| As Christmas is coming, with the inevitability of a | | | | things off but you have to think of your guests |
| credit card bill, there is a whole load of things to | | | | palates. A good bottle of fino and oloroso will |
| worry about. Christmas present buying, a possibly | | | | cater to the dry and sweet taste with excellent |
| expensive and traumatic period, followed by the | | | | examples coming from Domeque or Harveys |
| Christmas card list, the decorations, the food, yes, | | | | although there are a wide range of excellent |
| all that food and possibly the last on the list, the | | | | sherries around, even if your budget is tight. If |
| Christmas drinks. Christmas drinks are possibly the | | | | you can only pick one type, then go for either a |
| least thought about but are the subtle catalyst | | | | medium sweet or medium dry type. |
| that can turn an ordinary Christmas into a great | | | | A wine to accompany the main dish is purely a |
| one Yes, you can go with all your normal | | | | matter of taste, much is talked about the merits |
| standbys but Christmas is special and so should | | | | of red wine with red meat and white wine with |
| be your Christmas drinks. Although this is primarily | | | | fish or chicken but at the end of the day it really |
| directed at Christmas, it will work just as well for | | | | ought to be what you prefer, just because the |
| a traditional Thanksgiving meal as well. | | | | gourmands try to intimidate you with their |
| To start with, there are many traditional | | | | knowledge, you don't need to buy into that, have |
| Christmas drinks like Egg Nog and mulled ale, in | | | | a bottle of red and a bottle of white and let your |
| fact my father used to put his beer into a | | | | guests decide what they want to drink, it is |
| pewter tankard, heat a couple of pokers in the | | | | Christmas after all, not a society luncheon. That |
| fire, then plunge them into the tankard. This | | | | said, a little direction will not go amiss when it |
| should only be attempted with metal drinks | | | | comes to choosing a wine for a special occasion. |
| containers, I have a vague recollection of him | | | | Certainly beef, turkey, particularly the dark meat, |
| trying it with glass and making a mess on the | | | | duck or goose will suit a good red wine. A |
| floor when it broke, also I do not think it works | | | | Bordeaux, perhaps a St Emillion or Fronsac will not |
| with lager or other blond beers, a good bitter, | | | | break the bank, there are a lot more expensive |
| brown ale or porter should be robust enough to | | | | wines in this region, but if you can afford them |
| take that sort of treatment. Possibly the most | | | | you should visit a fine wine shop with |
| traditional of all Christmas drinks is mulled wine, | | | | knowledgeable staff who will give you very good |
| know in Germany and probably around the world | | | | advice on the wines available. You could also try a |
| as Gluhwein, this is a warm infusion of red wine, | | | | Rioja from Spain, a Montepulciano from Italy or |
| lemons, cloves, cinnamon and sugar. This | | | | any of the Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Merlot |
| traditional Christmas drink has a whole host of | | | | or even, my favourite Malbec that are available |
| modifications, not only in the different regions of | | | | from vineyards around the world, particularly |
| Germany but around the European continent. To | | | | Argentina. I must confess that my own particular |
| the basic ingredients can be added rum, brandy, | | | | favourite area is Cahors in France, they produce |
| Calvados even, I have heard, vodka which would | | | | some big bold wines with lots of body. If you are |
| add a kick, but not much taste. Another popular | | | | having a large number of people to dinner, you |
| ingredient is the orange, either as slices or zest | | | | could buy your wine in a box, it is still very good |
| but I think you could add any citrus fruit that you | | | | quality and you don't have to pull all those corks, |
| prefer. Please do not forget to wash thoroughly | | | | just serve it in a decanter or a good jug. Serving |
| and. if possible, get the unwaxed variety of fruits. | | | | any red wine this way is better as it lets the wine |
| Another variation worth considering is the addition | | | | breathe, rather than just pulling the cork out of |
| of juices, orange or apple are best or cordials, | | | | the bottle an hour or two before serving, if you |
| elder flower is quite refreshing, or even herbal | | | | think it can get to breathe through that tiny neck, |
| teas. Any of these will make a different and | | | | try to breathe through a straw and you will get |
| interesting drink for Christmas that, if you | | | | the idea. |
| remember to make a note of how you have | | | | For a white wine the standby is a good |
| made it, could become your signature Christmas | | | | Chardonnay although you should be aware that |
| drink that everybody looks forward to. | | | | some of the heavy oak overtones may be too |
| The basic recipe is a bottle of red wine, make | | | | much for a white meat such as chicken or fish. |
| sure it has some body to it either a classic, but | | | | You may wish to investigate a French wine like a |
| inexpensive Cabernet Sauvignon or another | | | | white Burgundy, or if you like very dry wine, a |
| robust Vin du Pays, to which you will add 5 to 20 | | | | Sancerre from the Loire Valley. Others to |
| cloves, depending on your taste, a stick of | | | | consider are Pinot Grigot a grape associated with |
| cinnamon and 2 to 4 tablespoons of sugar, normal | | | | Italy but is grown around the world or a good |
| or demerara if you want to be bold. Chop a | | | | German Reisling or Hock, Bordeaux has good |
| wedge of lemon and stick your cloves into the | | | | white wines like Entre Deux Mers but you should |
| skin, this will stop them floating about in peoples | | | | ask your local wine merchant or the wine |
| drink, then slice the rest. Pour the wine and the | | | | manager in your local supermarket for ideas. |
| rest of the ingredients into a saucepan and heat. | | | | Some people will compromise and go for a Rose |
| Do not, I repeat do not allow to boil as this will | | | | wine and there are a number of acceptable wines |
| remove all the alcohol and ruin the taste. This is | | | | in this category, Mateus Rose is probably the best |
| the basic recipe so you can adjust to suit your | | | | known, but Rose D'Anjou from France is very |
| taste, it is best served in heat proof glasses, but | | | | good and there are remarkable rose wines from |
| you can improvise. | | | | California, Australia and other parts of the world. |
| Another good starter is, of course, Champagne, it | | | | If you are really pushing the boat out, you will |
| is a very sophisticated way to kick your party | | | | want a wine for dessert and for a cheese course. |
| off. Nowadays there are a lot of sparkling wines | | | | The dessert course is ruled by Sauterne, an |
| that can compete with the original Champagne, in | | | | expensive wine whose king is Chateau d'Yquem |
| England there are many Champagnes available via | | | | at a price that Bill Gates may blink at. There are |
| the supermarkets that are extremely good at | | | | other Sauternes, less expensive but a more |
| very competitive prices, there are also a number | | | | economical option could be a Malbec, from the |
| of good English sparkling wines made in the | | | | same area, still very acceptable. You may also |
| champagne method that are very good as well. In | | | | consider a Muscadet from either France or Spain. |
| fact, global warming has led to a number of | | | | For a cheese course. the classic wine |
| French Champagne producers buying land in the | | | | accompaniment is Port, although a red or even |
| South of England and planting vines. A good idea | | | | certain white wines are acceptable, depending on |
| to make your Champagne go further is to offer | | | | the cheeses served. Ports come in several |
| a Bucks Fizz which is Champagne and orange | | | | different qualities, white should be avoided as this |
| juice or for a bit more sofistication, why not try a | | | | is more an appetizer, but the rest is a matter of |
| Kir Royale made from Champagne with a dash of | | | | taste and budget. |
| Creme de Cassis, a blackberry liqueur When it | | | | At the end of the day this is going to be an |
| comes to the Christmas meal there are a whole | | | | enjoyable time and providing there are not any |
| range of drinks, from the appetizer to the | | | | glaring errors people will enjoy whatever you |
| digestive to think about, if you want a truly | | | | serve because this is a time of sharing and |
| memorable day. If you are on a strict budget, | | | | goodwill to all. |
| you can decide what to drink to meet your | | | | One final tip, a drink that is really hot right now is |
| pocket, so if an appetiser is more important, drop | | | | Perry, it is like Cider but is made from special |
| the digestif or vice versa. When you are serving | | | | pears it is going to be really big in 2007 so get in |
| Christmas lunch, a Sherry is a grand way to kick | | | | first, if you can find some. |