Hong Kong is awash with the trademark red and green of Christmas, and if you haven’t come across the family friendly installations in Landmark Atrium and Pacific Place, the countless decoration stalls on Pottinger Street, the neon Xmas glow emanating from the HSBC building or the appearance of themed in-store supermarket displays since early November, then you should stop reading this and take a look around…

But then you should take the time for a tipple - immediately after all this excitement, and on Christmas Day - with friends, family and a feast fit for kings. 

We all indulge a little this time of year, some enjoy tearing open wrapping paper like an over-excited child, and others splurge on advent calendar chocolates but once the taste of beer from your work Christmas party has washed away, a beautiful pairing of wine with your lunch will really have you feeling like you have found true Christmas indulgence. So, here is what wine you’ll need whatever you decide to eat this silly season. 

When thinking about Christmas lunch seafood is not the first fare that comes to mind, however over time has become a delicious addition. Oysters and prawns are a great hors d’oeuvre or starter, while salmon and whiting find their way on the table as a main. Sparkling wine can be logical a partner here and give a bubbly start to sipping, but with the melon and tropical fruit flavours balanced with medium acidity, a pinot grigio will be the complimentary light option to enjoy. Similarly, a rosé with its prominent berry notes can be another fresh, light option that will make you wish you were feasting from the sea all afternoon.

In Victorian era Britain the king of the table was roast goose and there certainly would’ve been a table wine to match, but today most tables around the world honour a glazed ham, roast pork and roast turkey which makes our job easier than the sommeliers of Iceland trying to match roast puffin, reindeer & fermented fish. Thankfully, the roasted white meats you’ll enjoy lend themselves to anything from a full-bodied chardonnay or vermentino through to pinot noir and merlot, but for mix a of grapes that adds the dried and black fruit flavours that will excite the palate, a blend of grenache, shiraz and mourvèrdre (GSM) is the perfect choice. This is also a great pairing for juicy cuts of Christmas ham, but for a point of difference and uniquely Australian, place a bottle of sparkling shiraz on the table to match your ham or your Hong Kong inspired serving of char siu.

After stuffing yourself full of rich offerings, its time to dive into the soft, sweet and savoury textures and hopefully pluck out a thruppence for good luck in the New Year. To start, perhaps a plum pudding with custard, a pavlova or just a dollop of ice cream followed with a mince pie or three, some brie, gruyere and blue cheese with water crackers, finished off nicely with a fruit platter and a nap on the couch. While you are still attempting to quaff the remaining GSM before your brother-in-law beats you to it, it’s time to consider a switch up that will best stabilise these finishing flavours. While a muscat is the sweet, dark, nutty fortified that is best slowly sipped, a moscato will be the lower alcohol aperitif that will precisely match and endure with your Christmas spirit well into the evening.

From the team at Wine Brothers we wish you and your family a very Merry Christmas. We hope you enjoy your day and your wine, and, remember we have your options covered whatever your decide this Christmas.