A Très Joyeuse Noël from France: The Essential Calvet Christmas Wine Guide

Calvet Christmas Wine Guide: From Christmas Eve traditions and turkey dinners with all the extras to leftovers the following day and presents you’ve actually thought about, these are the French wines you should be buying for your Christmas shopping list this year.

Christmas is the time of year to treat yourself to some tasty food, hang out with friends and family, and top it all off with a nice glass of wine. However, with various foods featured on our holiday tables, knowing what bottle to buy isn’t an easy choice.

Sourcing something special for the wine enthusiast in your life, either for Christmas or a unique present, can be easier with just a small amount of inspiration.

This holiday season, French wine producer Calvet is bringing some certainty to Christmas festivities, with a range of wines that work with everything from smoked salmon and roast turkey, to baked Camembert, and of course Boxing Day leftovers.

From bottles at less than £10 to a few treats for when you’re feeling flush, from that special occasion you’re saving up for to something for every celebration.

Let the Festivities Begin: Wines for Christmas Entertaining

There’s something about the sound of a cork popping that turns any occasion into something memorable. Be it on Christmas Eve when guests arrive, or before the big Christmas meal when everyone’s in the sitting room, it’s a very nice gesture to start with a glass of fizz.

For a beautiful French equivalent of Champagne, there is Calvet Crémant de Bordeaux Rosé (£12, Ocado) or Calvet Crémant Brut (£11.50, Ocado).

Both are a perfect addition to seasonal celebrations, accompanied by canapé selection, smoked salmon blinis and party hits.

Here’s a bonus tip: sparkling wine is not just suited to delicate appetisers. The bubbles and the zesty acidity in Crémant make it a perfect match for heavier, saltier foods so do try it with cheese straws, sausage rolls or, if you’re feeling really decadent, pigs in blankets.

The Best Wines for Christmas Dinner

The most heavenly tasting meal you’ll eat this year, no matter the occasion, the right glass of wine can elevate your Christmas lunch to a whole new level of indulgence.

Whether you are a classic turkey, a roast beef or vegetarian provider, Calvet has a few ideas on what you should go for to make an ideal partner.

For smoked salmon and seafood starters

And if smoked salmon is on the Christmas menu, try Calvet Sauvignon Touraine (£10.25, Ocado). The brightness of the Sauvignon Blanc is well matched to the smoky richness of the fish.

Q. Which wines would you recommend with, say, a classic prawn cocktail? For a classic prawn cocktail, go for: Calvet Réserve Bordeaux Sauvignon Blanc (£10, Waitrose). If you’re putting on a spread of seafood, oysters, prawns and all, then go for: Calvet Muscadet (£9, Tesco).

As a fresh and zippy style, this bottle is great with seafood.

For turkey and all the trimmings

Christmas is just not Christmas without a beautifully roasted turkey on the table and all the trimmings.

For the special occasion you might like to try Calvet Prestige Côtes du Rhône Villages (£9, Tesco).

The Rhône wines are noted for their fruit richness and warming nature and they are especially well suited to being enjoyed with roasted meats, stuffing and other special festive treats.

Naturally, not everyone drinks red wine at the Christmas lunch.

If you’re more of a white drinker, try this one – Calvet Pinot Blanc Alsace (approximately £12, Ocado) – which would be an equally nice match to your turkey and roast potatoes and veggies.

For roast beef and a little something special

If you’re replacing turkey with roast beef, you might also like Calvet La Croix Saint Roch Montagne Saint-Émilion (£16, Ocado).

Enjoy a classic Bordeaux red with a hearty beef-based dish, such as Sunday style beef or a beef Wellington.

It’s also a nice one to serve a little later in the evening alongside some of your more mature cheeses.

For a vegetarian Christmas feast

Vegetarian Christmas Dinners is also as important.

If your centrepiece for the day is a nut roast, mushroom Wellington or simply a superb array of roasted seasonal vegetables then try Calvet Fleurie (£14.75, Ocado).

Produced from Gamay grapes, Fleurie is a light red wine that pairs nicely with vegetable dishes.

Serve just slightly chilled to give a different perspective from the reds of Christmas.

A Little Luxury: Wines Worth Splashing Out On

It is also the ideal time for you to indulge in something a little more upmarket.

Looking for a bottle to wow your guests or bring something special to the holiday table? Here are a few French classics to seek out.

For those who like Sauvignon Blanc, Calvet Sancerre (£26, Tesco) is a gorgeous option. It’s great with smoked salmon, scallops and other refined seafood starters.

Another lovely option for fans of Chardonnay is Calvet Chablis (£21, Ocado). From Burgundy, Chablis is a crisp, mineral-led version of Chardonnay which is perfect for pairing with seafood, oysters and crab.

For the red wine drinkers in the family, treat yourself to the Calvet Montagne Saint-Émilion, perfect for a decadent cheese board or a sumptuous Christmas roast.

For something a touch more unusual, you could also consider roasting Calvet Sancerre Rosé (£18, Waitrose) for Christmas this year – ideal for rosé fans, whatever time of year.

Boxing Day and Beyond: What to Drink with Christmas Leftovers

Come on now – all the best festive meals are served after Christmas Day.

There’s something so wonderfully satisfying about walking into the fridge on Boxing Day and making an entirely new feast from all those leftovers.

Whether it’s the turkey sandwiches, the home-made pies or the bubble and squeak – there’s no reason for the wine to be less tasty second time round.

Here are a few combinations worth trying:

– Lamb hotpot: Calvet Côtes du Rhône (£12.50, Ocado), a spicy red to see you through.
– Turkey and ham pie: Calvet Limited Release Bordeaux Merlot (£9.50, Ocado), a beautiful match for a hearty, home-cooked pie.
– “Cold turkey”: Calvet Prestige Côtes du Rhône Grenache Syrah(£9.25, Morrisons).
– Glazed ham: Calvet Pinot Blanc Alsace (£12 Ocado), a punchy white to serve with this perfect companion.
– Bubble and squeak: Calvet Fleurie (£14.75, Ocado) – a more delicate lighter red with a lovely freshness that is perfect for not so subtle roasty veg.
– Baked Camembert: Calvet Chablis (£21, Ocado) or Calvet Crémant Brut (£11.50, Ocado) – perfect for any laid-back Christmas night.

When baking Camembert to share, make a few small holes in the top of the cheese with the tip of a knife and pour a small amount of wine into each hole before baking. Yummy!

And for families who have guests that seem to arrive every five minutes between Christmas and New Year, Calvet has a 1.5-litre Côtes du Rhône box (£16, Tesco).

It’s such a handy way to entertain for bigger groups, more casual buffets and those gloriously lazy afternoons where you can’t quite remember if you’re having lunch or dinner – or a second helping of cheese.

Whether you’re preparing a perfectly-planned Christmas feast, or looking forward to a few days of relaxed family time, we’ve all got something to celebrate. What better way to make the most of the festivities than with the perfect bottle of wine?

The appeal of Calvet’s celebration is that it can appeal to any number of people, ranging from an inexpensive bottle for daily celebration to more luxurious French designs for Christmas celebrations.

And while the ideal food matches always make for a lovely touch, Christmas is all about spending time with good company, making memories and sharing the things you love.

So, here’s to a deliciously festive season, whether you’re toasting the arrival of guests with a sparkling Crémant, sharing a warming Rhône with Christmas dinner or finding a new love over Boxing Day leftovers.

Browse the collection: Calvet wines are stocked by a selection of specialist and multiple UK retailers, including Tesco, Waitrose, Ocado, Morrisons and Asda.

Prices are indicative, based on data provided for this feature and may differ by retailer, promotion. Drink Responsibly.