Marek
With Christmas approaching, it’s naturally the time to plan, prepare, and sketch out all the festive details—from shopping to scheduling. For me, as a Pole working in the UK wine trade, Christmas season means juggling wine in two ways: choosing bottles to match my Polish festive traditions at home and recommending the perfect picks to our wonderful customers on the shop floor. So this year, through this little blog post, I thought I’d bring both worlds together and share wine selection that will complement both Christmas traditions.
On Christmas Eve, the pinnacle moment of Polish festive time, I’ll be opening a bottle of Bender Riesling Brut Sekt. As family will be gathering around the table, the lively bubbles and festive charm of the wine will help lifting everyone’s spirits and create a cosy, joyful atmosphere from the very first toast.
Beyond its celebratory charm, Bender sparkling Riesling is a fantastic partner for a wide range of fish dishes. Starting with the king of the Polish Christmas table – carp – but it is not stopping there. Herring, trout, cod, zander, pike, salmon, all in the various forms… the list of Polish festive fish is long and varied. Bender Sekt, with its vibrant acidity, fresh citrus lift, and subtle lees-driven texture, makes a wonderfully versatile pairing for the entire pescatory feast.
On Christmas Day, the fish may remain plentiful, but the menu widens to include an array of meats. The options span everything from poultry and beef to hare, yet my personal choice—much like a British festive classic—always comes back to turkey.
When it comes to pairing, I gravitate toward lighter, well-structured reds with spicy, earthy undertones. Burgundy would be the obvious candidate, but recent price hikes have encouraged me to explore alternatives. So this year, I’m turning to Dão—often dubbed the “Burgundy of Portugal”—and specifically to Ideal from Carlos Raposo. The wine brims with black-cherry fruit and violet aromatics, supported by earthy minerality and a long, beautifully lifted finish driven by outstanding acidity.
There’s one more wine I’ll be enjoying throughout the Christmas period—not as a precise pairing, but simply for the pleasure of sipping it whenever the moment feels right. It’s a delicious Malvasia Madeira from Barbeito. Though sweet in style, it’s beautifully balanced by savoury, oxidative notes of walnut and orange peel, all carried by remarkable freshness. A complex and multilayer, yet uplifting and ethereal!
Merry Christmas!