The festive season has arrived, bringing joyful gatherings, cosy nights and countless reasons to raise a glass. Whether you’re hosting friends, tucking into a Christmas feast, searching for that perfect gift, or simply relaxing by the fire, the right drink can make the moment sparkle. To help you celebrate in style, we’ve asked some of the country’s top sommeliers, wine experts, and restaurateurs to share their favourite festive tipples. From rich winter warmers to dazzling bubbles, aperitifs to indulgent digestifs, these expert picks are sure to bring cheer to every occasion.
Darina Coffey
Managing director of TheTaste.ie
December is officially red wine and cheese board season for Coffey, and her go-to for the most wonderful time of the year is Greywacke Pinot Noir. Coffey describes this rich and silky Marlborough red as “packed with berried charm and even a hint of Christmas spice. It’s beautiful for sipping on its own, but also it pairs exceptionally well with everything from baked Mont d’Or to roast duck and turkey with all the trimmings. Indulgent but not overpoweringly so, it’s the perfect all-rounder for every kind of festive feast and feels like a real treat indeed.”
- Greywacke Pinot Noir, Marlborough, New Zealand (€43), Whelehans Wines
Enrico Fantasia
Wine importer at Grapecircus and co-owner of Piglet Wine Bar, Dublin
When it comes to everyday wines that still impress, Fantasia picks Fattoria San Lorenzo Casolare Rosso. “A blend of organically farmed Montepulciano and Sangiovese, it’s genuine, full flavoured, with that yummy, uncomplicated feel that is difficult to resist,” he says. But for something a little extra special, Enrico suggests the incredibly versatile Laherte Frères ‘Rosé de Meunier’ NV. “This elegant Pinot Meunier Champagne is classy, tasty, complex, yet dangerously easy to drink. With a perfect balance between fruit, texture and complexity, you can enjoy it as an aperitif or as a glorious accompaniment to your meal.”
- Champagne Extra Brut Ultradition Laherte Freres, 75cl, France (€51.20), Sheridans Cheesemongers
Brigid O’Hora
Wine expert
O’Hora can’t resist the joy of bubbles at Christmas, and her festive pick is Langlois-Château Crémant de Loire Rosé. “Crémant is the French term for sparkling wine made outside the Champagne region. This one, made by the Bollinger house, has red berries, ripe strawberries, and a brioche note with fine soft bubbles. It’s excellent for cleansing the palate after pâté or creamy cheese,” she says. Her next choice, Remelluri Gran Reserva, is a “spectacular” red wine rich with flavours of dried fruits, crunchy red berries, Christmas spices, and vanilla. “It’s a heady blend that surprises and delights on every sip.”
- Langlois-Château Crémant de Loire Rosé, Loire Valley, France (€24.95), O’Briens Wines
- Remelluri Gran Reserva, Rioja Alta, Spain (€87.95), Baggot Street Wines
Talha Pasha
General manager, Kinara Kitchen, and sommelier, Kinara Group
Pasha is all about making sure every guest feels included during the holiday season. His top choice for adding a luxurious touch to the table? Tokaji Aszú, a rich Hungarian dessert wine that he notes as having “vibrant sweetness and balancing acidity that pairs beautifully with Christmas cakes or soft cheeses”. For those skipping the alcohol but still wanting to join in the toasts, Pasha opens Fritz Müller Zero Alcohol Frizzante. “This alcohol-free wine still brings the celebratory feel of bubbles to your holiday gathering,” he says, ensuring that all your guests can raise a glass in style.
- Tokaji Aszú, Tokaj, Hungary (€44.95), Mitchell & Son
- Fritz Müller Zero Alcohol Frizzante, Rheinhessen, Germany (€10.95), Woodberry Wines
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Lucia Costa
General manager, Neighbourhood Wine
Bringing a taste of her home to the Christmas table, Costa has two standout picks from the Douro region. First up is Casa Ferreirinha Esteva, a “great value red from one of Portugal’s most esteemed producers. It’s primarily Tinta Roriz, blended with Tinta Barroca, Touriga Franca, and Touriga Nacional – indigenous Portuguese grapes. You get delicious red berry fruit, a hint of spice, and lots of bang for your buck,” says Costa. To finish off Christmas dinner, she reaches for Niepoort Bioma Crusted Port, saying “rich and seductive, it’s perfect with Stilton and deserves a place on the Christmas table”.
- Casa Ferreirinha Esteva, Douro Valley, Portugal (€16.99), The Wine Centre
- Niepoort Bioma Crusted Port, Douro Valley, Portugal (€50), Deveney’s Dundrum
Sevgi Tuzel-Conghaile
Owner, A Wine Idea, and wine expert
Nothing says Christmas like a glass of sherry, says Tuzel-Conghaile, and González Byass Del Duque Amontillado is perfect for a taste of tradition and nostalgia. “Aged for over 30 years, its rich, nutty flavours, with hints of dried fruits and a subtle saline finish, make it elegant and complex – perfect for sipping or sharing with family.” For her, port is another must-have. “It’s hard to beat bringing loved ones together over a great bottle of wine and creating special moments. At home, I always have a bottle of tawny port, like Dow’s 20-Year-Old Tawny, which I love.”
- González Byass Del Duque Amontillado Sherry, Jerez, Spain (€30), 64 Wine
- Dow’s 20-Year-Old-Tawny Port, Douro Valley, Portugal (€50), Searsons Wine Merchants
Romain Tessier and Suzanne Hodgkinson
Owners, Arty Baker and Le Petit Renard Wine Bar, Dublin
To bring an “elegant, festive touch” to your Christmas celebrations, Tessier and Hodgkinson recommend serving Sauternes, a sweet wine from France’s Bordeaux region. “Its rich, honeyed flavours, with layers of apricot, marmalade and toasted nuts, make it the perfect complement to holiday desserts or a cheese board,” they explain. A standout choice is Château Raymond-Lafon, praised for its balance of sweetness and acidity, pairing well with foie gras, blue cheeses, or a classic fruitcake. A more affordable option, Château Haut Rian Coulous, delights with similar notes of rich marmalade sweetness along with zippy hints of orange peel and lemon zest.
- Château Raymond-Lafon Sauternes, Bordeaux, France (€57.95), Baggot Street Wines
- Château Haut Rian Cuvée Coulous, Bordeaux, France (€23), Wines Direct
Seán Gargano and Trudy Ahern
Owners, MacCurtain Wine Cellar, Cork
Gargano and Ahern’s top advice is to serve wines with broad appeal. Their first pick is Claus Preisinger Ancestral St Laurent, a naturally sparkling wine. “Pet Nat outsells Prosecco in our shop,” they say. “It’s light, minerally and floral, full of orange blossom, green apple, conference pear with a little saline edge.” They also recommend JM Sélèque Champagne Extra Brut Solessence NV, noting “biodynamic vineyards are not common in Champagne,” making this an intriguing choice. “This wine has a true sense of place. Agile and fruity with a structured backbone, it shines as an outstanding aperitif but is equally impressive paired with food.”
- Claus Preisinger Ancestral St Laurent, Burgenland, Austria (€33), MacCurtain Wine Cellar
- JM Sélèque Champagne Extra Brut Solessence NV, Champagne, France (€72.50), 64 Wine
Ngozi Elobuike
Founder, Hi Spirits Wine Club
To keep the winter chill away, Elobuike recommends Ratafia – Vin de Liqueur, an aperitif that blends “wine and grape spirits, typically Marc de Bourgogne brandy, which is perfect for warming even the coldest days”. She enjoys it topped with sparkling wine and a slice of aromatic citrus. When it’s time to celebrate, she turns to Severan Wines Black Label Blanc de Blancs, produced by music mogul Dumi Oburota using South African grapes, with final fermentation in England. The result, she says, is a “smooth sparkling Chardonnay with a great mix of toastiness and acidity. A fantastic choice for celebratory occasions.”
- Ratafia – Vin de Liqueur, Champagne, France (€12.50)
- Severan Wines Black Label Blanc de Blancs Brut, Franschhoek, South Africa (£38), severan.co.uk
Sinéad Germaine-Smyth
Freelance wine specialist and writer
When Germaine-Smyth wants to indulge, she reaches for Taittinger Comtes de Champagne Blanc de Blancs as her standout Christmas treat. “This exclusive cuvée is too special not to share,” she says. “After nearly a decade of ageing on the lees, it has a delicious brioche, toast, and biscuit profile.” Her luxury-on-a-budget choice is Langlois-Château L’Extra par Langlois NV. “This Crémant delivers beautiful bubbles without the Champagne price tag. A blend of Chenin Blanc and Chardonnay, it spends a minimum of 12 months on the lees, so while there are some brioche notes; it’s fruitier and younger than the Taittinger.”
- Taittinger Comtes de Champagne Blanc de Blancs, Champagne, France (€230), Whelehans Wines
- Langlois-Château L’Extra par Langlois NV, Loire Valley, France (€24.95), O’Briens Wines
Philip Dunne
Founder, Vinspire Wine and Spirit Academy
Masi ‘Toar’ Valpolicella Classico Superiore is Dunne’s festive red pick. “This wine, made from Corvina, Rondinella, and Oseleta grapes, offers bountiful red fruit, smooth tannins, and a rich full body.” He adds that it’s “perfect to drink now or, as it can age gracefully for another few years, it makes a well-received gift”. White wine lovers will appreciate the Saint-Romain ‘Le Jarron’ Chardonnay from Irish winemaker Róisín Curley, which Dunne calls “a world-class choice”. He praises its “harmonious balance, luscious fruit, and slight hint of vanilla and cream”. This elegant wine is a “true delight to enjoy this Christmas”.
- Masi ‘Toar’ Valpolicella Classico Superiore, Veneto, Italy (€23.80), Wine Online
- Róisín Curley Saint-Romain ‘Le Jarron’, Burgundy, France (€79), Whelehans Wines
