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When Christmas is approaching, our frontline colleagues are often asked the same question: “What wine should I get?!” – their family, friends or customers are all starting to look for some fine wines for Christmas! So, in case you have the same question, we’ve interviewed some of our most experienced store managers, on which are the most popular Xmas wine selections across the years. Here we have featured some of our managers’ picks for different budgets, including reds, whites and Champagnes! Let’s check them out now!
Below $500
Most people looking for a wine to share in parties or gatherings have the budget of around $400-500 per bottle. With this budget, one can get a wine of nice quality. The most popular choices are Champagnes and Bordeaux reds, which are presentable and of quality assurance. For the former, we will suggest Non-vintage Champagnes of famous Champagne houses, such as Gosset,Veuve Clicquot and Perrier Jouet. Our managers also highly recommend some Grower Champagnes, like Pierre Peters.
For Bordeaux red wines, it’s suggested to pick some approachable reds with light tannins, so that both wine beginners and connoisseurs can easily enjoy. The wine picked shall also be ready to drink now. You may choose second wines of classed growths, which are usually made with younger vines of the Chateaux and can be enjoyed younger.
$400 – $1200
If you have a higher budget, you may choose the Classed Growths from Bordeaux, such as the household name Duhart Milon. They are devoted to maintaining the traditional winemaking of Bordeaux since the classification in 1855 and at the same time perfecting themselves technologically and sustainably. Consistent is not only their fame but also quality, earning them countless supporters around the world.
It’s common for wine lovers to start exploring Burgundy after they are familiar with Bordeaux – it’s like opening the door to a new wine journey. Burgundy & Bordeaux are two of the most important wine regions in the world, but they differ significantly in terms of styles, varieties, classification system and so on. Burgundy’s red wines are Pinot Noir, which tend to be low yielding and elegant in style. Their classification is based on specific geographical sites, giving classification to certain region/village/vineyard regardless of the producer. It might be hard to understand at the beginning but once you have more exposure to it, it’s highly likely that you will fall in love with its delicacy and complexity, knowing why it makes the world’s top (and most expensive) wine!
Of course, a wide variety of great wines are available outside France. In the Old World, “the King of Italian Wine” Barolo is highly recommended for celebration. For example, Ceretto Barolo Brunate, which is from one of the most representative Crus from La Morra region, characterized by a soft and elegant style, silky mouthfeel and the signature Barolo structure and firmness.
Regarding the New World, you may look into their highly-rated wines endorsed by wine critics. For example, Penfolds RWT Shiraz. It’s a world-class Barossa Shiraz, with expressive fruit, unique spiciness and incredible depth. Popular among Hong Kongers, Yarra Yering No.1 even got 97 points from James Halliday. It’s a Cabernet Sauvignon and Malbec blend, very aromatic and powerful yet elegant. Near-perfect, but not expensive at all! If you are looking for a South American wine, Chile’s Clos Apalta would be worth your attention. It’s one of the few top Chilean wineries that can get perfect scores from James Suckling. Its vintage 2017 got 100 points, – blended with Chilean star variety Carmenere, it’s full-bodied with a beautiful, dense palate of blackberries, chocolate, walnuts and cigar box, showing a unique South American vibe which makes it a perfect alternative to French wines.
$1000 – $3000
After a year of hard work, Christmas is the time of the year to reward ourselves and many wine lovers will choose to have a bottle or two of better wines. In this case, you may first check out our top Champagnes, namely Dom Perignon, Louis Roederer Cristal, Armand de Brignac and Krug. They are all classic top-tier Champagnes embraced by royalty and celebrities throughout history. Their quality is beyond question, and they all have distinct styles. It’s in every wine lovers’ bucket list to try them all! In parties, these iconic Champagnes can easily grab the participants’ attention and perk up the ambiance! Getting a bottle in a dinner for two would be an excellent idea too. The delicate sparkles can melt one’s heart. Also noteworthy is that their bottles are elegantly designed and highly recognizable, making them perfect props for sharing in social media.
In this budget, a myriad of red wines can be chosen too. For Bordeaux fans, you may target back vintage wines made in outstanding years, such as 2005, 2009 and 2010. After years of ageing, they are now ready to drink, and the quality of these vintages is clear to see. For Burgundy, you may pick from their Grand Crus or Premier Crus (1er Cru). These are the top-tier wines in the Burgundy classification, characterized by low yielding, attractive aromas and complexity. As for New World’s offerings, you may opt for the flagship wine of renowned estates, such as Beaulieu Vineyard Georges de Latour Cabernet Sauvignon from California, which is the pioneer of American cult wines and was served in the White House; or Almaviva from Chile, a collaboration between the famous Chilean wine group Concha y Toro and Chateau Mouton Rothschild’s parent company. Almavivia has earned 97 points from James Suckling with its Vintage 2019.