Elevate Your Christmas with the Perfect Wine Selection

Whites

Kakapo South Island, New Zealand 2023 (£6.50, Asda)This wine, largely made of riesling, exudes a cheerful floral-aromatic and tropical fruit salad-juicy blend. It's not only an attractive solo sipper but also a great value for party bottles. Its presence and verve make it a perfect match for any spicy soups or leftover turkey curries.

M&S Chez Michel Marsanne Collines Rhodaniennes Rhône, France 2023 (£9, Marks & Spencer)Crafted from the local variety marsanne by the reliable Rhône co-operative producer Cave de Tain l’Hermitage, this delightful Christmas dinner-ready white combines fulsome soft pear and white peach with a subtle, pithy citrus and herb quality. It's a true delight for the palate.

Reyneke Organic Chenin Blanc Stellenbosch, South Africa 2023 (£10.99, Waitrose)In the world of Cape white wines, this one stands out. Made from old chenin blanc vines, it offers gorgeous honeyed apple shimmering over racy citrus pith, zest, and juice. It's a must-have for the roast bird.

Tenute Orestiadi Organic Orange Inzolia Sicily, Italy 2023 (£13, Booths)With their unique mix of red wine grip and white wine freshness, orange wines are highly versatile with food. This graceful, nutty, mandarin-scented and very gently astringent Sicilian wine is a fine festive all-rounder.

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Zuccardi Q Chardonnay Uco Valley, Argentina 2023 (£16, Tesco)Argentina may be better known for its reds, but its top whites are truly compelling. This exceptionally smart, savoury-mineral Burgundian chardonnay comes from a family producer at the top of their game and offers great value.

Ventisquero Grey Sauvignon Blanc Atacama, Chile 2021 (from £16.50, vinvm.co.uk; ndjohn.co.uk; reservewines.co.uk)Finding super-fresh white wines from a dry place like Chile might seem counterintuitive, but this scintillating, pristine sauvignon blanc lifts and cleanses with green-herb energy. It's perfect for seafood lovers.

Ulysse Cazabonne Sauternes Bordeaux, France NV (£21, thewinesociety.com)Christmas dinner isn't complete without a sweet wine. This Wine Society exclusive, sourced from an undisclosed big-name producer, is a zesty, toffeed, and decadent delight that pairs well with cheese, pudding, or can be sipped solo.

Domaine Moreau-Naudet Chablis Burgundy, France 2022 (£33.95, leaandsandeman.co.uk)Chardonnay comes in many forms, but chablis is hard to beat for the purest and most fluently stylish iteration of the renowned white grape variety. Domaine Moreau-Naudet's incisive example is a model of perfectly balanced succulence.

Reds

Nice Drop Pinotage Western Cape, South Africa 2023 (£4.25, Asda)Most of the cheapest wines on the market rely on sugar to cover up their flaws, but this surprisingly serious budget buy avoids that. It offers a smoky-savoury tint to its berry juiciness and makes for a great party bottle.

Chassaux et Fils Costières de Nîmes Rhône, France 2023 (£6.99, Aldi)If your ideal Christmas dinner wine is the rich flavor of châteauneuf du pape but your budget doesn't allow, this robust brambly-spicy red Rhône blend from Nîmes is a more than acceptable alternative.

M&S Found Saperavi Kakheti, Georgia 2022 (£10, Marks & Spencer)The Found series in the M&S range is home to many highlights, and this deliciously hearty saperavi is no exception. With its bright blackberry-juicy and liquorice-spiced flavors, it's a treat for the taste buds.

Ponte da Boga P Mencía Ribeira Sacra, Galicia, Spain 2023 (£11.95, thewinesociety.com)In the remote vineyards of Galicia, the mencía grape variety produces gorgeously vivid and fresh red wines. This example's satiny cherry-skin feel and black cherry-juicy flavors are a guaranteed hit with the turkey.

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Château Tour Marcillanet Haut-Médoc, Bordeaux, France 2018 (from £15.95, hhandc.co.uk, swig.co.uk)Like rioja, classic claret is a must for many at the Christmas table, and this is a fine example from a highly regarded vintage. It's at a lovely stage in its evolution, with bright fruit and softening tannins.

Gulfi Rossojbleo Sicily, Italy 2023 (from £22.15, fieldandfawcett.co.uk; cellarnextdoor.com ; corksofbristol.com; chapelstreetwines.co.uk)From one of the masters of the Sicilian native red grape variety nero d’avola, this is a joyous Christmas feast bottle. It's rich and ripe with unforced, supple red cherry and berry juiciness and tomato brightness, along with a hint of sage herbiness.

Mil Suelos La Verdad Malbec Buscado Vivo o Muerto Uco Valley, Argentina 2019 (£35.25, corneyandbarrow.com)Like many of my favorite Argentinian wines, this stylish and impressive high-altitude red combines fleshy malbec with the spine and fragrance of cabernet franc. It has a lightly worn concentration and super-fine silky tannins.

Fizz

Taste the Difference Cava Brut Spain NV (£8.75, Sainsbury’s)Cava is more than just an affordable alternative to champagne. This classic brut from Sainsbury's offers bottle-fermented richness and tang at a great price, leaving change from a tenner.

Prince Alexandre Crémant de Loire Brut Loire, France NV (£14.99, reduced to £10 from 4 December to 1 January, Waitrose)Crémant sparkling wines use the same techniques as champagne in other parts of France and offer superb value. This light, red- and green-apple-scented blend from the Loire is no exception.

Can Sumoi Ancestral Montònega Penedès, Spain 2023 (from £19.49, thefinewinecompany.co.uk; shrinetothevine.co.uk; chanctonburywines.co.uk)Made in cava country using the "ancestral" or "pét-nat" method, this light (9.5% abv) but lively and evocative bubbly has become a festive favorite with its effortless, food-friendly, herb-scented charm.

BEST BUY

Veuve Monsigny 1er Cru Champagne France NV (£21.99, Aldi)A step above Aldi's standard champagne, this pinot noir-dominated fizz from high-quality "premier cru" vineyards is a lemon-creamy and butter-biscuity bargain, still around half the price of most mainstream branded champagnes.