Ultimate Christmas Food & Wine Pairing Guide 2025

 It’s increasingly common knowledge that not all wines go with all foods. Indeed some can enhance our culinary experience, and some foods can render a perfectly good wine tasting little better than vinegar. This is all down to matching the wine’s body, flavour, sweetness and alcohol levels, ensuring that it enhances the food you are eating.

 To help make your festive food and wine pairing experience a simple, hassle free, delight, we have created our Hourlier Wines' Ultimate Christmas Food & Wine Pairing Guide, showcasing what we’ve learned from years of experience in pairing food and wine- taking you above and beyond the simple turkey & pinot noir combination.

Eating during the festive season is a time-honoured tradition, but one often over looked aspect is that of wine. Many festive meals involve the preparation of meat and/or poultry, like turkey, duck, or ham but often people stick to the safe pairings of ‘red wine with dark meats’, and ‘white wine with light meats and plant based foods’.

Here at Hourlier Wines, we would like to help elevate your festive experience, as the right pairing can dramatically enhance your meal and the entire culinary setting. We are here to help with creating the perfect wine pairing so that you are fully equipped with the best wine to pair with not only your traditional dishes, but contemporary dishes, to add a little sparkle to your festive experience.

Why is making the right wine pairing choice so important?

 Food is essential to the dining experience, and pairing with the perfect wine can really amplify the flavours of an amazing meal. Perhaps you are a wine enthusiast, or maybe you just want to scratch the surface, learning how to pair food with wine is something that anyone can do and it opens up a new world of tastes, aromas, and textures when you are enjoying your glass of wine.

It also makes your experience even more enjoyable because there is more attention focused on what you are consuming. The knowledge behind how to pair wine and food can be a skill in itself, but with the right help and advice, it can be a joy to discover, and the best way is through experience! With a myriad of choices, there is no need to overthink it this Christmas. We are pleased to be able to share our experience and expertise in a simple format to help you select the perfect wine for your culinary delectation, perfect for the Festive season and beyond.   

	TURKEY Pairs best with Pinot Noir and Gamay for red, or white Burgundy wines because of the structure and flavours typically found in these wines. Avoid heavy red wines, as this will overpower your meal. Our Suggestions: Red - Pinot Noir, Gamay White - Burgundy
	CHICKEN Pairs best with Sauvignon Blanc or Chardonnay wines. Avoid heavier wines with this meal, as it could overpower the flavours. Our Suggestions: White - Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc
	GOOSE or DUCK Pairs well with an Alsatian Riesling or Pinot Gris, or a Pinot Noir (known as the classic pairing) to meet the intensity through the depth of the flavour.     Our Suggestions: Red - Pinot Noir White - Riesling, Pinot Gris
	PORK Pairs best with Beaujolais wines and Pomerol wines because of the apple notes and the lighter body typically found in these wines. Avoid heavy reds, such as Cabernet. Our Suggestions: Red - Beaujolais, Pomerol
	BEEF Pairs best with heavier and more bodied red wines, such as Bordeaux wines. Avoid light red and white wines, as they will be overpowered by the flavours in the meal. Our Suggestions: Red: Bordeaux
	Christmas dinner doesn't have to be meat based! Our Vegan selection is available HERE.

Need More Festive Wine Advice?  

 If you have any specific pairing queries, we would be delighted to help you make that perfect wine pairing match that enhances your festive foods and maximises your culinary experience.   

 Please contact us at contact@hourlierwines.co.uk and we can discuss your festive requirements! We can also help you curate a tailored festive wine case to help make the moment special for you.

 Santé et bon appétit!