Nyetimber Blanc De Blancs
From the world-renowned English sparkling wine producer, Nyetimber Blanc De Blancs is an elegant wine of complexity and delicacy. Blanc de Blancs is the cuvee that once upon a time marked the beginning of Nyetimber’s winemaking back in 1992. This refined wine is crafted from a single vintage and given around five years on the lees, offering a pure expression of Chardonnay.
The light gold sparkling wine has all the characteristics of champagne with aromas of lemon sherbet and honeysuckle. The palate is rounded and soft, offering generous yet elegant notes of green apple, lemon zest, orange blossom, and chamomile, with a touch of baked hazelnut. A subtle minerality accentuates the fresh, crisp acidity, leading to a long and complex finish.
Blanc De Blancs is ideal for a Christmas party, and the cuvee is perfect with canapes with white crab meat or main courses of Dover sole or mussels.
Cuvée Prestige Brut Champagne Paul Lebrun
An undiscovered gem, the Cuvée Prestige by Paul Lebrun is only available from Bacchus Wines PLDC in the UK. The refined and elegant champagne meets the highest expectations of demanding connoisseurs. It is aged on lees for at least forty-eight months and produced in vats and oak barrels. Created by a family-owned vineyard, it is made from 100% Chardonnay grapes.
Cuvée Prestige Brut is intense and complex on the nose with tiny bubbles. The lively effervescence accentuates the ripe fruitiness of peach and nectarine. Hints of gingerbread can be found on the nose, alongside freshly churned butter and some floral notes.
This champagne is delightful as an aperitif and ideal with canapes, carpaccio of white fish or fresh seafood. The ideal accessory to a wine fridge in a bespoke kitchen, your guests will love this undiscovered gem.
Rathfinny 2019 Rosé
The Rathfinny 2019 Rosé by Sussex-based winemaker is an expressive sparkling wine made in the traditional method from grapes grown and hand-harvested on their Estate.
Rose gold in colour, the delicate fine bubbles yield a creamy palate of clementine and kumquats that give way to raspberries and strawberries with a cleansing quince finish.
The 2019 rosé is a beautiful accompaniment to the bright flavours of Thai chilli crab, duck and ginger spring rolls and fruit-based desserts like strawberry soufflé and cranberry trifle, perfect for a festive celebration.
