Olly Smith’s Expert Wine Pairings for Your Christmas Menu
Published on 26th Nov, 2025
Christmas day wine shopping, sorted! We know that picking the right bottle for your guests can feel daunting, but don't worry—we've pulled on the expertise of wine guru Ollie Smith to give you everything you need to know. He's personally curated The Best wine list to see you through every single moment of the big day. From the first sparkling sip to the perfect port for your cheeseboard, consider this your ultimate guide to festive wine success!
Morrisons The Best Grand Reserve English Sparkling
Let's start the big day with true finesse. Aged for over six years, this blend of Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, and Meunier is a wine of incredible richness and complexity. Take a moment to enjoy the delicate floral, apple, and pastry aromas, followed by fine, creamy citrus flavours that dance on the palate. It's tailor-made for your entire day of Christmas grazing—from smoked salmon blinis to cheese board heroes.
Pairing: Perfect for your full day of grazing, check out our Christmas food online to discover something new for the big day.
“Great Britain is producing fabulous fizz, and it's fitting to serve something homegrown to crown the big day. With plenty of zestiness as well as a subtle toastiness, this is a sumptuous sparkler to pop and savour, delivering stacks of tiny bubbles - elegant as well as entertaining.” - Olly
Morrisons The Best Gruner Veltliner
Step away from the usual suspects and introduce some Austrian flair to your Christmas table! Our Grüner Veltliner is blended to be brilliantly vibrant and refreshing, cutting through the festive fare with its signature crispness. Its defining characteristic is that clean, stony mineral finish, making it a sophisticated and modern choice. It’s perfect for those moments when you need a wine that's clean, bright, and utterly refreshing.
Pairing: Enjoy with fish & seafood, perfect for trying with our The Best Salmon Side with Cranberry & Orange.
“Austrian wines like this one deserve to be headlining the wine world with their bracing crisp vitality. With the easy breeziness of an Alpine meadow and the sharp definition of fresh lime juice, this is a citrus zinger to enthral and delight - especially when served with fish and seafood.” - Olly
Morrisons The Best Assyrtiko
Looking for a white that dares to be different? This Assyrtiko from Greece, produced in partnership with the acclaimed Kir-Yianni, is an absolute revelation. Grown at a soaring altitude of 700 meters in the mountainous vineyards of Armyndeon, the intense climate gives the wine its intense, distinctive character. Expect bright notes of apples and lemons, underpinned by clean mineral complexity and that signature, refreshing saline finish. A stunning, crisp alternative for rich fish dishes or poultry starters.
Pairing: Enjoy with fish & seafood, perfect with our Seafood Pil Pil Rockpool Medley.
“Fan of crisp white wine? Try this next. Greek white wines are incredible for their lean, clean purity, and this one is as refreshing as sipping from a chalice on Mount Olympus! Light and lovely, its hallmark is its bright, invigorating freshness, which also makes it wonderful served alongside seafood and fish.” - Olly
Morrisons The Best French Viognier
Viognier (Vee-oh-nyay) might be a challenge to pronounce, but it’s a delight to sip! Ageing on fine lees gives it that desirable richness and creamy fruit flavour, while still retaining beautiful floral notes. A sophisticated partner for everything from poultry to flavourful fish dishes.
Pairing: Enjoy with the smoked salmon starter such as our The Best Signature Salmon with New York Deli Style Seasoning.
“This Viognier is as fruity as it is refreshing. Upbeat and fragrant, if an apricot was made from laser beams, this is what it would taste like. Gorgeous with smoked salmon thanks to its gently scented layers, which complement the smokiness and saltiness of the dish to perfection.” - Olly
Morrisons The Best Gran Reserva Chilean Pinot Noir
Searching for the ideal red for your main course? From the ocean-cooled vineyards of the Casablanca Valley comes this elegant Gran Reserva. The cooling ocean mists preserve the delicate aromatics of this Pinot Noir, resulting in snappy red fruit flavours, floral notes, and a subtle earthiness. It's the perfect light-bodied red for your Christmas turkey.
Pairing: Enjoy with turkey and all the trimmings. For extra indulgence, try our Best Stuffed Turkey topped with Festive Smoked Bacon.
“Top-level Pinot Noir has elegance, silkiness and memorable finesse. This one from Chile has all that and more, with extra perfume, intriguing spice and a lift of freshness all rolled into one. Some of the grapes for this wine are from a famous vineyard - the perfect pedigree for turkey with all the trimmings.” - Olly
Morrisons The Best Côte du Rhône Village Blanc
Experience the aromatic complexity of a classic Rhône white. This blend bursts with beautiful notes of apricot, white peach, and sweet jasmine. Partial oak ageing adds a wonderful layer of richness and texture, making it a sublime match for your Christmas spread.
Pairing: Enjoy with turkey and all the trimmings like our Best Large Bronze Whole Turkey.
“White blends from the Rhône Valley are one of the best-kept secrets of the wine world. Plush and peachy, there's a moreish hint of gingery spice which lingers beautifully before the next sip. With plenty of liveliness along with intrigue, it's a delightful white wine to pair with Turkey this season.” - Olly
Morrisons The Best California Zinfandel
This Lodi Zinfandel is packed with intense flavour. Expect a beautiful eruption of black cherry and rich plum notes, rounded off perfectly with hints of sweet vanilla. It’s the ideal robust red for a hearty Christmas course or a post-dinner cheese selection.
Pairing: The perfect pairing with roast beef, like our new Rib of Beef with Beef Dripping & Merlot Red Wine Gravy.
“Zinfandel is one of the great grapes of the world thanks to its massive fruity character - this one feels a bit like a blueberry the size of the Moon! With full ripeness as well as hearty spice, it's a wine that's superb with roast beef - a star wine for a headline dish.” - Olly
Morrisons The Best Marques De Los Rios Gran Reserva Rioja
Experience the luxury of patience. Hand-picked from 30-year-old vines, this Gran Reserva spent 24 months in oak and a further three years resting in the bottle. The result is a wine of intense richness, delivering delicious, mature flavours of strawberry and silky vanilla.
Pairing: The perfect pairing with roast lamb, such as our flavourful Rosemary and Garlic lamb recipe.
“Gran Reserva Rioja is the top of the tree, only made in favourable years and given lavish maturation in the cellar, the result is a sumptuous and savoury wine that's a classic pairing with roast lamb. If you're looking for a showstopping benchmark red, Gran Reserva Rioja is a serious treat.” - Olly
Morrisons The Best Barossa Valley Shiraz
For those who like their reds big and bold! Sourced from the prestigious Barossa Valley in South Australia, this world-class Shiraz is intensely full-bodied. Prepare for rich, deep flavours of blackberry, plum, and a lovely hint of spice. It's an unforgettable festive pour.
Pairing: The perfect pairing with roast beef, such as our Beef ‘Tree’ Bone with a Chimichurri Rub and Rosemary & Thyme Butter.
“The Barossa Valley in Australia produces some of the world's most iconic Shiraz. With beautiful bold flavours and plenty of warming spice, it's a seasonal joy to serve alongside roast beef. Powerful, silky and rich, it's a blockbuster that's packed with sun-drenched fruit that's as memorable as it is unmissable.” - Olly
Morrisons The Best Old Vine Carignan
This distinctive Old Vine Carignan captures the spirit of the Languedoc. Sourced from gnarly old vines, the wine brims with lively acidity, supple tannins, and sun-drenched fruit. Look for tempting notes of black cherry, fig, and aromatic garrigue spice. A rustic and utterly moreish festive red!
Pairing: The perfect pairing with roast pork, enjoy with our Roast Pork with Fennel & Apple recipe.
“Wow! Delightful aromas of blueberry and spice leap out of the glass, and as soon as you sip it, this wine displays its full character. Cracking spicy fruit (think festive mulling spice) with long tapering lasting flavours. The flavour is beautifully intense with a medium body - this is a dynamic and invigorating red wine with a wild streak of herbal delight. Fabulous.” - Olly
Morrisons The Best Pedro Ximenez
End your Christmas feast with pure indulgence. This superb sherry, made with Emilio Lustau, gets its incredible flavour and richness from being slowly dried before careful ageing in selected solera casks. The result is a velvety, concentrated wine—liquid Christmas cake in a glass.
Pairing: Enjoy with Christmas pudding or indulgent chocolate desserts. Perfect with our The Best Signature Collection Belgian Chocolate Praline Star.
“Sticky, sweet and scrumptious, Pedro Ximenez (or PX for short) is the ultimate wine to serve from the fridge with Christmas Pudding. It's also ace with a Yule Log or even a box of festive chocolates. Divinely dark, it oozes like a galaxy of figs, dates and raisins. Irresistibly lush!” - Olly
Morrisons The Best Pecorino Superiore
Need a white that's both refreshing and complex to finish? Elevate your palate with the unique texture of this Pecorino. While it offers bright, crisp citrus, peach, and lemon flavours, the creamy texture is what truly makes it shine. A beautifully elegant and versatile white that stands out amongst the festive crowd.
Pairing: The perfect pairing with the after-dinner cheese board. Try it with our Ultimate Cheeseboard recipe.
“Breathtaking aromas of lemon and blossom with ripe peaches hovering in the background. This silky white is turbo-charged with refreshment - expect stacks of citrus splendour with a sense of delicious purity. And watch out for the lingering lemony aftertaste - delicious!” - Olly
Morrisons The Best 10 Year Old Tawny Port
When the cheese board comes out, this 10-Year-Old Tawny Port is your champion. Smooth, elegant, and perfectly complex, it’s been aged to deliver rich flavours of dried fruit, toffee, and toasted nuts. A sophisticated and warming pairing for the close of the Christmas feast.
Pairing: The perfect pairing with the cheese board, specifically Stilton. Try it with our The Best Slate Cheeseboard.
“Tawny Port should always be served cool, and its flavours are a world of festive spices wreathed around a core of sweet sultana-like fruit. It has a big flavour with a tangy twist and is a classic fortified wine to pair with Stilton - its sweetness is a striking contrast with the salty cheese.” - Olly
We hope this guide helps you feel fully confident in your festive pour this year! Ollie Smith has taken all the guesswork out of the Christmas wine list, leaving you with nothing but fantastic options. Whether you pop the British fizz for grazing or grab a Barossa Shiraz for the beef, you’re in for a treat. Now, all you have to do is shop the collection and get the celebrations flowing!
