What We're Drinking For Christmas
With a little help from the talented buyers in our Wine & Spirits team, we've assembled a little list of just a few (but certainly not all) of the exceptional bottles we'll be opening this Christmas.
From reds and whites perfect for sipping with your centrepiece feast, to decadent creations sure to lift your Christmas spirits, discover a handpicked assortment of what we're drinking this festive season. So without further ado, let's set the first cork a-popping...
Fortnum’s Saint-Véran, Joseph Drouhin
Pairs perfectly with your centrepiece turkey
Joseph Drouhin is one of Burgundy’s most storied family domaines, and this classic Chardonnay is grown on Jurassic limestone beneath the incredible rock formations of the Mâconnais region. Fermented partly in stainless steel and partly in seasoned 500-litre barrels, it is made with freshness in mind for immediate appeal. An elegant Chardonnay with zesty citrus with notes of apple, white flowers and hazelnut, it's beautifully balanced — and the perfect partner to your centrepiece roast goose or turkey.
Fortnum's Barolo Le Albe, G.D. Vajra
Pairs perfectly with our Truffled Rarebit
Our Barolo comes from the GD Vajra Estate, established by Giuseppe Domenico Vajra in 1972 — today, his son Aldo and grandson Giuseppe run the 40 hectare estate in the commune of Barolo. Winemaker Aldo adheres to old-style methods, but tempers these with new techniques to produce superbly elegant wines. Offering forward perfumes of plums and prunes with the powerful tannins typical of all great Barolo, this exceptional wine is especially delicious with lamb, mushroom and truffle.
Fortnum's Old Vine Garnacha
Pairs perfectly with our Mushroom Wellington
A beautifully elegant expression of Garnacha with bright and fragrant aromas of blackcurrant, pepper and thyme, supported by fine tannins and freshness, quite unlike a traditional Spanish Garnacha. It’s comforting and easy to enjoy and would pair perfectly with mushroom dishes, pasta, red meats - and being Vegetarian-friendly - our Mushroom Wellington.
Fortnum’s Margaux, Château Cantenac Brown
Pairs perfectly with our Glenarm Salt-Aged Rib of Beef
Made from a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Cabernet Franc, warm and inviting aromas of black fruit, spice and flowers precede a silky, sensual palate of cassis and subtle vanilla. Typical of the character that makes Margaux so special, it's a perfect match to Christmas roast beef, and also pairs superbly well with other seasonal meats and game dishes.
Fortnum's Mince Pie & Marmalade Gin Liqueur
Pairs perfectly with our Traditional Mince Pies
Created exclusively for Fortnum’s, this yuletide tipple takes inspiration from two of our most glorious festive staples. A joyful concoction of cinnamon, star anise, nutmeg, cloves and ginger, combined with currants, raisins, sultanas, Amalfi lemons and oranges (and a whole spoonful of our Monarch Marmalade in each bottle), this rich, perfectly balanced and surprisingly refreshing liqueur can be poured into your an after-dinner coffee or enjoyed alongside a sweet dessert.
Fortnum’s Vintage Port, Niepoort
Pairs perfectly with our Cave-Aged Cheddar
Best served lightly chilled and promising sweet flavours of dark damson fruits, liquorice and spices, the vividly fresh and intense nose and deliciously spicy structure of this wonderful Port makes it an unbeatable cheese course partner. Produced especially for Fortnum’s by the one and only Dirk Niepoort — winner of the Decanter 'Hall of Fame; award in 2023 — this exceptional bottle is proof of Dirk's extraordinary skill, and an essential bottle for the season.
Fortnum's X Secret Garden Christmas Gin
Make the perfect festive G&T with Double Dutch Indian Tonic Water
Handcrafted at the horticultural treasure trove that is Secret Garden – from the Secret Garden Distillery in Edinburgh – this exclusive, colour-changing Christmas Gin is completely free from added chemicals, colourings or flavourings. Imbued with ginger, cardamom and cinnamon, the festive tint comes from blending two different flower petals, allowing it to naturally turn blush pink when tonic is added.
Fortnum’s Christmas Pudding Madeira, Barbeito
Pairs perfect with our King George Christmas Pudding
Blending age-old barrels with fresher, younger wine has created an exciting sort of alchemy — and the perfect union of opulent age and youthful freshness. Spicy on the palate with ripe figs, roasted nuts, and hints of toffee, this magnificent creation stands up to the rich fruit of a Christmas pudding in a way that most sweet wines can’t manage. Best served lightly chilled, it's a gloriously festive creation, indeed.
Fortnum's Tokaji 5 Puttonyos, Pajzos Tokaji
Pairs perfectly with Fortnum's Foie Régal Duck
Best served lightly chilled, this deliciously sweet yet finely balanced wine is harvested from the historic wine-growing region of Tokaj in north east Hungary. Boasting complex notes of orange peel, honeyed figs and cinnamon — balanced beautifully by bright, clean, refreshing acidity to balance — it's a wonderful companion to to blue cheese and pâté, or served alongside your personal favourite Christmas dessert.
Chablis 1er Cru Forets Domaine Michel
Pairs perfectly with our Organic Smoked Salmon
In northernmost Burgundy, the Chablis Premier Cru Forêts vineyards grow on thin soil and push deep into the shallow bedrock, and the stony character of the soil in the Forêts vineyards brings a clean, precise and powerful mineral core to this exceptional unoaked wine. Rich with lemon curd, white flowers and green apple, it's a wonderful companion to your Boxing Day smoked salmon.
Fortnum’s Winter Sparkling Tea, 5%
Pairs perfectly with our Christmas Stollen Log
Made with wintertime celebrations in mind, we've blended Oolong, Darjeeling, Jasmine, Silver Needle, two different organic chai teas, and a merry melange of warming spices to create this complex and moreish brew which, unlike our other Sparkling Teas, has a slight alcoholic kick. Promising notes of apple pie, lebkuchen and stollen, it's a perfect aperitif, and wonderful with your sweet festive favourites.
Fortnum’s Christmas Ale
Perfect with our Cranberry & Mandarin Topped Pork Pie
Made with six Kent-grown hops at the Westerham Brewery, this malty ale delivers sleighfuls of sweet caramel and roasted nut notes, and plenty of festive spirit too. Vegan-friendly, gluten-free, and packaged in 100% recyclable aluminium cans, it pairs perfectly with a variety of savoury delights, such as our Christmas Scotch Eggs, or Sriracha Chilli & Lime Mixed Nuts.
Fortnum's Pedro Ximenez VOS, Bodegas Tradicion
Pairs perfectly with our Christmas Figgy Chocolates
Exclusive to Fortnum & Mason, these rare half-bottles are highly prized for their individuality and aged for more than 20 years. Deepest mahogany in colour with wonderful aromas of raisins, prunes and figs, this outstandingly rich and viscous PX can be enjoyed with blue cheese or chocolates, or poured over ice cream.
Fortnum's Blanc de Noirs Extra Brut Champagne
Pairs perfectly with our British Charcuterie Platter
Made exclusively from Pinot Noir grapes sourced from Les Riceys in the Côte des Bar region, this bright and golden Champagne promises an intense nose of gooseberry, morello cherry, red apple and fresh quince, while the palate is dense and spicy, with a long, mineral finish. A supreme aperitif and a superb partner to cured meats, too.
Inspiration
Discover The Journal, home to a host of our most delicious stories.
Recipe | Cranberry Sausage Rolls
The Christmas Pudding Parade!