Wine Pairing: The Best Dessert Wines for Your Christmas Puddings

08 October 2021

The Best Dessert Wines for your Christmas Pudding and other Festive Treats

In Short:

What wine goes with Christmas pudding? The answer is: plenty. Take a look at our expert guide below to discover the best pairings for your pud. To make every festive moment all the more special, we’ve also chosen a few traditional Christmastime treats and matched them with their ideal drinks accompaniment.

Why pair wine with food?

Pairing wine with food enhances your overall tasting experience. Through a variation of matching, and or contrasting elements of both your dish and wine, for example; flavours, acidity, texture and richness, you can create a harmonious combination of flavours that elevates the enjoyment of each element.

We spend a lot of time and effort thinking about what food we’re going to serve up with our loved ones during Christmas-time. So why not add an extra special touch by considering what wines pair best with your carefully thought-out festive dishes? We’re certain you’ll be met by extra compliments on how everything tastes delicious.

Let’s start with the centrepiece of your dessert course: the Christmas Pudding

Christmas pudding loves sweet and fortified wines, and there are plenty to choose from.

Port

Port is a classic match, whether you go for Vintage, Tawny, or Late Bottled Vintage (LBV). Tawny’s nutty, caramel and dried fruit notes echo the pudding’s spiced flavours, while its lighter body keeps the pairing elegant. LBV offers rich blackberry, cherry, and chocolate tones with a velvety texture that balances the pudding’s sweetness beautifully.

Discover our Port collection here or read our blog What Is Port to find out more.

Sherry

Pedro Ximénez (PX) Sherry is another festive favourite. Made from sun-dried grapes, it’s thick, syrupy, and bursting with raisin, fig, and molasses flavours. Its dark chocolate notes and indulgent sweetness make it a dream partner for Christmas pudding. Prefer something smoother? Cream Sherry, also known as Brown or Sweet Oloroso, is a blended Sherry that combines Oloroso (a darker, nuttier style of Sherry) with sweeter wines. Expect caramel, toffee, nuts, and dried fruit flavours that mirror the pudding’s richness and spice.

Prefer something smoother? Cream Sherry, also known as Brown or Sweet Oloroso, is a blended Sherry that combines Oloroso (a darker, nuttier style of Sherry) with sweeter wines. Expect caramel, toffee, nuts, and dried fruit flavours that mirror the pudding’s richness and spice.

Discover our Sherry collection here or read our blog The Different Types of Sherry to dive deeper into this brilliant wine.

Dessert Wine

For a touch of luxury, try Sauternes from Bordeaux. It’s made primarily from Sémillon, Sauvignon Blanc, and Muscadelle grapes affected by noble rot. This ‘noble rot’ imparts unique flavours of honey, apricot, peach, and tropical fruits to the wine. It’s famous for its honeyed apricot and peach notes, which make it a perfect match for Christmas pudding.

Another great option is Tokaji. Hailing from Hungary, Tokaji (or Tokay) is a historic sweet wine known for itsunique production method involving grapes affected by noble rot. The wine is rated by its puttonyos, indicating sweetness levels. Tokaji ranges from dry to intensely sweet, with the latter, known as Tokaji Aszú, being the most celebrated. Tokaji Aszú displays rich flavours of apricot, orange peel, honey, and sometimes a touch of botrytis-derived spiciness.

Take a look at our vast collection of Dessert Wines here.

The cheeseboard

While Port and Sherry are classic with cheese, Champagne is a brilliant alternative. A crisp Brut or Extra Brut cuts through creamy textures and refreshes the palate with citrus and brioche notes.

Versatile white wines like Chardonnay or Sauvignon Blanc are also a great pick for a festive cheeseboard too. Chardonnay's buttery notes pair well with aged or creamy cheeses, while Sauvignon Blanc's zesty acidity works wonders with fresh and tangy cheeses like goat’s cheese or a salty blue.

For a red wine pairing, consider a medium to full-bodied red like Merlot, Pinot Noir, or Cabernet Sauvignon. The key is to select reds with a good balance of fruitiness and tannins to complement the diverse cheese offerings on your festive board.

Discover our favourite wines to pair with cheese here.

Fruity Desserts

When it comes to fruity desserts, opt for wines that balance sweetness and acidity to enhance the overall flavour experience. Here are some wine recommendations that pair wonderfully with fruity desserts:

A versatile white wine, Riesling offers a range of sweetness levels. Choose a slightly sweet or off-dry Riesling to complement the natural sweetness of fruity desserts. Its acidity provides a refreshing contrast and highlights the vibrant fruit flavours.

Demi-sec Champagne is not as popular in the UK as it is in its home country of France. But once you’ve tasted some, you’re bound to return to it again and again for special moments. With its moderate sweetness and lively effervescence, it harmonises beautifully with fruity desserts. The wine's subtle sweetness complements natural fruit sugars, enhancing the overall flavour experience. Whether paired with fruit tarts or berry pavlovas, demi-sec Champagne adds a celebratory touch to the indulgence.

Chocolate Desserts

Known for its intense sweetness and flavours of raisins, figs, and molasses, Pedro Ximénez Sherry is a decadent choice for pairing with rich, dark chocolate desserts. Its syrupy texture complements the indulgent nature of chocolate.

The nutty and caramel notes of Tawny Port complement the richness of chocolate desserts, especially those with nuts or caramel components. Opt for an aged Tawny Port for a more complex pairing.

And last but not least: Mince Pies

Mince pies, with their spiced opulence, are delicious with traditional pairings like the Ports and Sherries mentioned above. But more interesting, a robust fruity red, such as Californian Zinfandel, makes a fantastic match. The wine's vibrant and intense fruity flavours complement the dried fruits and its full character stands up to the richness of the pastry.

From the opulence of Ports and the elegance of Sauternes to the liveliness of Muscato, we've explored a delicious array of choices for Christmas pudding and all your favourite festive treats. Just don’t forget to break the rules. A good wine is one you like, so if you love New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc and want to drink it with your Christmas pudding, go for it! Cheers to making your Christmas celebrations extra special!