8 December 2025

2025 Festive Staff Picks

Each year at Christmas, we put trends aside and focus on the bottles we genuinely love to open and share. Our Festive Staff Picks are exactly that – the wines we’re looking forward to for the festive toasts, Christmas lunch, quiet glasses and everything in between.

From gentle sparkle and celebratory fizz to comforting reds for Christmas dinner and beyond, these are the bottles we’d happily pour at home. Thoughtfully chosen, food-friendly and full of festive character – here’s a roundup of staff favourites we’ll be drinking this year 🎄

André Stentz AOC Crémant D’Alsace

“I had this Alsace Cremant about a month ago when we opened it for my boyfriend’s birthday and everyone thoroughly enjoyed it. It was delicious – we had it with some tapas and loads of different bits and it went down very well. It’s fresh and dry with gentle bubbles, soft citrus, crisp apple and a lightly toasty finish – the kind of bottle that works with just about everything.”

→ Style: Fresh, elegant & gently toasty

→ Perfect with: nibbles, blinis, seafood starters or for toasting the big moments

Massimo Rivetti Moscato d’Asti

→ Style: Lightly sparkling, sweet & fragrant

→ Perfect with: Christmas desserts, panettone, fresh fruit or as a festive aperitif

“I tried this new Moscato d’Asti from Massimo Rivetti at our festive tasting this year – it’s a sweet, light and easy-drinking sparkler, not too fizzy, just nicely sparkling. It has gentle fruit with a little hint of blossom, and I’m very much looking forward to having a glass (or two) of this on Christmas Day.”

Château Maris Rare Orange Wine

→ Style: Smooth, zesty & gently aromatic

→ Perfect for: easy sipping, cheese or sharing boards and festive nibbles

“Maris Rare Orange is one of my all‑time happy-place bottles: This wine is basically a fruity party in your mouth – think juicy peaches, sweet apricot, and a splash of orange blossom just for fun. It’s smooth, not too dry, has a little zesty vibe like a spritz of orange soda, and doesn’t take itself too seriously. If you like easy sipping with friends and don’t want to overthink it, Maris Rare Orange is your new “just chill and relax” bottle – the kind you open and everyone instantly feels welcome.”

Tenuta Cappellina Chianti Classico

→ Style: Juicy, savoury & beautifully balanced

→ Perfect with: roast meats, pasta dishes or Christmas dinner

“This new red I reach for when I want “Tuscan holiday” vibes without leaving the sofa. It smells like a bowl of fresh cherries and plums left on a wooden table, with a little swirl of dried herbs and a hint of old leather armchair drama. On the palate, it’s juicy and medium-bodied, with bright red fruit, that classic Italian tang that makes you immediately crave pasta, and tannins that feel more like a firm but friendly handshake than a workout. By the last sip, it’s all smooth, savoury and moreish, the kind of bottle that mysteriously empties itself while you’re talking and twirling spaghetti.”

A and D Wines Arufe Vinho Verde

→ Style: Light, zesty & mouth-wateringly crisp

→ Perfect for: an aperitif, with seafood, salads or festive starters

“Vinho Verde is one of those wines that I’ve never found a bad example yet and this one’s no exception, loads of citrus zing with fresh apples and well balanced acidity. It’s perfect as an aperitif or paired with seafood and salads, and it’s exactly the sort of bottle I like to open when friends and family arrive and the festivities are just getting started.”

Fasoli Gino Valpolicella Ripasso DOC

→ Style: Rich, warming & full of dried fruit depth

→ Perfect with: Christmas dinner, roast meats or herby stuffing

“If you’re looking for something that’s going to hold its own with Christmas dinner a big red from Fasoli Gino is always a safe bet, their Ripasso won’t disappoint. Made with Amarone grape skins, which give a better depth of flavour and extra body, expect rich concentration of dried fruit and bright tannins that fade to a lovely soft finish.”

Orsogna Padami DOP Montepulciano d’Abruzzo

→ Style: Generous, pure fruit & softly warming

→ Perfect with: Pasta dishes, cosy winter cooking and mature cheeses like aged cheddar

“The label on this biodynamic Montepulciano might be a bit confusing at a first glance – but the wine inside is divine. I love the purity of fruit here and the subtle cocoa-like notes that come through. Made by a co-operative, it also feels symbolic of people coming together. Expect generous notes of cherry, spice and a touch of chocolate, and a red that’s perfect for the winter and festive season – comforting and incredibly food-friendly.”

Château Guiraud AOC Sauternes Petit Guiraud

→  Style: Lush, honeyed & beautifully layered

→ Perfect with: Christmas pudding, sticky toffee pudding, rich desserts, or creamy and blue cheeses

“If you’re looking for an after-dinner treat or a wine to enjoy with rich cheeses, look no further. This new dessert wine from Château Guiraud is made in the classic Sauternes style, but at a fraction of the cost. To me, it’s the perfect blend of innovation and tradition – a wine to sip and savour – maybe from your nicest little glass to make it even more special. I love the rich, honeyed notes of candied fruit and citrus. Perfect with Christmas pudding or other desserts, or alongside creamy and blue cheeses.”

Guy Pinard AOC Pineau des Charentes

→ Style: Silky, gently sweet & softly fortified

→ Perfect for: A warming aperitif, pâtés, creamy desserts or blue cheese

“The Festive period is one of those times to enjoy special treats. For me, a temptation is always our fortified Pineau des Charentes, made by the Pinard family in Cognac. Blended from 70% eau-de-vie Cognac and 30% organic grape juice, it’s aged for a very lengthy five years before bottling. Make space for it in the fridge as it’s meant to be drunk chilled and once opened it will keep for a week or more. Versatile as an aperitif, with desserts, it’s also a great match with roquefort and other blue cheeses. A superb sipper for the cook, it’s slightly sweet and very moreish, and any left over goes great in creamy sauces, the gravy or with cooking up mussels.”

Michel Magnien Coteaux Bourguignons Pinot Noir

→ Style: Silky, elegant & quietly savoury

→ Perfect with: Christmas turkey or roast chicken, mushroom dishes, vegetarian mains

“Now is a great time to enjoy some biodynamic Burgundy. From the superb 2022 vintage and on offer at £24, it won’t hang around forever. This is one of those wines that feels complete, it has a generous and captivating earthy fruitiness on the nose, then an attack, a middle and a finish on the palate that delights. At a sensible 12.5% it’s very well balanced with redcurrant type acidity. Alive, bright and pure in that biodynamic way, it is a fine choice for Christmas dinner.”

We hope you’ve enjoyed our round-up of this year’s Festive Picks. As always, if you’d like a bit of advice or help choosing the perfect bottle, our wine advisors are only a call or email away and always happy to help.

🎄🥂 Cheers to thinking & drinking organic 🥂🎄